PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clint Rivers (ranked 214 p4p, 298 weight class) and Vinicius Honorio (ranked 30 p4p, 40 weight class). Honorio has chosen Through the Darkness by Vinicius Honorio as his entrance music. Clint Rivers could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vinicius Honorio's chin.

Rivers
vs
Honorio

172 cm
27
170
18 - 7 - 1

182 cm
25
180
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Clint Rivers!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinicius Honorio!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Honorio slips under a jab.
Honorio throws out a counter right but Rivers avoids it with no problem.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Honorio 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.
Rivers throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rivers gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Honorio to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rivers is looking to sweep but instead, Honorio has passed into half guard.
Rivers is trying to maintain the position but Honorio is very close to passing his half guard.
Honorio lands strikes from half guard.
Honorio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivers keeps working.
Honorio stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Honorio wants to work for an arm triangle but Rivers is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Honorio working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is controlling Honorio's trapped leg to prevent Honorio from advancing to side control.
Rivers wants to control but Honorio is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rivers's coaches at Roosters Coop have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Rivers tries to roll over but Honorio keeps him under control.
Honorio trying to control from half guard but Rivers is working away.
Rivers trying to control here.
Honorio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rivers is trying to get back to full guard.
Honorio passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rivers is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honorio looking to control but Rivers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Honorio landing shots from mount.
Honorio controlling his opponent.
Honorio pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rivers gets back to half guard.
Rivers wants to get back to full guard but Honorio has passed into side control.
Honorio controlling the position.
Rivers tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is working to avoid the ground and pound but Honorio connects with a decent elbow.
Rivers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Honorio in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Honorio trying to control the action but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Rivers struggling a bit here.
Rivers sneaks back into half guard.
Rivers is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is trying to control but can't.
Honorio passes to full mount!
Rivers is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers tries to hold on but Honorio pushes him away.
Honorio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rivers is bucking up trying to escape but Honorio cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Honorio putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Honorio scores with a couple of good head shots there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivers is trying to escape the mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Honorio dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rivers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers fails to land the takedown.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivers misses the target.
Rivers uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Honorio.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Honorio.
Rivers tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Honorio was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivers.
Honorio misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivers throws a body punch but Honorio moves out of range.
Rivers misses with a body shot

and Honorio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honorio looking to pass the guard.
Honorio content to stall in guard here.
Rivers is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honorio preventing the sweep.
Rivers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Honorio won't allow Rivers to sweep him here.
Honorio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vinicius Honorio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rivers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Honorio wants to pass the guard but Rivers is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Honorio is still trying to improve position.
Honorio trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Honorio has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rivers keeping moving, preventing Honorio from controlling successfully.
Rivers is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Honorio stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Honorio wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivers misses with a wild body shot.
And Honorio tries to counter it with a takedown but Rivers pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Honorio works the jab nicely.
A lazy left from Rivers finds it's target.
Honorio throws a series of strikes that have Rivers backpedaling.
Honorio lands a slapping body shot.
Honorio rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rivers moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Honorio takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honorio lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Honorio.
Honorio misses with an uppercut. Rivers saw that one coming.
Honorio tries for a takedown but Rivers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rivers misses the shot to the body.
Honorio wants to counter with a clinch but Rivers pushes him away.
Honorio walks into a left hand.
Rivers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Honorio will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clint Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinicius Honorio.
Honorio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rivers avoids it really well and circles away.

Rivers scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rivers lands strikes from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers drops an elbow to the side of Honorio's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is thwarting Honorio's attempts to control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rivers connects with a nice short shot to Honorio's temple.
Rivers working Honorio over with strikes.
Rivers slips a nice elbow through Honorio's hands, connecting with Honorio's forehead.
Rivers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rivers working the head and body with strikes.
Honorio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rivers is working away from the top position though.
Honorio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rivers working Honorio over with strikes.
Rivers content to control rather than advance.
Rivers trying to control from half guard but Honorio is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Clint Rivers will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Honorio scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rivers in his tracks.
Honorio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rivers moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Honorio throws a series of strikes that have Rivers backpedaling.
Rivers looks to score with a jab to the body but Honorio is just out of range.
Rivers looks to land a left hand but Honorio moved out of range nicely.
Rivers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Honorio.
Rivers comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Honorio blocks the body kick.
Honorio tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honorio lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Honorio shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Honorio's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Honorio scores with a takedown into Rivers's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Honorio looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honorio is fighting to break Rivers's control of his arms but Rivers is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Honorio won't allow Rivers to sweep him here.
Honorio tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivers is retaining full guard.
Rivers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Honorio is one step ahead there.
Honorio with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rivers is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rivers wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rivers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Honorio trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Rivers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Honorio is trying to get back to full guard.
Honorio keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Rivers there.
Honorio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rivers is working away from the top position though.
Rivers lands strikes from half guard.
Rivers takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Honorio gets full guard.
Honorio has momentary wrist control but Rivers slips an elbow through the middle.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Honorio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivers postures up.
Rivers lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers distracts Honorio with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Honorio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivers lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rivers postures up.
Rivers scoring with some ground and pound.
Rivers wants to control from the top but Honorio keeps moving.
Rivers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivers with a nice head shot there.
Rivers postures up in Honorio's guard and throws a big left but Honorio blocks it.
Rivers stopping the sweep attempt from Honorio.
Rivers is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rivers throwing strikes from guard but Honorio blocks nicely.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Honorio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Clint Rivers clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Honorio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vinicius Honorio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Honorio takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Honorio ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Honorio is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Rivers lands a glancing blow to the side of Honorio's head.
Honorio looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivers is just out of range.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivers moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Honorio throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Honorio goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Honorio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rivers counters with a left to the body.
Honorio ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Honorio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Honorio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivers.
Rivers will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Honorio shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rivers manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rivers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Honorio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Honorio is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivers has wrist control.
Honorio trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivers wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Honorio is now in half guard.
Rivers is looking to improve his position.
Rivers is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honorio is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rivers!
Rivers regains half guard.
Honorio tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rivers knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Honorio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rivers gets full guard.
Honorio's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rivers working a defensive guard here.
Honorio wants to pass the guard but Rivers is keeping the position.
Rivers working a defensive guard but Honorio manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Honorio's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rivers is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Honorio wants to control but Rivers is keeping him busy.
Rivers is looking for a sweep.
Rivers isn't going anywhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivers is looking for a sweep.

Honorio is trying to get an arm triangle but Rivers is defending well.
Rivers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Honorio is working Rivers over with some ground and pound from side control.

Honorio is trying to get an arm triangle but Rivers is defending well.
Rivers gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rivers is looking for a sweep. Honorio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vinicius Honorio dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rivers throws a hook but Honorio blocks it.
Rivers digs a good body shot into Honorio's ribs.
Honorio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivers.
No luck for Rivers with that takedown attempt.
Honorio tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Honorio scores with the left hand. Rivers knows he should have avoided that one.
Rivers lands a nice hook to Honorio's body. Honorio takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rivers scores with a jab to the body.
Rivers is looking to wear down Honorio with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rivers leaves Honorio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honorio takes one on the button.
Honorio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Honorio shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Honorio showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivers keeping hold of Honorio's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Honorio's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Honorio's back!
Rivers scores with strikes from the back.
Rivers lands punches and elbows.
Honorio rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Honorio actively working from the bottom here.
Honorio tries to get to full guard but Rivers has control of the leg.
Rivers trying to control from half guard but Honorio is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Honorio gets back to full guard.
Honorio looking to control.
Rivers working some strikes from top position.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Honorio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Honorio trying to keep a closed guard but Rivers is proving a slippery customer.

Rivers content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Honorio has locked up a guillotine! Honorio's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Rivers is holding on here and Honorio must be using up a lot of energy. Rivers has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Honorio gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Vinicius Honorio!
Vinicius Honorio is the new welterweight champion!
Vinicius Honorio decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.