PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tobias Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez has chosen No Easy Way Out as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spencer
vs
Alvarez

185 cm
18
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

ZSTAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tobias Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hector Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez moves out of range of the body kick from Spencer.
Alvarez tries to clinch up but Spencer circles away and keeps his distance.
Alvarez tries to clinch there but Spencer circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Spencer. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.

Alvarez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Spencer is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spencer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alvarez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Spencer keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Spencer trying to keep a closed guard but Alvarez is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alvarez shoots in looking for a takedown. Spencer tries to sprawl out of it but Alvarez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Spencer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Alvarez feints and as Spencer raises his hands in defense, Alvarez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Spencer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Spencer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Alvarez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Spencer wants to stand but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Spencer trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spencer throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spencer misses with a takedown

so Alvarez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Spencer keeps moving.
Alvarez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Alvarez stops Spencer from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer trying to control the position.

Spencer had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Alvarez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Spencer Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Alvarez's back instead.
I really don't envy Alvarez right now.

Spencer working for a choke but Alvarez is defending well.
Alvarez covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Alvarez trying to control the hands but Spencer breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alvarez manages to reverse the position and now he's in Spencer's guard. Nice work there by Alvarez.
Alvarez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Spencer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez looks gassed!
Spencer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Alvarez gets a clinch.
Spencer has Alvarez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Alvarez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Alvarez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spencer lands a head kick!

It looks like Hector Alvarez has been cut.

Alvarez gets a takedown into half guard.
Alvarez is nestled in close to Spencer, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Spencer punching from the bottom.
Spencer is not content to let Alvarez control the position.
Alvarez is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Let's hope that Alvarez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Alvarez trying to control the action but Spencer is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Spencer wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alvarez throws a sloppy head kick
and Spencer counters with a body kick that stops Alvarez in his tracks momentarily.
Alvarez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Spencer misses with a takedown attempt

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Spencer tries to roll over but Alvarez keeps him under control.
Spencer gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spencer wriggles free and stands up.
Spencer throws a sloppy head kick and Alvarez moves out of range easily.
Spencer fails with a takedown attempt.
Tobias Spencer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Spencer swivels and escapes.

Spencer has closed the distance and engaged Alvarez in a clinch.
Spencer prevents the takedown attempt.

Spencer is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Alvarez can't fight it off and eventually Spencer manages to take the fight to the floor. Alvarez looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Spencer passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Alvarez has control of an arm but Spencer manages to advance to Spencer's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Spencer trying to control momentarily.
Spencer controlling well, preventing Alvarez from escaping the position.
Spencer controlling from the back.
Spencer throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Spencer struggling to keep hold of the position.
Spencer lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Alvarez hold on?!

Spencer 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alvarez looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Spencer struggling to land strikes to the head as Alvarez covers up.
Spencer has the hooks in. Alvarez is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Alvarez trying to control but not successfully.
Alvarez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spencer looking to break Alvarez's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Alvarez remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Spencer will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tobias Spencer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hector Alvarez's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Spencer moves in looking to clinch but Alvarez pushes him off.
Spencer tries to clinch up.
Alvarez fails to land the takedown.
Spencer tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Alvarez counters with a single leg into guard. Spencer didn't expect that.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Spencer.
Spencer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spencer 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 takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spencer thows a huge punch but Alvarez dodges it nicely.
Spencer looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spencer stands up out of the half guard.
Alvarez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alvarez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Spencer counters with a head kick. That will keep Alvarez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Tobias Spencer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hector Alvarez.
Spencer shoots for a double leg takedown but Alvarez sprawls well. He's pushed Spencer's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Spencer looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alvarez is fending him off so far but Spencer persists. Nope, Alvarez circles away and we're back to standing.

Alvarez clinches up with Spencer and pushes him back against the cage.
Spencer on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Spencer lands an uppercut.
Spencer throws a knee to the head but misses.

Alvarez has Spencer pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Alvarez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Spencer tumbling to the mat - Alvarez dives into Spencer's guard.
Spencer keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alvarez!
Spencer controlling the position easily from mount.
Alvarez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer controlling the position easily from mount.

Spencer swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Alvarez is now in Spencer's guard. A big mistake from Spencer there, giving up the dominant position!
Spencer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Alvarez prevents Spencer from getting back to his feet.

Spencer looking for a guillotine here but Alvarez defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Alvarez pushing down on Spencer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Alvarez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but Spencer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alvarez to get the leverage.
Spencer wants to control but Alvarez is keeping busy.
Hector Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alvarez with the ground and pound but Spencer uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Spencer keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Alvarez has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Alvarez!