PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bernhard River (ranked 767 p4p, 652 weight class) and Braynas Hlervu (ranked 89 p4p, 76 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica: Enter Sandman. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

River
vs
Hlervu

170 cm
31
135
18 - 10 - 1

168 cm
35
146
18 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Braynas Hlervu!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Percy O'Donnell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hlervu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from River.
Hlervu scores with a hook.
Bernhard River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hlervu scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hlervu slips under a jab from River.
Hlervu walks into a straight right hand from River.
River with the inside leg kick.
River's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hlervu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! River scrambles back to his feet.

River closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Hlervu controls the action.
Hlervu scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Hlervu fails to land.
Hlervu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hlervu misses with some punches.
Hlervu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

River escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
River thuds his shin into the meat of Hlervu's side.
Hlervu cracks a nice hook into River's ribs.
River drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hlervu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hlervu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. River looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
River fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Braynas Hlervu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
River stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
River looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hlervu misses with an uppercut. River saw that one coming.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hlervu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hlervu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
River avoids the body shot from Hlervu.

River scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
River seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hlervu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hlervu is pressing down on River's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
River tries to free his leg and advance position but Hlervu is retaining full guard.

Hlervu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
River stands up over Hlervu, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River is working Hlervu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hlervu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hlervu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. River manages to get himself to full guard.

Hlervu passes into half guard.
River is trying to maintain the position but Hlervu is very close to passing his half guard.
River wants to improve his position but Hlervu is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hlervu in particular looking to stall.
Hlervu is keen to just control but River is a slippery customer.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hlervu passes to side control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hlervu trying to control the position but River is working away.
Hlervu takes a little break here. River wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hlervu tries to advance to mount but River denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
River regains half guard.

River looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hlervu wants to take a breather but River is having none of it.

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.
Hlervu is taking a breather. River says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hlervu is continuing to stall.
River is looking for a sweep. Hlervu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
River has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hlervu is working away from the top position though.
River tries to get to full guard but Hlervu has control of the leg.
River is refusing to be controlled, as Hlervu sits in half guard.
River wants to get back to full guard.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Braynas Hlervu will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

River avoids the body shot from Hlervu.
A little feinted left hand from River on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
River scoring well with a low kick there.
Hlervu uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before River has time to react.
River cracks Hlervu with an open hand slap.

River fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hlervu sprawls well initially but River persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
River lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
River prevents Hlervu from improving his position.
River is keen to just control but Hlervu is a slippery customer.
Hlervu looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hlervu trying to control from the bottom.
River keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
River takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

River seems to be looking for submissions.
Hlervu wants to improve his position but River is controlling well.
Hlervu is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River passes to full mount!
Hlervu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
River looking to control but Hlervu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hlervu working to try and regain half guard.
Hlervu tries to hold on but River postures up.
Bernhard River overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hlervu slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hlervu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
River won't allow Hlervu to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hlervu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hlervu has his hands on River's head, controlling the position.
River works over Hlervu with some ground and pound from guard.
Hlervu wants to sweep but no luck.
Hlervu controls River momentarily but River frees himself.
River preventing the sweep.
River with a flurry of punches that miss.
River stands up over Hlervu, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River postures up.
Hlervu has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but River has passed into side control.
Hlervu takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

River is trying to get an arm triangle but Hlervu is defending well.
River lands an elbow.
Hlervu is trying to control River's posture but River avoids it.
Hlervu tries to bench press River off him but River keeps the position.
Hlervu takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
River trying to control the action but Hlervu is working from the bottom.
Hlervu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but River wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hlervu is looking for a sweep.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting River here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Hlervu struggling a bit here.
Hlervu is looking for a sweep.
River is working Hlervu over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hlervu is looking for a sweep.
Hlervu is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hlervu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. River is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hlervu keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hlervu has a hand on River's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. River takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hlervu looks to land a left hand but River moved out of range nicely.
River throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
River lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hlervu will feel that in the morning.
Hlervu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but River manages to avoid it.

Hlervu tries to sprawl but River drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Hlervu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hlervu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
River slips a nice elbow through Hlervu's hands, connecting with Hlervu's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hlervu keeping control of the position.
Hlervu trying to control but River postures up.
River working over Hlervu with some ground and pound. Hlervu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hlervu manages to get to full guard.
River postures up.
River works over Hlervu with some ground and pound from guard.
River preventing the sweep.
Hlervu is trying to control the position but River postures up.
Hlervu looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but River puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
River is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hlervu can do to turn this around?
Hlervu wants to improve his position but River is controlling well.
River lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. River lands a nice short elbow.
Hlervu tries to roll over but River keeps him under control.
River wants to free his trapped foot but Hlervu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hlervu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
River controls from within his opponent's guard.
River stopping the sweep attempt from Hlervu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River chips away with some ground and pound.
Hlervu pulls River in close to his closed guard and prevents River from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hlervu controls River momentarily but River frees himself.
River wants to control from the top but Hlervu keeps moving.
River stopping the sweep attempt from Hlervu.

River drops back looking for a leg! Hlervu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hlervu manages to kick River off! River jumps back into Hlervu's guard.
Hlervu has momentary wrist control but River slips an elbow through the middle.

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.
River with a flurry of punches that miss.
River cracks Hlervu with a solid left hand.
River won't allow Hlervu to sweep him here.
Hlervu has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but River has passed into side control.
Hlervu taking a bit of punishment here - River scoring with strikes.
River scores with punches from side control.
Hlervu is trying to get back to half guard.
River working away.
River cracks Hlervu with a big elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hlervu tries to bench press River off him but River keeps the position.
River working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hlervu is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard River showed his dominance in that final round.
I think River 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard River!
A relieved looking Bernhard River thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.