PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kelly Omega (ranked 4110 p4p, 4254 weight class) and Enrique Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 273 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Omega
vs
Rivera

180 cm
24
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kelly Omega!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Enrique Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivera clinches up with Omega and pushes him back against the cage.
Rivera has Omega pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Omega manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rivera wants to break free but Omega has control.
Omega managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Omega jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rivera walks away with a smile on his face. Omega gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rivera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Omega defends it nicely.

Omega tries to keep at a distance but Rivera has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omega has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rivera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Nice elbow from Omega.

Omega manages to pull guard.
Omega looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Omega trying to control the position.

Omega looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rivera has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Omega is proving hard to escape from.
Omega really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Omega looking to control.

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.
Rivera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rivera with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Omega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rivera decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Omega looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Omega keeping hold of Rivera's head, controlling as best he can.
Omega is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to pass to full mount but Omega defends it.

Omega pushes Rivera off and gets back to his feet.
Rivera dives in for a single leg takedown but Omega sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kelly Omega has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Enrique Rivera.

Rivera clinches with his opponent.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Omega controls the action.
Rivera has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Omega after a bit of a struggle.

Omega breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Omega. No joy for Rivera on that attempt.
Omega misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses the body punch
and Omega counters with a one-two to the body.

Rivera throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Omega was covering up waiting for the punch and Rivera finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Omega kicks Rivera off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Omega counters with a leg kick.
Rivera throws the kick towards the body but Omega avoids it.
Omega tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rivera defends well and Omega ends up having to push Rivera into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rivera is looking for the big counter here.
Omega has Rivera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rivera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Omega pulls guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kelly Omega dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rivera has managed to clinch.
Rivera wants to take the fight to the mat but Omega manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Rivera jumps into guard, dragging Omega to the mat.
Omega postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Omega content to stall in guard here.
Omega looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera wants to stand but Omega is controlling the position.
Rivera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Rivera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Omega. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Omega from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Omega stands up from Rivera's guard - Omega perhaps looking for a knockout.

Omega rushes Rivera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Omega fails to pull guard.
Rivera wants to stall.

Rivera breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fails with the takedown
and Omega counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Omega fails to land the takedown.
Omega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Omega clinches.
Omega slows down the pace here.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Omega is defending well for now.
Omega tries to pull guard but Rivera holds him up against the cage and eventually Omega drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly Omega. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rivera manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rivera can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Omega is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivera can't keep his opponent in guard - Omega advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rivera is not content to let Omega control the position.
Rivera trying to hold on to Omega's head to control him but Omega postures up.
Omega is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rivera!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivera tries to hold on but Omega postures up.
Omega looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Omega get's back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Omega lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Omega sprawls well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kelly Omega dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Omega fails with a takedown attempt.
Omega thows a body kick. Rivera tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rivera darts in looking for a takedown but Omega gets double underhooks and turns Rivera into the cage.

Rivera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Omega looking to slow down the pace here.
Omega is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rivera to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Omega breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kelly Omega is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Omega goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rivera tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Omega counters with a three punch combo that has Rivera backing up. Rivera nods at Omega to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omega misses with a takedown attempt - Rivera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kelly Omega. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Omega sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Omega is defended easily by Rivera.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Omega as he avoids it easily.
Omega shoots in looking for a takedown. Rivera tries to sprawl out of it but Omega keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rivera manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rivera clinches up against the cage.
Omega tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivera smiles and moves away.
Omega shoots in but no luck this time.
Rivera takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Omega circles away.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kelly Omega is winning the standup battle so far.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Omega tries for a takedown but Rivera manages to get underhooks.
Omega jumps guard but Rivera turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rivera fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Omega dives in and grabs Rivera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rivera pushes down on Omega's head and hops out.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.
Rivera wants to take the fight to the mat but Omega manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rivera stalls.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rivera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rivera misses with some punches.

Rivera drags the fight down to the ground.
Omega postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Omega throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivera is trying to keep Omega in close.
Omega postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Omega missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Omega pushing down on Rivera's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Omega seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rivera does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Omega performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rivera looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kelly Omega.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Omega, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Kelly Omega!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Kelly Omega!
Judge Josh West scores the fight for Kelly Omega!

Kelly Omega wins by unanimous decision!