PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lotfi Sariahmed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sariahmed
vs
Rivera

190 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lotfi Sariahmed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sariahmed fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sariahmed takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Rivera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sariahmed fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rivera throws a half hearted mid kick.

Rivera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Rivera stands up from half guard.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.

Sariahmed ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sariahmed no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sariahmed trying to control the position.
Rivera preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera stands up from Sariahmed's guard - Rivera perhaps looking for a knockout.
Sariahmed scores with a leg kick.
Sariahmed with a poor takedown
and Rivera counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rivera throws a right and a left that Sariahmed avoids nicely.
Rivera closes the distance and clinches up with Sariahmed, looking for a takedown. Rivera pushes Sariahmed against the cage but Sariahmed circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
James Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sariahmed can pounce on him.

Rivera looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sariahmed trying to keep a closed guard but Rivera is proving a slippery customer.
Sariahmed wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to free his leg and advance position but Sariahmed is retaining full guard.
Rivera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rivera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sariahmed looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rivera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rivera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sariahmed trying to strike off his back.
Rivera is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sariahmed tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera stops Sariahmed from standing up.

Sariahmed pushes Rivera off and gets back to his feet.
Sariahmed doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rivera counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lotfi Sariahmed. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sariahmed is breathing heavily.
Rivera looks up at the clock and then as Sariahmed takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rivera smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rivera trying to control the position but Sariahmed is working away.
Rivera working away.
Rivera wants to control but Sariahmed is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rivera throws a body punch but Sariahmed moves out of range.
Rivera stuffs the takedown.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sariahmed trying to control the position.
Rivera trying to control but Sariahmed is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sariahmed darts in trying to clinch

and Rivera counters with a takedown into side control.
Sariahmed wants to control but Rivera postures up.
Sariahmed gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Sariahmed is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sariahmed controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Sariahmed is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sariahmed wants to get back to his feet.
Rivera tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Sariahmed is refusing to be controlled, as Rivera sits in half guard.

Rivera is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rivera is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No luck for Sariahmed with that takedown attempt.
Rivera scores with a one two! Sariahmed had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sariahmed lands a nice hook to Rivera's body. Rivera takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Sariahmed drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sariahmed trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sariahmed is really struggling to control Rivera but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sariahmed throws a big right hand that misses.
Sariahmed sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rivera wants to sweep here but Sariahmed controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeping full guard, as Sariahmed tries to pass.
James Rivera has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rivera pushes Sariahmed off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sariahmed.
Rivera wants to control but Sariahmed postures up.
Rivera is looking for a sweep.

Sariahmed stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fails with the takedown.
Sariahmed with a poor takedown

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch.

Sariahmed has picked Rivera up - he's going for a ride! Sariahmed dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Rivera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sariahmed controlling the action here.
Rivera is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sariahmed scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lotfi Sariahmed dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sariahmed is looking to clinch but Rivera is avoiding it.
Rivera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sariahmed circles away.
Rivera leaves Sariahmed with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Rivera or perhaps it was just good defense by Sariahmed which made him look bad.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rivera counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sariahmed!
Rivera lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sariahmed wants to hold on but Rivera pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sariahmed tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sariahmed is squirming around, avoiding Rivera's attempts to control the action.
Sariahmed is looking to improve his position but Rivera isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sariahmed bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rivera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sariahmed is one step ahead there.
Rivera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sariahmed is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Sariahmed from controlling successfully.
Sariahmed tries to stand but Rivera is controlling from the bottom.

Sariahmed drops back looking for a leg! Rivera is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rivera manages to kick Sariahmed off! Sariahmed jumps back into Rivera's guard.
Sariahmed wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera is trying to control the position but Sariahmed postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rivera wants to control but Sariahmed is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to pass the guard but Sariahmed defending well.
Sariahmed trying to hold on to Rivera's head to control him but Rivera postures up.
Rivera passes to side control.
Sariahmed throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

Rivera stands up and beckons Sariahmed to his feet.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt

and Rivera counters with a single leg into guard. Sariahmed didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rivera 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

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