PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Knight (ranked 2791 p4p, 2555 weight class) and Danny Rivera (ranked 273 p4p, 254 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Knight
vs
Rivera

180 cm
25
165
3 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
166
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xavier Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Danny Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rivera counters with a left and a right that stings Knight.
Rivera connects with the punch.
Rivera tries to bum rush Knight with a series of wild strikes but Knight uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Knight walks into a jab.
Rivera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knight looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A nice side step and Rivera releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Knight tries for a takedown but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Despite the aggression on Rivera's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Knight pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rivera is out of range and Knight settles back down.
Rivera displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Knight.
Knight wants to clinch
and Rivera counters with a series of strikes. Knight will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Knight looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Knight tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rivera defends well and Knight ends up having to push Rivera into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Knight.
Rivera prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivera has Knight pushed against the cage.

Rivera pulls Knight into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight throws a big right hand that misses.
Knight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivera wants to stand up but Knight is controlling him.
Knight with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to stand but Knight is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera keeping full guard, as Knight tries to pass.

Rivera scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Knight.
Rivera now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Knight shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A punch combination from Rivera misses.
Knight slips a jab and a cross from Rivera.
Knight slips a jab and a cross from Rivera.
Rivera tries to bum rush Knight with a series of wild strikes but Knight uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera throws a counter combo.
Xavier Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Knight moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Knight looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Knight dives in and scores a takedown into Rivera's guard.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.
Knight is working Rivera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.
Rivera wants to stand and escape but Knight is having none of it.
Knight throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Knight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knight chips away with some ground and pound.
Knight has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Knight is controlling him.
Knight scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Knight lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Knight scoring with some ground and pound.

Rivera is rocked!
Knight connects with a couple of short punches.
Rivera is still in real trouble! Can Knight finish him?
Knight sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rivera's guard.
Knight lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Rivera! More strikes land and this one is all over! Knight jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xavier Knight!