PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergai Katanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bruno Alvarez is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Katanov
vs
Alvarez

170 cm
19
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

172 cm
26
147 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

MR. Cleaners(laundry 90%)

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergai Katanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruno Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Katanov. No joy for Alvarez on that attempt.
Katanov slips under a jab.
Katanov throws a right and a left that Alvarez avoids nicely.
Katanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Katanov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Alvarez takes one to the side of the head.
Alvarez avoids the head kick by Katanov.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Alvarez has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A swing and a miss from Alvarez.
Alvarez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Alvarez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alvarez throws out a leg kick but Katanov moves out of range and Alvarez only half commits.
Alvarez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Katanov falls off balance throwing a combination

so Alvarez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Katanov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Alvarez on the ground.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katanov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Alvarez stopping the sweep attempt from Katanov.
Katanov keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Katanov is controlling Alvarez's posture.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but Katanov blocks nicely.

Alvarez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Katanov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Katanov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Katanov!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katanov working the strikes but Alvarez uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Katanov throwing shots but Alvarez is blocking nicely.
Katanov wants to take a breather but Alvarez is having none of it.
Alvarez wants to control but Katanov is keeping busy.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet.

Katanov wants to work for an arm triangle but Alvarez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katanov is trying to control. Alvarez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Katanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Alvarez is just riding it out for now. Katanov eventually gives up the hold.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alvarez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Katanov defends well and Alvarez ends up having to push Katanov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Sergai Katanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Alvarez.
Katanov throws a sloppy head kick

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Katanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.
Katanov looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katanov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alvarez controls the pace.
Katanov keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
Katanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Katanov looking to control.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Katanov is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez slips a jab and a cross from Katanov.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Katanov digs a right hand into Alvarez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Alvarez's gas tank.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergai Katanov dominated that round.
That's time! Katanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Katanov misses the jab.
A big left from Alvarez misses.
Alvarez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Katanov moves away.

Katanov moves into the clinch.
I was talking to Katanov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Katanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into Katanov's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Alvarez advances position into side control!
Katanov wants to control but Alvarez postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An elbow from Alvarez crashes against the mat.
Katanov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Alvarez has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Katanov has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez tries for a kimura but Katanov is defending well.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katanov keeps working.
Katanov tries to bench press Alvarez off him but Alvarez keeps the position.
Alvarez with the ground and pound but Katanov regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but Katanov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Alvarez to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Alvarez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Katanov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Katanov trying to control here.
Alvarez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Katanov defending well though.
Alvarez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katanov keeps working.
Katanov wants to improve his position but Alvarez is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Alvarez wants to work for an arm triangle but Katanov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katanov is pressing down on Alvarez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Katanov wants to stand and escape but Alvarez is having none of it.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Katanov.

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.
Katanov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Alvarez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Alvarez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Katanov is keeping the position for now.
Katanov wants to sweep but no luck.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Katanov trying to control the position.

Alvarez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Katanov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Alvarez has Katanov in his guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Katanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alvarez is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Katanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Alvarez.
Katanov lands a nice shot to the body.
Katanov throws a nice looking combination but Alvarez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Alvarez is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Katanov.
Katanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Katanov with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Katanov scores with a three punch combo!
Alvarez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Katanov dodges the punch combination from Alvarez.
Katanov tries to counter by clinching up but Alvarez breaks away and moves out of range.
Katanov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sergai Katanov is winning the standup battle so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katanov scores with a shot to the body.
Katanov throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katanov digs a good body shot into Alvarez's ribs.
A left and a right from Katanov both land. Nice combination.
Katanov swinging wildly here.
Katanov throws a push kick but Alvarez slaps the foot to one side.
Katanov misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Katanov misses.
Katanov is looking to wear down Alvarez with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Katanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alvarez.
Katanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Katanov clinches up with Alvarez and pushes him back against the cage.

Katanov breaks the clinch.

Katanov has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katanov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Alvarez backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Katanov has Alvarez pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Katanov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Alvarez tumbling to the mat - Katanov dives into Alvarez's guard.
Katanov trying to control but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Katanov is having none of it.
Katanov wants to control from the top but Alvarez keeps moving.
Alvarez controlling Katanov's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez keeping full guard, as Katanov tries to pass.
Katanov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Alvarez can do to turn this around?
Katanov being controlled here momentarily.
Alvarez wants to stand and escape but Katanov is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Katanov throws a series of punches but Alvarez moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Katanov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Alvarez doesn't seem bothered though.
Katanov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Katanov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Katanov.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Katanov.
Alvarez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Katanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Alvarez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Katanov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Katanov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Katanov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergai Katanov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Katanov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergai Katanov!