PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Junior Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piotr Rasputin Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Push it to the Limit - Rick Ross. Piotr Rasputin Rasputin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivera
vs
Rasputin Rasputin

183 cm
27
179 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Fight Club Clothing™
Fight Club Clothing™

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Junior Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Piotr Rasputin Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Rasputin lands.
Decent striking displayed by Rasputin there.
Rivera wants to clinch
and Rasputin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivera ducks right into an uppercut from Rasputin.
Rasputin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rasputin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rivera 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.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rasputin!
Rasputin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rasputin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rivera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Rasputin is desperately trying to improve his position but Rivera has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera with shots to the head and body - Rasputin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rasputin tries to hold on but Rivera pushes him away.
Rivera cracks Rasputin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Rivera with the ground and pound from mount.
Rivera working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rivera misses with a head shot.
Rasputin regains half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rasputin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rasputin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivera stops Rasputin from getting back to his feet.
Rivera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rivera working Rasputin over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rasputin defending well though.
Rivera trying to control the action but Rasputin is working from the bottom.
Rasputin trying to control but Rivera postures up.
Rivera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rivera thows a huge punch but Rasputin dodges it nicely.
Rasputin is trying to maintain the position but Rivera is very close to passing his half guard.
Rivera throwing shots but Rasputin is blocking nicely.
Rasputin is looking to escape.
Rasputin trying to hold on to Rivera's head to control him but Rivera postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera trying to advance position but Rasputin counters by regaining guard.
Rasputin 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.
Rivera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rasputin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivera is one step ahead there.
Rasputin controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rasputin wants to get back to his feet but Rivera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera thows a big elbow that misses.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasputin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera is in close to Rasputin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rasputin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rasputin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rasputin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivera pulls his leg out and moves away.
An inside leg kick lands from Rivera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Rivera dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rasputin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Rivera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Piotr Rasputin Rasputin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rasputin swings for the body but Rivera moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Rasputin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rivera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rasputin throws out the jab.
Rivera looks for the body kick but Rasputin saw that one coming.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rivera lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rasputin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rasputin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rasputin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rivera counters with a body kick.
Rivera lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rasputin moves out of range as Rivera throws a body kick.
Rasputin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rasputin looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
Rivera lunges at Rasputin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rasputin's hand.
Nice body kick there by Rivera.
Rivera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rasputin swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasputin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivera wants to control but Rasputin is keeping busy.
Rasputin working Rivera over with strikes.
Rivera is looking for a sweep. Rasputin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera is trying to control but can't.
Rivera gets back to full guard.
Rasputin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
Rasputin works over Rivera with some ground and pound from guard.
Rivera 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.
Rasputin wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
Rasputin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rasputin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rasputin thows a big elbow that misses.
Rasputin wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rivera is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rasputin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Junior Rivera.
Rasputin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rivera takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick
and Rasputin counters with a series of strikes. Rivera will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rasputin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rivera counters with a big head kick but Rasputin shrugs it off.
Rasputin misses with a right hand
and Rivera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rasputin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rivera tries a head kick but it misses.
Rivera feints and then cracks Rasputin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rasputin down.
Rivera misses with a leg kick.
Rasputin misses with a left hand

and Rivera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rivera prevents the takedown attempt.
Rasputin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivera pulls his leg out and moves away.
Junior Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Rasputin Rasputin.
Rasputin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rasputin dips to his left and cracks Rivera with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rivera counters with a nice body kick.
Rivera connects with an inside leg kick.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Rasputin.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rivera. That's going to slow Rasputin down.
Rivera throws a leg kick but Rasputin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rasputin throws a combination that misses
and Rivera finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Rivera forces Rasputin back against the cage and clinches.
Rivera lands a knee to the head.

Rasputin has Rivera pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Rasputin pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rivera tumbling to the mat - Rasputin dives into Rivera's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rasputin postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
Rasputin is breathing heavily.
Rasputin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
Rasputin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Junior Rivera will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rivera.
Rasputin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rivera makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rasputin really felt that one!
Rasputin misses with a hook
and Rivera counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Rivera lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rasputin takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Rasputin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rivera on the side of the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Rasputin blocks the leg kick.
Rivera slips a straight right by Rasputin.
Rasputin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rivera. Rivera obviously looking to wear him down.
Good work by Rasputin as he checks the leg kick.
Rasputin misses with a jab to the body
and Rivera counters with a good low kick that Rasputin was not able to check.
Rivera lands a head kick!
Rivera lands a leg kick that knocks Rasputin off balance momentarily.
Rasputin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rivera tries to score with a low kick but Rasputin moves his leg out of the way.
Rasputin misses with a double jab
and Rivera counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin throws a shot to the body.

Rivera rushes Rasputin and presses him up against the cage.
Rasputin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rivera avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Rivera landing knees to the head.
Rasputin has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rivera.
Rivera prevents the takedown attempt.
Rasputin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rasputin wants a takedown.
Junior Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Piotr Rasputin Rasputin.
A body shot lands from Rivera.
Rasputin takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rasputin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rivera scores with a leg kick.

Rivera instigates a clinch.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rasputin's face.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rasputin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rivera prevents it.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rivera lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rivera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rivera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rasputin's defenses.
Rasputin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivera gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rivera lands a knee to the body.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rivera.
Rivera is pressed up against the cage. Rasputin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rivera down to the mat. Rivera avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rasputin throws a combination that misses
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Junior Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera lands with a slapping head kick.
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!
Rasputin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rivera counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rivera misses with a head kick.
A big left from Rasputin misses.
Rivera lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rasputin's sensitive parts.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Rasputin.
A head kick misses from Rivera.

Rivera clinches up against the cage.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rivera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin tries for a takedown but Rivera manages to get underhooks.
Rivera lands a nice knee to the body.
Rivera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rasputin takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rivera landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Rivera manages to break the clinch.
Rivera throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rivera attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Rasputin moves out of range easily.
Rasputin misses with a hook. Rivera ducked under it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Rasputin scores with a jab to the body.
Rivera thumps Rasputin with a low kick.
Rivera blocks a jab.
Rasputin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivera moves in looking to clinch but Rasputin pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rasputin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rivera is fending him off so far but Rasputin persists. Nope, Rivera circles away and we're back to standing.
Rivera throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rasputin.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rasputin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rivera counters with a good low kick that Rasputin was not able to check.
Rivera throws a leg kick that misses.
Rivera displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rasputin.
Rasputin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Good work by Rasputin as he checks the leg kick.

Rivera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rasputin, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Rasputin is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rivera is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rasputin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rivera to the mat. Rivera regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rasputin stopping the sweep attempt from Rivera.
Piotr Rasputin Rasputin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rasputin with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

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