PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ron Culerovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ron Culerovich is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivera
vs
Culerovich

160 cm
25
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pablo Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ron Culerovich!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Culerovich tries to clinch up but Rivera circles away and keeps his distance.
Ron Culerovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Culerovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rivera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Culerovich fails with an attempt to clinch.
Culerovich tries to clinch up but Rivera circles away and keeps his distance.
Culerovich misses with a wild combination.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Culerovich counter with a right hand.

Culerovich has closed the distance and engaged Rivera in a clinch.
Rivera working aggressively here.
Culerovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivera tries to break free but Culerovich pushes him back against the cage.
Culerovich misses with a knee to the head.
Culerovich swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera pushes Culerovich back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Culerovich lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Rivera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Culerovich throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivera blocks it with crossed arms.

Rivera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivera takes a swing at Culerovich's ribcage but misses.
Culerovich ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Culerovich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A nice combination there by Culerovich.
Culerovich fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Culerovich counters with a three punch combo that has Rivera backing up. Rivera nods at Culerovich to acknowledge the strikes.
Culerovich is looking to clinch but Rivera is avoiding it.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Culerovich clobbers Rivera with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Culerovich misses with a jab, cross combination.
Culerovich is looking to clinch but Rivera is avoiding it.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Culerovich tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
Culerovich dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rivera. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Culerovich ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rivera connects with a looping right hand.

Culerovich closes the distance and pushes Rivera back into the cage.
Culerovich misses with a hook from the clinch.
Culerovich tries to land a knee to the head but Rivera blocks with his arms.
Rivera blocks an uppercut.
Culerovich working aggressively here.
Rivera working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Rivera jumps guard.

Culerovich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Culerovich tries to stand but Rivera is controlling from the bottom.
Rivera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Culerovich's guard.
Rivera stops Culerovich from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet but Rivera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Culerovich keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Culerovich is looking to stand up but Rivera isn't so interested in that idea.
Rivera is standing up over Culerovich. Culerovich looks to escape but Rivera dives into side control.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet but Rivera drags him back down.
Rivera working the ground and pound.
Culerovich dodges the ground and pound from Rivera.
Rivera is looking to take a break and control but Culerovich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Culerovich tries to escape but Rivera is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rivera connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Culerovich some visible discomfort.
Culerovich is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rivera has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rivera landing a few strikes.
Culerovich is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Culerovich looks gassed!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rivera advances nicely into full mount.
Rivera lands a big shot there that rocks Culerovich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rivera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Culerovich is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by Rivera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Rivera dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rivera tries to bum rush Culerovich with a series of wild strikes but Culerovich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera lands the left hand.
Rivera swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Culerovich.
Culerovich tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Culerovich misses with a body shot.
Rivera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Culerovich's waist but Culerovich gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rivera off to one side.
Rivera lands a jab to the head.

Culerovich instigates a clinch.
Culerovich has a couple of punches blocked by Rivera.
Culerovich throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivera.
Culerovich lands a left hand.
A short body shot lands from Rivera as the two fighters clinch.
Culerovich connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rivera's face.
Rivera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Culerovich has him pressed against the cage.
Culerovich misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivera jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Culerovich walks away with a smile on his face. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Culerovich moves in looking to clinch but Rivera pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culerovich is looking to clinch.
Rivera lands with a nice body punch.
Culerovich is breathing heavily.
Culerovich swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rivera counters with a two punch combo.
Ron Culerovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera tests Culerovich's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rivera shoots and misses
and Culerovich counters with a left and a right that stings Rivera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Culerovich closes the distance but Rivera moves to the side
and Rivera counters with a stiff right hand.
Culerovich tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rivera counters with a nice body shot.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Culerovich darts in trying to clinch

and Rivera counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Culerovich!
Rivera with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera breaks from Culerovich's wrist control and lands an elbow.

It looks like Ron Culerovich has been cut.
Culerovich really wants to buck Rivera off and get back to his feet.

Rivera has hold of Culerovich's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Culerovich manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Culerovich avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rivera.
Culerovich wants to get back to his feet.
Rivera unloading with bombs!
Culerovich tries to buck Rivera off but he can't manage it.
A nice elbow there by Rivera.
Rivera lands a nice shot to the head.

Rivera wants to finish this one by submission but Culerovich is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich is trying to stand up.
Rivera landing punches.
Rivera misses with a head shot.

Culerovich somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Culerovich closes the distance but Rivera moves to the side
and Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Culerovich.
Rivera avoids the head kick by Culerovich.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Culerovich.
Culerovich throws a nice looking combination but Rivera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rivera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Culerovich, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Culerovich clinches but Rivera breaks the clinch

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Culerovich won't be happy with that.
Rivera prevents Culerovich from escaping the position.
Rivera working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sloppy strikes there by Rivera.
Culerovich is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera in side control, throwing shots but Culerovich defends.
Culerovich is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rivera connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Rivera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ron Culerovich's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Culerovich shows good takedown defense.
Culerovich misses with the combination.
Culerovich clinches but Rivera breaks the clinch

and Rivera counters with a takedown into side control.

Culerovich explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Culerovich closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Rivera to counter with a crisp jab.
Rivera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rivera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Culerovich circles away quickly and effectively.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Culerovich.

Culerovich moves into the clinch successfully.
Rivera fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Culerovich lands with a light punch inside.
Culerovich misses with a knee to the head.
Culerovich landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Culerovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera tries a body shot but Culerovich blocks it.
Culerovich misses with the head strike.
Culerovich working aggressively here.
Culerovich misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivera jumps guard but Culerovich stands there with Rivera around his waist. Rivera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Culerovich swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Culerovich with a knee to the head.
Culerovich has a couple of punches blocked by Rivera.
Still in the clinch, Culerovich scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rivera lands an uppercut.
Rivera can't break the clinch.

Rivera has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Culerovich regains guard immediately.
Culerovich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Culerovich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ron Culerovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Culerovich striking off his back but it's not causing Rivera any problems.

Culerovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rivera is aware though and is defending well.
Rivera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivera prevents Culerovich from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rivera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Culerovich is fending him off so far but Rivera persists. Nope, Culerovich circles away and we're back to standing.
Culerovich tries to clinch but Rivera moves away
letting Rivera counter with a right hand.
Rivera with a poor takedown
and Culerovich counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Culerovich tries to clinch

so Rivera counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Culerovich is keeping the position for now.
Culerovich wants to stand up but Rivera is controlling him.
Rivera throwing strikes from guard but Culerovich blocks nicely.

Culerovich has his feet on Rivera's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Culerovich moves away.
Culerovich lands a jab to the nose.
Culerovich wants to clinch

and Rivera counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Culerovich's guard now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Culerovich doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Pablo Rivera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Culerovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Culerovich wants to stand and escape but Rivera is having none of it.
Rivera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Culerovich manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Rivera scores with a decent looking hook.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Culerovich sprawls well. Culerovich wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Culerovich tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rivera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rivera lands a jab to Culerovich's midsection.
Rivera misses the body punch
and Culerovich counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Culerovich gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Culerovich looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rivera passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Rivera!