PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marco Polo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saul Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Polo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Saul Alvarez's chin.

Polo
vs
Alvarez

180 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
143 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marco Polo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Saul Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polo throws a body kick that misses.
Polo throws a chopping leg kick but Alvarez manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Polo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Alvarez with that takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Alvarez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Polo manages to get underhooks.
Alvarez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Polo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marco Polo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Alvarez.
Alvarez wants to take the fight to the mat but Polo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Polo jumps guard but Alvarez stands there with Polo around his waist. Polo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Polo gets control of Alvarez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Polo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Alvarez landing with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Alvarez throws a big right hand that misses.
Polo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Polo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Alvarez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Polo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Polo controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control but Polo is having none of it.
Polo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Alvarez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Polo controlling the position easily from mount.
Alvarez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control but Polo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Polo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alvarez is not content to let Polo control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alvarez is looking to improve his position.
Alvarez missing with punches from the bottom.
Polo is thwarting Alvarez's attempts to control the position.
Polo wants to stand but Alvarez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alvarez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Polo.
Polo wants to pass the guard but Alvarez is keeping the position.
Polo wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alvarez pushes Polo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Polo tries for a takedown but Alvarez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Saul Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Alvarez fails to land the takedown.
Alvarez takes a kick to the side of the head.
Alvarez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alvarez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Polo circles away.
Alvarez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Polo. Polo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Polo stuffs the takedown.
Marco Polo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Alvarez.
The fight stays on the outside here - Alvarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Polo sprawls well. Polo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Alvarez gets slowly back to his feet.
Alvarez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Polo's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo tries to clinch up.
Alvarez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Polo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Alvarez somewhat.
Marco Polo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Polo instigates a clinch.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
Alvarez wants a takedown.
Polo lands an elbow inside that Alvarez shrugs off.

Polo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Alvarez trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Alvarez tries to lock up and control but Polo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Polo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Polo looking to ground and pound but Alvarez is blocking nicely.

Polo looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Alvarez is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Polo trying to control but Alvarez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez tries to improve his position but instead Polo has taken his back!
Polo misses with punches from the back.
Polo throwing sloppy strikes.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Polo controlling the positon.
Polo misses with an elbow to the head.
Alvarez tries to escape but Polo has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Polo is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Alvarez defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Alvarez trying to control the hands but Polo won't let him.
Alvarez rolls, trying to escape but Polo keeps control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alvarez wants to control his opponent's hands but Polo gets his hands free.
Polo is hanging on to Alvarez's back as he tries to escape.
Alvarez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Polo dominated that second round.
That's time! Polo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Alvarez wants to clinch up but Polo keeps it at a distance.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Polo tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Polo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alvarez tries for a takedown but Polo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Alvarez wants to slow Polo down by chopping away at his legs.
Polo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Alvarez.
Marco Polo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saul Alvarez.

Polo has taken the fight to the clinch.

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

Polo pushes Alvarez up against the cage in a clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez can't break the clinch.
Polo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Polo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Alvarez walks away with a smile on his face. Polo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Polo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Polo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Alvarez's waist but Alvarez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Polo off to one side.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown but Polo shows good takedown defense.
Alvarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Alvarez throws a lazy uppercut
and Polo counters with a right hand to the body.

Alvarez gets a clinch.
Alvarez is trying to break the clinch but Polo is controlling him.
Polo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Polo smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo throws a lazy head kick

and Alvarez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alvarez.
Alvarez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Polo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Alvarez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Polo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A shot to the liver by Polo. Beautiful body shot.
Alvarez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Polo rushes Alvarez and presses him up against the cage.

Polo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Polo lands with a slapping head kick.
Horrible takedown by Polo or perhaps it was just good defense by Alvarez which made him look bad.
Polo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Alvarez. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Polo blocks the leg kick.
Alvarez looks for a takedown but Polo sprawls well.
Polo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Polo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Alvarez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Polo avoids it really well and circles away.
Polo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saul Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Polo forces Alvarez back against the cage and clinches.
Polo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Alvarez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Polo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Alvarez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Polo pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Alvarez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Polo tries to close the distance and clinch but Alvarez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Polo is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marco Polo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Polo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Smith scores the fight for Marco Polo!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight for Marco Polo!
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight for Marco Polo!

Marco Polo wins by unanimous decision!