PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ian McPherson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Your Hand in Mine. Carlos Rivera is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

McPherson
vs
Rivera

182 cm
23
195 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
197 lbs
16 - 5 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Grappling Pro Gear / Unicorn Laundry
Grappling Pro Gear / Unicorn Laundry

Hellbent, Inc.™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ian McPherson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlos Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yuuki Gou and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McPherson moves forwards but Rivera connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McPherson looks to land a left hand but Rivera moved out of range nicely.
McPherson throws out a powerful jab.
Rivera throws a body kick the misses
and McPherson counters with a nice uppercut.
Rivera swings widly with a right hand
and McPherson counters with a left to the body.
McPherson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rivera avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPherson misses with a right hand
and Rivera counters with a right hand to the body.
McPherson throws a sloppy head kick
and Rivera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McPherson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McPherson walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPherson digs a good hook to Rivera's body.
McPherson thows a leg kick but Rivera checks it
and Rivera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McPherson with a nice cross.

Rivera has McPherson up against the cage in a clinch.
Rivera avoids a wild elbow strike from McPherson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPherson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rivera's defenses.

It looks like Carlos Rivera has been cut.
Rivera is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McPherson is keeping busy.
Rivera digs a right hand underneath McPherson's ribcage. McPherson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rivera misses with a short punch on the inside.
McPherson throws an elbow that misses.
McPherson looking to stall.
McPherson has a couple of punches blocked by Rivera.
McPherson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera leaning against his opponent.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
McPherson lands a right hand.
McPherson stalling.
McPherson lands with a short shot to the head.
McPherson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McPherson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McPherson trying to land knees to the body.
Rivera avoids the elbow strike from McPherson, against the cage.
Rivera lands a shoulder strike.
Rivera avoiding damage as McPherson throws knees to the body.
Rivera pushes McPherson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
McPherson lands an elbow just above Rivera 's eye.
McPherson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivera pulls his leg out and moves away.
Carlos Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera wants to land a leg kick but McPherson is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPherson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

McPherson has Rivera up against the cage in a clinch.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rivera blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
McPherson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McPherson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rivera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian McPherson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPherson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rivera counters with a straight right hand.
Rivera is looking to score with low kicks.
McPherson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from McPherson.
McPherson tries to clinch up.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from McPherson. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McPherson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McPherson moves out of range of the leg kick from Rivera.
McPherson throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McPherson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a hook
and McPherson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McPherson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rivera counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McPherson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McPherson throws a poor cross that misses
and Rivera counters with a good, hard body kick but McPherson shrugs it off.
Rivera moves out of range as McPherson strikes.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rivera misses with a leg kick.
McPherson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rivera looks to throw the jab but McPherson is out of range.
McPherson misses with the body kick
and Rivera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a leg kick
and McPherson counters with a low kick, right behind Rivera 's knee.
McPherson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A clash of legs there as McPherson blocks the low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carlos Rivera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carlos Rivera's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McPherson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivera jabs McPherson right on the nose. McPherson blinks but takes it well.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on McPherson's shoulder, as McPherson tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick from McPherson misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera throws out a loose jab but McPherson uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a predictable looking body shot
and McPherson counters with a good low kick that Rivera was not able to check.
A big left from Rivera misses.
Rivera blocks a jab.

McPherson clinches with his opponent.
McPherson misses with the head strike.
McPherson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivera.
A right hand to the body from McPherson.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rivera manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera managing to block the knees to the body from McPherson.
McPherson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rivera up against the cage.
McPherson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McPherson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivera.
Rivera dodges an elbow strike from McPherson.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
McPherson blocks an uppercut.
Rivera stops a takedown attempt from McPherson.
McPherson lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from McPherson.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McPherson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rivera blocks the elbow strike.
Rivera tries a body shot but McPherson blocks it.
Rivera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rivera presses McPherson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
McPherson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McPherson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Rivera blocks an elbow strike.
McPherson tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.
McPherson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rivera lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPherson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That has opened up Carlos Rivera's cut even more.
Rivera's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rivera swings wildly with an uppercut but McPherson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivera blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McPherson throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivera lands with a left to the head.
McPherson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivera avoids it.
Rivera avoids a wild elbow strike from McPherson.
Rivera dodges an elbow strike from McPherson.
Rivera taking a breather.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rivera.
McPherson lands with a light punch inside.
Rivera trying to stall but McPherson improves his position.
McPherson trying to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McPherson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Rivera fails to land.
Rivera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McPherson's elbow.
Ian McPherson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McPherson throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of McPherson backwards.
McPherson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera blocks an uppercut.
McPherson lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as McPherson controls the action.
McPherson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rivera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McPherson throws a head kick that misses
and Rivera counters with a one-two to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. McPherson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McPherson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McPherson with a poor takedown
and Rivera counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian McPherson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from McPherson.
Rivera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McPherson defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
McPherson lands a nice looking body kick.
McPherson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
McPherson looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
McPherson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McPherson fails with the takedown.
Ian McPherson is winning the standup battle so far.
McPherson misses with a hook
enabling Rivera to counter with a crisp jab.
Rivera has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to land a leg kick but McPherson is out of range.
Rivera staying out of range there.
Rivera throws a low kick, looking for McPherson's leg but McPherson calmly moves out of range.
McPherson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A jab from Rivera misses.

That's eight 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.
Rivera fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McPherson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. McPherson doesn't seem bothered though.
McPherson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rivera connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McPherson misses with a hook
and Rivera counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McPherson throws a good cross that connects.
Rivera misses with a looping left.
Rivera pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McPherson back to the cage. Rivera follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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 Ian McPherson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carlos Rivera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rivera misses with a hook.
Rivera takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McPherson tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed right hand from McPherson misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McPherson throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera misses the jab.
McPherson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rivera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivera throws a hook to the side of McPherson's head but McPherson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera misses with a left hand
letting McPherson counter with a right hand.
McPherson throws a right hand that misses
and Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

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.
Rivera avoids the body shot from McPherson.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McPherson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rivera throws an off balance right hand
and McPherson counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera drives through and clinches with McPherson against the cage.
McPherson blocks an uppercut.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as McPherson controls his hands.
Rivera controlling the action here for a moment.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rivera as McPherson tries to tie him up.
Rivera is looking to control McPherson's arms but McPherson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rivera has his back to the cage.
Rivera blocks an elbow strike from McPherson.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by McPherson as Rivera tries to tie him up.
McPherson misses with an elbow strike.
A short body shot lands from McPherson as the two fighters clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
McPherson lands a nice uppercut.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera avoids the elbow strike from McPherson, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from McPherson.
Rivera is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McPherson wants a takedown but no success here.
Rivera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McPherson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rivera's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from McPherson fails to land.
McPherson misses with an elbow strike.
A left hand lands to the body for McPherson.
The referee is keeping an eye on McPherson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McPherson lands a damaging elbow.
A short right from McPherson on the inside.
Rivera is trying to stall.
McPherson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
McPherson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivera pulls his leg out and moves away.
McPherson throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Rivera to counter with a crisp jab.
McPherson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
McPherson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
McPherson with a poor takedown
and Rivera counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian McPherson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPherson throws an off balance right hand
and Rivera counters with a good low kick that McPherson was not able to check.
Rivera misses with a hook
and McPherson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rivera lands a jab to McPherson's midsection.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rivera thows a leg kick but McPherson checks it
and McPherson counters with a nice leg kick.
McPherson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rivera misses with a leg kick
and McPherson counters with a right hand to the body.
Rivera misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rivera moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rivera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McPherson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. McPherson does a little dance to reset his feet.
McPherson tries to clinch but Rivera is having none of it.
McPherson walks into a left hand.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rivera scores with a nice head shot.
Rivera throws a lazy uppercut
and McPherson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
McPherson looks to throw a body kick
and Rivera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rivera throws a body punch but McPherson moves out of range.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a poor cross that misses
and McPherson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A cross from Rivera lands.
McPherson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Rivera throws a low kick but McPherson avoids it.
A big right from Rivera misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian McPherson clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Rivera's cut.
That's time! McPherson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivera throws a leg kick which misses McPherson's front leg but catches the back leg as McPherson tries to avoid it.
McPherson is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McPherson tries to clinch but Rivera moves away
and Rivera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice cross by McPherson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera looks to throw the jab but McPherson is out of range.
Rivera throws an off balance right hand
and McPherson counters with a nice body shot.
McPherson misses with a body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rivera darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rivera darts in and clinches McPherson up against the cage.
Rivera avoids a wild elbow strike from McPherson.
McPherson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McPherson lands with a light punch inside.
McPherson lands an elbow inside.
McPherson lands an elbow inside.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as McPherson controls his hands.
Rivera is trying to maintain a safe position but McPherson gets an underhook and turns Rivera into the cage.
Rivera lands a body punch.
Rivera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rivera stalling in the clinch but McPherson improves position.
McPherson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as McPherson controls his hands.
McPherson has Rivera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rivera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rivera blocks an elbow strike.
McPherson lands an elbow just above Rivera 's eye.
McPherson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivera.
Rivera throws a head punch that misses.
McPherson working aggressively here.
McPherson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McPherson misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rivera lands a body shot.
McPherson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivera's elbow.
McPherson blocking some punches.
McPherson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
McPherson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rivera lands a nice shot to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
McPherson lands an elbow that stopped Rivera in his tracks for a moment.
Rivera has a couple of punches blocked by McPherson.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McPherson.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McPherson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rivera looking to stall.
McPherson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rivera misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivera misses with a hook from the clinch.
McPherson misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivera has McPherson pressed against the cage.
McPherson wants to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera dodges an elbow strike from McPherson.
Rivera scores with a shot to the side of McPherson's head.
A head punch on the inside from McPherson fails to land.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McPherson just leaning against Rivera, taking a breather.
Rivera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
McPherson is struggling to control the position.
McPherson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ian McPherson.
McPherson tries to clinch there but Rivera circles away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
McPherson misses with a jab to the body
enabling Rivera to counter with a crisp jab.
McPherson shoots for a takedown but Rivera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McPherson throws a head kick that half lands.
McPherson throws a poor cross that misses
and Rivera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
McPherson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rivera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McPherson connects with a jab.
McPherson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McPherson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rivera.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws an ugly left hook that misses

and McPherson moves into the clinch.
Rivera managing to block the knees to the body from McPherson.
McPherson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

The cut above Carlos Rivera's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
McPherson lands a shot to the body.
McPherson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rivera on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera misses with a punch to the body.
McPherson wants to stall.
McPherson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
McPherson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rivera takes an elbow to the temple.
McPherson has a couple of punches blocked by Rivera.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
McPherson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Rivera is rocked!
McPherson blocks a body shot from Rivera.
Rivera is still on wobbly legs! Can McPherson finish him?
Rivera pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rivera seems to have recovered his senses.

McPherson is trying to trip Rivera. He has hold of a leg but Rivera is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. McPherson persists though and gets the 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.
McPherson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
McPherson thows a big elbow that misses.
McPherson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
McPherson prevents Rivera from getting back to his feet.
McPherson slips nicely into half guard.
McPherson is pressing down on Rivera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rivera is holding on for now.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
McPherson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rivera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McPherson.
McPherson is pressing down on Rivera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rivera is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McPherson thows a huge punch but Rivera dodges it nicely.
McPherson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McPherson 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.
McPherson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rivera defending well though.
McPherson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McPherson tries to pass to full mount but Rivera defends it.
Rivera is trying to maintain the position but McPherson is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian McPherson had his way with Carlos Rivera in that round.
The cut man is working on Carlos Rivera's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

McPherson works Rivera's body with a nice hook.
Rivera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McPherson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rivera.
McPherson misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera thows a left - swing and a miss!
McPherson looks to land a right hand but Rivera moved out of range.
McPherson slips a jab from Rivera.
McPherson tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - McPherson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on McPherson's shoulder, as McPherson tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McPherson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McPherson lands in his opponent's guard.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing McPherson from controlling successfully.
McPherson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivera wants to stand but McPherson is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPherson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rivera manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

McPherson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rivera wants to get up but he can't break McPherson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McPherson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rivera has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing McPherson to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Rivera is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - McPherson pulls down on the head and he's put Rivera to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ian McPherson!
Ian McPherson retains his middleweight title!