PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leon Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Lombardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lombardo has chosen Nas - Got Yourself A Gun as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rivers
vs
Lombardo

188 cm
24
212 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

BioLuvoil

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Rivers!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Lombardo!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers misses the shot to the body.
Lombardo misses the jab.
A big left from Lombardo misses.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lombardo as he jumps to the side.
Nice takedown defense from Lombardo. No joy for Rivers on that attempt.
Lombardo lands an overhand right.
Lombardo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rivers on the side of the head.
Lombardo misses with a looping right.
Rivers moves out of range of the strikes.
Lombardo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivers.
Lombardo missing with a left hand there. Rivers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rivers tries to bum rush Lombardo with a series of wild strikes but Lombardo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivers lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lombardo misses with a straight left.
Rivers thows a body shot but no joy.
Rivers lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rivers.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Rivers feints and as Lombardo raises his hands in defense, Rivers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rivers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lombardo controls Rivers momentarily but Rivers frees himself.
Rivers is fighting to break Lombardo's control of his arms but Lombardo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lombardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Lombardo, not yet.
Lombardo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rivers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rivers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rivers works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Rivers is looking for a kimura but Lombardo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rivers to get the leverage.
Lombardo moves into full guard.
Lombardo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivers manages to get himself to full guard.
Lombardo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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.

Lombardo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rivers dives on top into guard.
Rivers looking to sit in guard and control but Lombardo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rivers is looking for a triangle but Lombardo pushes his legs off easily.
Lombardo works over Rivers with some ground and pound from guard.
Lombardo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lombardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lombardo is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivers has wrist control.
Lombardo passes into half guard.
Lombardo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rivers with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lombardo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rivers is controlling Lombardo's trapped leg to prevent Lombardo from advancing to side control.
Rivers wants to improve his position but Lombardo is controlling well.
Lombardo wants to pass to mount but Rivers is defending the position.
Rivers is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivers wants to improve his position but Lombardo is controlling well.

Lombardo is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers is doing well to control the position and prevent Lombardo from advancing to side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lombardo throws a looping overhand right but Rivers ducks down to avoid it.

Rivers shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lombardo is trying to defend but Rivers finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rivers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lombardo wants to improve his position but Rivers is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Lombardo will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rivers decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivers wants to control but Lombardo is keeping him busy.
Rivers drops an elbow to the side of Lombardo's head.
Rivers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lombardo has hold of Rivers's hands but Rivers slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lombardo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lombardo.
Lombardo looking to control.
Lombardo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rivers distracts Lombardo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lombardo wants to sweep but no luck.
Lombardo has his hands on Rivers's head, controlling the position.
Lombardo trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lombardo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rivers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rivers tries to free his leg and advance position but Lombardo is retaining full guard.
Lombardo trying to control the position.

Lombardo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rivers is aware though and is defending well.
Lombardo is breathing heavily.
Rivers working some strikes from top position.
Lombardo trying to keep a closed guard but Rivers is proving a slippery customer.
Lombardo has momentary wrist control but Rivers slips an elbow through the middle.
Rivers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivers stopping the sweep attempt from Lombardo.

Rivers is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lombardo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lombardo has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Lombardo throws a big right hand that misses.

Rivers is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lombardo defends well.

Rivers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lombardo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lombardo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rivers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lombardo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rivers closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lombardo circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Rivers 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Lombardo throws an overhand right that lands on Rivers's shoulder, as Rivers tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Lombardo misses the target.
Rivers moves out of range of the strikes.
Lombardo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lombardo misses with a body shot

so Rivers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lombardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lombardo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rivers's guard.
Rivers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lombardo throwing strikes from guard but Rivers blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo distracts Rivers with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rivers looking to control.
Rivers keeping full guard, as Lombardo tries to pass.
Rivers is trying to control the position but Lombardo postures up.
Lombardo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lombardo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rivers closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rivers lands a decent elbow from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lombardo can't do much from the bottom here.
Lombardo takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Lombardo can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Rivers dominated that second 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 ducks under a wild hook from Lombardo.
Rivers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lombardo.
The fighters circling - Lombardo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lombardo lands with a nice combination. Rivers backs away looking to recover.
Lombardo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Rivers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rivers.
Lombardo working a defensive guard here.
Lombardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lombardo keeping moving, preventing Rivers from controlling successfully.
Rivers controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lombardo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lombardo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Lombardo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rivers has worked his arm free - good work by Rivers!
Rivers is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lombardo off and has taken his back!
Rivers has Lombardo flattened out and is raining down punches.
Rivers scores with strikes from the back.

Rivers is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lombardo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lombardo for a finish.
Rivers keeps control of the position as Lombardo tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardo has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Lombardo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Rivers gets his way!
Rivers lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lombardo tries to break free.

Rivers is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Lombardo with him. Lombardo is trying to defend but Rivers has an arm under the chin now! Lombardo grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Leon Rivers!
Leon Rivers is the new light heavyweight champion!