Joel Alvarez looked to be heading to a convincing decision victory over Elves Brenner tonight at UFC On ABC 7 before he managed to rock his opponent in the final round and then finish him off with a barrage of knees and follow-up strikes.
Round One
Alvarez already causing Brenner problems early in the round with his height and reach advantage. Brenner is leaning straight back trying to keep his head out of range of punches. Brenner lunging in trying to land a punch or two, but it’s easier said than done.
Half the round remaining as Alvarez blasts Brenner with straight punches and then tries for a standing guillotine choke. He tries to work the fight to the mat but Brenner scrambles away to safety.
Alvarez lands a straight punch. Alvarez with a head kick attempt now, but Brenner blocks and then grabs hold of Alvarez and presses him into the cage.
Brenner tries for a takedown, but Alvarez prevents it and gets away. Good body shot for Alvarez. He’s giving Brenner a lot of problems here with his rangey striking.
Alvarez lands again and Brenner counters by diving for a leg. Alvarez on top now though and working for a d’arce choke. It looks in, but there’s not long left in the round and Brenner manages to survive.
Round Two:
Swiping left hook from Brenner after a number of fakes. Alvarez tries to come forward and almost eats a hook.
Push kick to the body from Alvarez. He lands a few straight punches down the pipe. Low kick for Brenner. Body punch from Alvarez.
Another body punch from Alvarez and then one upstairs. Back to the body. Right hand lands. Brenner with a kick.
Brenner rips to the body and now gets in on a takedown attempt. He moves over to the cage and then tries to wrench his opponent to the mat, but Alvarez prevents it and moves away.
Leg kicks exchanged. Body punch from Brenner. Glancing left hand for him. Body punch from Alvarez. High kick from Brenner is blocked.
Jabs from Alvarez. Brenner circling back and forth. Alvarez with a leg kick. Now one from Brenner. Brenner comes forward and eats a punch.
Solid body kick from Alvarez. A couple of left hand graze the target. Now a glancing left hook from Brenner. He misses with another.
Punch and a low kick for Alvarez. He throws another kick. Brenner goes for a flying knee but misses.
Round Three:
Low kick for Brenner. he lands a body kick and Alvarez fires back with a punch. Brenner comes into range with his hands down and gets caught with a couple of punches.
A couple of left hooks for Alvarez at close range and Brenner throws one of his own.
Spinning backfist attempt from Brenner. Body punch from Alvarez and then attempts a head kick that’s blocked. Alvarez with another heavy high kick.
Left hook from Brenner is blocked. Nice right hand from Brenner. Jab for Alvarez. Brenner trying to load up on a big punch.
Brenner comes in aggressively and lands a few punches, but then Alvarez counters with a heavy left hand that hurts him.
Brenner’s tough though, so Alvarez has more work to do and he does just that as he presses forward. Alvarez gets into the clinch and starts drilling big knees upstairs. Brenner can only take so much before dropping to the mat, and as Alvarez goes to work with ground-and-pound the ref quickly moves in to end the action – Alvarez gets the TKO finish at 3.36mins of the 3rd round.
