PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saul Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josef Bergstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez comes to the cage accompanied by Survivor - 'Burning Heart'. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Alvarez
vs
Bergstrom

175 cm
20
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
28
160 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Sydney BEAST Clothing *NEW DESIGNS*

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Saul Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Josef Bergstrom!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bergstrom fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez avoids it really well and circles away.
Alvarez dodges the punch combination from Bergstrom.
Bergstrom scores with a hook to the body. Alvarez takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bergstrom shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvarez but Alvarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bergstrom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bergstrom is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alvarez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saul Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josef Bergstrom.
Bergstrom throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bergstrom misses with a hook to the body

and Alvarez moves into the clinch.
Alvarez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bergstrom backwards.
Bergstrom has had enough of the clinch but Alvarez keeps him there for the moment.
Alvarez taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Alvarez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bergstrom's elbow.
Bergstrom is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a knee to the head.
Alvarez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alvarez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alvarez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Alvarez tries a knee to the head but Bergstrom blocks it.

Bergstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice jab there from Alvarez.
Bergstrom misses with the combination.
Bergstrom lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bergstrom.
Alvarez thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Bergstrom if he has to take too many more of those.
Josef Bergstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bergstrom thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez stuffs the takedown attempt from Bergstrom. Bergstrom gets slowly back to his feet.
Bergstrom jabs Alvarez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez lands with a slapping head kick.
No joy there for Bergstrom, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Alvarez. Bergstrom shrugs it off though.
Bergstrom takes one to the chin there.
Bergstrom shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Alvarez as he jumps to the side.
Saul Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bergstrom looks gassed!
Alvarez fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bergstrom on the side of the head.
Bergstrom falls off balance throwing a combination
and Alvarez counters with a nice body kick.

Alvarez rushes Bergstrom and presses him up against the cage.
Alvarez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bergstrom backwards.
Alvarez pushes Bergstrom back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries a body shot but Bergstrom blocks it.

Bergstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Alvarez lands with an overhand left.
Alvarez's corner calls for a 1-2. Alvarez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Alvarez checks a leg kick.
Bergstrom keeps the fight on the outside.
Bergstrom shoots in looking for a takedown but Alvarez manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bergstrom's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bergstrom showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bergstrom shoots in for a double leg but Alvarez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alvarez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bergstrom.
Alvarez throws a combination. Bergstrom tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jab, jab by Alvarez - just one landing.

Bergstrom is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Alvarez enables Bergstrom to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Alvarez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bergstrom stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez trying to keep a closed guard but Bergstrom is proving a slippery customer.
Bergstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Alvarez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bergstrom throwing strikes from guard but Alvarez blocks nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bergstrom throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Alvarez dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bergstrom throws a jab but it's blocked by Alvarez.

Alvarez closes the distance and pushes Bergstrom back into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.
Alvarez keeps control of Bergstrom as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Alvarez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bergstrom tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Alvarez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bergstrom misses with the head strike.
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bergstrom avoids it.
Alvarez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bergstrom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alvarez with a knee to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Alvarez.
Alvarez landing knees to the body.
Bergstrom avoids a wild elbow strike from Alvarez.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bergstrom.
Still in the clinch, Alvarez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Alvarez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bergstrom blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.
Alvarez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Bergstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergstrom shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Alvarez but Alvarez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bergstrom misses with a low kick as Alvarez jumps back.
Bergstrom is looking to chop away at Alvarez's legs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Alvarez.
Bergstrom fails with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alvarez thows a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Bergstrom misses.

Alvarez has closed the distance and engaged Bergstrom in a clinch.
Bergstrom takes an elbow to the forehead.
Still in the clinch, Alvarez scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bergstrom misses with some punches.
Alvarez misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Saul Alvarez has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Alvarez lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside that Bergstrom shrugs off.
Bergstrom takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bergstrom's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Alvarez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bergstrom prevents a body shot from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bergstrom blocks it with crossed arms.
Alvarez lands an elbow inside.
Bergstrom is trying to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling him.
Alvarez using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bergstrom has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Alvarez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Alvarez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bergstrom wants to get back to striking at distance but Alvarez won't allow it.
Bergstrom tries to break the clinch but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Alvarez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bergstrom's efforts to push away.
Alvarez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Alvarez misses with an elbow strike.
Alvarez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bergstrom backwards.
Alvarez has Bergstrom pressed against the cage, preventing Bergstrom from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bergstrom has had enough of the clinch but Alvarez keeps him there for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bergstrom avoids it.
Alvarez looking to throw knees to the head but Bergstrom is blocking nicely.
Alvarez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bergstrom tries a body shot but Alvarez blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saul Alvarez dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bergstrom shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Alvarez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Alvarez doesn't manage to clinch there - Bergstrom circles away.
Saul Alvarez is winning the standup battle so far.
Bergstrom rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bergstrom's head.
Alvarez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bergstrom circles away quickly and effectively.
Saul Alvarez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bergstrom tries to keep at a distance but Alvarez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Bergstrom manages to break the clinch.
Alvarez takes a swing at Bergstrom's ribcage but misses.
Alvarez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bergstroms jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bergstrom tries to score a power double leg takedown but Alvarez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bergstrom somewhat.
Alvarez is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Sloppy strikes from Bergstrom. Those never looked like landing.
Alvarez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bergstrom shoots in looking for a takedown. Alvarez tries to sprawl out of it but Bergstrom keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alvarez manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Saul Alvarez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josef Bergstrom.
Bergstrom takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Some bone on bone action there as Alvarez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A punch lands to the side of Bergstrom 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Alvarez scores with a jab. Bergstrom acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bergstrom will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Alvarez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Alvarez has closed the distance and engaged Bergstrom in a clinch.
Josef Bergstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Bergstrom fails to land.
Alvarez connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bergstrom's face.
Alvarez wants to stall.
Alvarez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bergstrom has had enough of the clinch but Alvarez keeps him there for the moment.
Alvarez landing knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez looking to stall.
Bergstrom blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Alvarez lands a right hand.
Alvarez lands with a right to the head.
Alvarez looking to throw knees to the head but Bergstrom is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands with a left to the head.
Alvarez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bergstrom is looking to break free of the clinch but Alvarez has double underhooks.
Bergstrom is trying to break the clinch but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage.
Alvarez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bergstrom is still on wobbly legs! Can Alvarez finish him?
Alvarez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alvarez trying to control the position but instead, Bergstrom has worked for underhooks and has pushed Alvarez into the cage.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Bergstrom seems to have recovered his senses.
Bergstrom doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bergstroms head.
A short uppercut from Alvarez.
Bergstrom is trying to push Alvarez away but Alvarez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alvarez.
Alvarez swings wildly with an uppercut but Bergstrom uses good head movement to avoid it.
Saul Alvarez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Alvarez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bergstrom has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saul Alvarez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Alvarez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saul Alvarez!
Saul Alvarez thanked the fans post fight for their support.