PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Amir Sadaliv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Riva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riva has chosen Smack My B tch UP as his entrance music. Thomas Riva struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sadaliv
vs
Riva

177 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Amir Sadaliv!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Riva!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riva shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sadaliv manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Riva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sadaliv is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sadaliv has his foot on Riva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Riva works his way back into a safe position though.
Riva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Riva trying to control the position from guard on top but Sadaliv is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Riva pushing down on Sadaliv's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Riva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sadaliv defending well though.

Sadaliv looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riva wants to stand up but Sadaliv has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Riva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sadaliv trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sadaliv is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Riva pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sadaliv is breathing heavily.
Riva thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Sadaliv to regain full guard.
Riva tries to free his leg and advance position but Sadaliv is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Sadaliv clinches up against the cage.
Sadaliv gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Riva.
Riva drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Riva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sadaliv smiles and moves away.
Amir Sadaliv has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Riva.
Sadaliv lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Riva takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Thomas Riva has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Sadaliv.
Sadaliv does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sadaliv gets a takedown into half guard.
Sadaliv blocks the strikes from Riva.
Sadaliv stops Riva from getting back to his feet.

Sadaliv is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Riva defends it well.
Riva regains full guard. Nicely done.

Sadaliv thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sadaliv looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sadaliv is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Riva 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.
Sadaliv trying to control but Riva is working from the bottom.
Riva wants to stand but Sadaliv is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sadaliv tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Sadaliv dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thomas Riva's cut.
That's time! Sadaliv's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sadaliv fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riva steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sadaliv.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sadaliv.
Riva wants to get back to his feet but Sadaliv drags him back down.

Sadaliv tries for a kimura but Riva is defending well.
Riva holding on.

Sadaliv looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riva is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sadaliv is looking to take a break and control but Riva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sadaliv avoids the strikes from the bottom by Riva.

Sadaliv is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Riva looks calm but he's in trouble here. Sadaliv gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Riva is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Sadaliv lets go of the hold and Riva can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Amir Sadaliv!