PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guram Armenmagomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and chok rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). chok rivera told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Armenmagomedov
vs
rivera

195 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
21
250 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Guram Armenmagomedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, chok rivera!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armenmagomedov moves in looking to clinch but rivera pushes him off.
Guram Armenmagomedov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from rivera.
Armenmagomedov lands a nice looking body shot.
Armenmagomedov misses with a body kick.
No luck for Armenmagomedov with that takedown attempt.
rivera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Armenmagomedov lands a two punch combo.
Armenmagomedov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with rivera but rivera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Armenmagomedov shoots for a takedown but rivera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guram Armenmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Armenmagomedov moves out of range easily.
Armenmagomedov tries to clinch there but rivera circles away.
rivera checks a low kick from Armenmagomedov.
A slapping body kick lands there for Armenmagomedov.
rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Armenmagomedov scores with a head kick.
Armenmagomedov throws a head kick that half lands.
rivera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armenmagomedov shoots in for a takedown but rivera shows good takedown defense.
Armenmagomedov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says rivera as he avoids it easily.
rivera keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Armenmagomedov avoids the head kick by rivera.
Armenmagomedov avoids the head kick by rivera.
Armenmagomedov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. rivera tries to avoid it but Armenmagomedov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag rivera to the ground. rivera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Armenmagomedov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts rivera as he jumps to the side.
Armenmagomedov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armenmagomedov tries to close the distance and clinch up but rivera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
rivera misses with a head kick.
Armenmagomedov closes the distance and clinches up with rivera, looking for a takedown. Armenmagomedov pushes rivera against the cage but rivera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Armenmagomedov clinches with his opponent.
Armenmagomedov is pressed up against the cage. rivera has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Armenmagomedov down to the mat. Armenmagomedov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Armenmagomedov wants to clinch.
Armenmagomedov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Armenmagomedov tries for a takedown but rivera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
rivera leaves Armenmagomedov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
rivera slaps away a takedown attempt from Armenmagomedov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Armenmagomedov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has rivera pinned against the cage. rivera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

rivera feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Armenmagomedov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Armenmagomedov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armenmagomedov wants to sweep here but rivera controlling him for the moment.
Armenmagomedov throws a couple of heel strikes.

Armenmagomedov wriggles free and stands up.
Armenmagomedov doesn't manage to clinch there - rivera circles away.

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.
Armenmagomedov tries to clinch up but rivera circles away and keeps his distance.
Armenmagomedov fails with the takedown
and rivera counters with a head kick. That will keep Armenmagomedov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Armenmagomedov has his takedown stuffed
and rivera counters with a good low kick that Armenmagomedov was not able to check.
Guram Armenmagomedov is winning the standup battle so far.
Armenmagomedov misses with a double jab
and rivera counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armenmagomedov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and rivera counters with a big head kick but Armenmagomedov shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guram Armenmagomedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Armenmagomedov looks to clinch

and rivera counters with a shoot takedown. Armenmagomedov fights it but they end up in guard.
Armenmagomedov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Armenmagomedov controls rivera momentarily but rivera frees himself.
rivera slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armenmagomedov tries to escape but rivera is in control.

rivera is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Armenmagomedov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Armenmagomedov can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

chok rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Armenmagomedov falls off balance throwing a combination
and rivera counters with a low kick, right behind Armenmagomedov 's knee.
Armenmagomedov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and rivera counters with an inside leg kick.
Armenmagomedov takes a kick to the side of the head.
Armenmagomedov looks to clinch
and rivera counters with a flying knee. Nice.
rivera throws a lazy head kick

and Armenmagomedov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
rivera is trying to stand up here but Armenmagomedov is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armenmagomedov passes to full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Armenmagomedov manages to capitalize on a mistake by rivera to take his back!
Armenmagomedov lands punches and elbows.
Armenmagomedov trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure rivera doesn't escape.

rivera defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Armenmagomedov has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for rivera! Can he survive? No! He's out! Armenmagomedov gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Guram Armenmagomedov!