PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Saul Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Baginski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Alvarez might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Survivor - 'Burning Heart'. Baginski comes into a darkened arena with his song building. WALECZNE SERCE kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Piotr Baginski told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alvarez
vs
Baginski

175 cm
29
163 lbs
10 - 10 - 2

175 cm
40
170 lbs
26 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 10 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Saul Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Piotr Baginski!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baginski throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Alvarez counters with a straight right hand.
Alvarez has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Koru MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Baginski rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Alvarez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Alvarez appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Baginski walks into a stiff left hand from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a jab to the nose.
Baginski throws a big shot that misses.
Alvarez is looking to counter punch.
Baginski misses with a body kick.
Baginski throws a body kick that misses.
Baginski slips under a jab.
Baginski with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baginski swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Alvarez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Baginski lands with a good body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baginski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alvarez connects with a single shot there.
Baginski misses with the combination.
Baginski misses with a low kick.
Baginski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alvarez.
Baginski throws a hook to the side of Alvarez's head but Alvarez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Baginski takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A slapping body kick lands there for Baginski.
Baginski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Baginski is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Alvarez.
Left hook, right uppercut from Baginski.
Alvarez scores with a punch to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baginski misses with a left hand
and Alvarez counters with a nice uppercut.
Alvarez defending well as Baginski loads up on a big left hand.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Baginski lands a nice shot to the body.
Piotr Baginski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baginski shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense.
Baginski swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Alvarez fires out a quick counter leg kick but Baginski just manages to avoid it.
Baginski lands a nice hook to Alvarez's body. Alvarez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Baginski throws a solid leg kick but Alvarez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Baginski.
Baginski throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Alvarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Baginski fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alvarez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Baginski slips a straight right by Alvarez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws out a loose jab but Baginski uses good head movement to avoid it.
Alvarez scores with a leg kick.
Baginski throws a sloppy body shot
and Alvarez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Alvarez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Alvarez's jab looks to have found its range, popping Baginski under the eye.
Baginski avoids a punch combination nicely.
And Baginski tries to counter it with a takedown but Alvarez pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Baginski drives through and clinches with Alvarez against the cage.
Alvarez gets through Baginski's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Baginski lands a right hand.
Baginski lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Baginski blocking some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baginski throws a head punch that misses.
Alvarez is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baginski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Alvarez lands a nice knee to the body.
Baginski being controlled against the cage.
Alvarez with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Alvarez.
Stalling in the clinch from Baginski.
Alvarez lands a good knee to the midsection. Baginski won't want to take too many of those.
Baginski is struggling to control the position.
Alvarez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baginski backwards.
Alvarez lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Baginski is rocked!
A knee to the head by Alvarez.
Baginski is still on wobbly legs! Can Alvarez finish him?
Alvarez creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Baginski with a big uppercut! Baginski tries to clinch up but Alvarez pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Baginski to the mat! Baginski covers up and Alvarez unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Saul Alvarez!
Saul Alvarez seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.