PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nina Oliva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Rill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oliva kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Eminem-Not Afraid. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Oliva
vs
Rill

205 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Nina Oliva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joao Rill!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oliva scores with a takedown into Rill's guard.
Rill working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oliva.
Oliva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Oliva 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.
Oliva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rill's head.
Rill looks gassed!
Rill preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oliva pushing down on Rill's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ground and pound from Oliva.
Rill is refusing to be controlled, as Oliva sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliva is nestled in close to Rill, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Oliva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Oliva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rill's head.
Oliva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rill defending well though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Oliva connects with a nice short shot to Rill's temple.
Oliva working over Rill with some ground and pound. Rill looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rill blocking the ground and pound attempt from Oliva.
Oliva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rill has hold of Oliva's hands but Oliva slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Oliva will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Oliva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rill's head.
Oliva scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Oliva really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Oliva thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Oliva throwing shots but Rill is blocking nicely.
Oliva drops an elbow to the side of Rill's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oliva thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rill to regain full guard.
Oliva lands a couple of elbows.
Oliva thows a big elbow that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rill can do anything to dispel that myth.
Oliva in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rill wants to get back to his feet but Oliva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Oliva trying to control the position from guard on top but Rill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rill works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Oliva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Oliva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rill tries to avoid it but Oliva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rill to the ground. Rill escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Rill shoots in and bounces Oliva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rill throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Oliva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Oliva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rill off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliva leaves Rill with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Oliva tries for a takedown but Rill circles away easily

and Rill moves into the clinch.

Rill pulls Oliva into guard.
Oliva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Oliva throwing strikes but missing.
Oliva wants to control from the top but Rill keeps moving.
Oliva landing some decent shots from guard.
Rill utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nina Oliva dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rill gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Oliva wants a takedown but no success here.

Oliva gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rill regains guard.
Rill working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oliva.
Oliva loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Oliva wants to stand but Rill is controlling his posture from full guard.
Oliva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rill pulls Oliva in close to his closed guard and prevents Oliva from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rill is trying to keep Oliva in close.
Rill really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Oliva. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Oliva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rill's head.
Oliva works over Rill with some ground and pound from guard.
Oliva has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Oliva landing some decent shots from guard.
Oliva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oliva tries to free his leg and advance position but Rill is retaining full guard.
Oliva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rill works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Oliva working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Oliva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rill looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oliva misses with a takedown attempt

and Rill counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Oliva!
Rill unloading with bombs!
Rill working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Oliva wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rill.
Rill landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rill throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Oliva is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Oliva blocking the ground and pound.
Rill working Oliva over with strikes here.
Rill with shots to the head and body - Oliva looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rill wants to control the pace but Oliva is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Oliva wants to try and get back to his feet.
Oliva trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Rill fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rill with good strikes from the mount here!
Rill throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Oliva because Rill loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Rill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Oliva fails with the takedown

and Rill counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rill.
Rill prevents Oliva from getting back to his feet.
Rill not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Oliva is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rill is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rill content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oliva manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Rill gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Oliva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Oliva thows a big elbow that misses.
Oliva won't allow Rill to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliva throwing strikes from guard but Rill blocks nicely.
Oliva thows a big elbow that misses.
Oliva missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rill is pulling down on Oliva's head. It's preventing any offense from Oliva, at least for the moment.
Rill working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Oliva.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Oliva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oliva leaves Rill with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rill shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rill landing strikes, looking to finish!
Oliva wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Rill is trying to control here but Oliva has managed to regain half guard.
Joao Rill has got the better of the ground game so far.
Oliva keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rill is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Oliva wants to get back to his feet but Rill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Oliva has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rill off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Oliva fails with the takedown

so Rill counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Oliva keeping full guard, as Rill tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oliva wants to stand but Rill is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Rill comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rill has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Rill!