PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James River (ranked 608 p4p, 738 weight class) and Daniel Belyaev (ranked 56 p4p, 61 weight class). The key to victory for James River has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

River
vs
Belyaev

170 cm
23
147
7 - 2 - 0

178 cm
30
152
13 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Conquer
Conviction

30th Century Beer Store
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, James River !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Belyaev!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belyaev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
River misses with a two punch combination.
Belyaev with a poor takedown
and River connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Daniel Belyaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
River takes a swing at Belyaev's ribcage but misses.
Belyaev shoots in for a takedown but River shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
James River has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Belyaev.
Belyaev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting River counter with a right hand.
Belyaev shoots for a takedown but River saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Belyaev closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Belyaev slips a nice elbow through River 's hands, connecting with River 's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
River wants to improve his position but Belyaev is controlling well.
Belyaev lands with a punch from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River wants to control but Belyaev is keeping busy.
Belyaev is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Belyaev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Belyaev landing punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belyaev thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Belyaev with good strikes from the mount here!
Belyaev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
River in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Belyaev unloading with bombs!
Belyaev lands a couple of good shots and River has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Belyaev misses with an elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belyaev lands shots from the back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
River is in bad spot here.
Belyaev missing with punches from the back.
River covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Belyaev has River flattened out and is raining down punches.
Belyaev punishes River with strikes from the back mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River trying to control the hands but Belyaev won't let him.
Even with his hooks in, Belyaev manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Belyaev throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
River covers up after that shot from Belyaev.
Belyaev gets his hands free as River looks to control.
Belyaev misses with a punch to the head.
River trying to control the position but Belyaev manages to sink in the hooks.
Belyaev somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Belyaev scores with punches from the back.
Belyaev somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
River trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Belyaev doesn't have the hooks in and River manages to turn into his guard.
Belyaev looking to hit a scissor sweep but River is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Belyaev keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.
River forces his way into half guard.
Belyaev works his way to full guard. Good work.
River won't allow Belyaev to sweep him here.
River cracks Belyaev with a solid left hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belyaev is on top in guard.

Belyaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

River is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Belyaev is aware though and is defending well.
Belyaev with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
River trying to keep a closed guard but Belyaev is proving a slippery customer.

River looking for a triangle here. Belyaev is fighting it but it looks tight! River pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Belyaev is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). James River !
A victorious James River thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.