PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stu Pidaso (ranked 5729 p4p, 641 weight class) and Ricardo Alvarez (ranked 2959 p4p, 406 weight class). Alvarez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem–Phenomenal kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Stu Pidaso has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pidaso
vs
Alvarez

188 cm
27
180 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
184 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stu Pidaso !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Alvarez. That snapped Pidaso 's head back.

It looks like Stu Pidaso has been cut.
Ricardo Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Alvarez leaves Pidaso with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alvarez misses with a low kick.
Pidaso drops down looking for a counter takedown but Alvarez sprawls and moves away.
Pidaso walks into a jab.
Pidaso shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Alvarez pinned against the cage. Alvarez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Alvarez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pidaso .
Alvarez connects with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pidaso .
Alvarez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pidaso shoots in and drives through. Alvarez sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stu Pidaso . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alvarez catches Pidaso napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Pidaso to the canvas!

Pidaso is rocked!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Oh Pidaso is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Alvarez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but Pidaso is keeping the position.
Pidaso seems to have got his legs back now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alvarez is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pidaso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Alvarez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Alvarez steps into range and cracks Pidaso with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Pidaso flops backwards and Alvarez dives into his guard looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
Pidaso seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Pidaso wants to sweep here but Alvarez controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Alvarez passes Pidaso 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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 slows the pace down in half guard.
Pidaso is trying to get back to full guard.
Alvarez working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Pidaso 's thigh. Pidaso counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Alvarez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stu Pidaso 's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pidaso ducks under a wild hook from Alvarez.
Pidaso drops down looking for a counter takedown but Alvarez sprawls and moves away.
A leg kick checked by Pidaso .
Pidaso changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Alvarez has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Pidaso is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Alvarez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pidaso appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pidaso .
Pidaso showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez throws a series of punches but Pidaso moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Alvarez, right into the meat.
Some wild striking there from Alvarez.
Pidaso shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a right and a left that Pidaso avoids nicely.
Ricardo Alvarez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Alvarez misses.
Pidaso drops down looking for a counter takedown but Alvarez sprawls and moves away.
Alvarez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Pidaso half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A leg kick checked by Pidaso .
Pidaso fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pidaso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut.
Pidaso appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Alvarez thows a leg kick but Pidaso checks it

and Pidaso decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Pidaso manages to pass to side control.

Alvarez is looking for a sweep. Pidaso is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Alvarez looking for subs off his back but Pidaso has passed one foot through into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Pidaso is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is trying to control but can't.
Alvarez preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Pidaso stops Alvarez from getting back to his feet.

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 is concentrating on defense, preventing Pidaso from advancing position.
Alvarez tries to roll over but Pidaso keeps him under control.
Alvarez trying to hold on to Pidaso 's head to control him but Pidaso postures up.
Alvarez is refusing to be controlled, as Pidaso sits in half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pidaso has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Alvarez finds it's way round the side to connect with Pidaso 's head.

Stu Pidaso 's cut is getting worse.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pidaso on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pidaso checks a low kick from Alvarez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Stu Pidaso 's cut.
That's time! Pidaso 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Pidaso shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alvarez sprawls well. Alvarez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pidaso gets slowly back to his feet.
Alvarez with a jab.
Pidaso blocks a leg kick.
Pidaso changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Alvarez misses with a combination

and Pidaso counters with a shoot takedown. Alvarez fights it but they end up in guard.

Alvarez manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Alvarez.
The referee is keeping an eye on Alvarez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez is pressed up against the cage. Pidaso has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Alvarez down to the mat. Alvarez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pidaso avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Alvarez moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Pidaso goes down! Can Alvarez finish him!?
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
Pidaso keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.
Ricardo Alvarez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Alvarez preventing the sweep.
Alvarez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pidaso shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stu Pidaso . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No joy there for Alvarez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pidaso feinted with a counter takedown.
Stu Pidaso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Alvarez misses with an uppercut.
Pidaso drops down looking for a counter takedown but Alvarez sprawls and moves away.
Pidaso is trying hard to land a takedown here. Alvarez sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pidaso checks a low kick from Alvarez.
Pidaso changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Alvarez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A bone on bone clash there as Pidaso blocks the leg kick.
Pidaso takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Stu Pidaso 's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Alvarez slaps away a takedown attempt from Pidaso , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alvarez unleashes a big counter combination but Pidaso bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Alvarez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Alvarez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Alvarez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Alvarez misses with a series of wild punches.
Pidaso stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Alvarez.
Pidaso on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Stu Pidaso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricardo Alvarez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Alvarez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alvarez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 25:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Alvarez!
After the fight, Ricardo Alvarez was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.