PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nick James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryder Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Golden Earring - Twilight Zone. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

James
vs
Rivera

176 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nick James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryder Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Summer Carpenter and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rivera fails to land with a series of punches.
Rivera connects with a single shot there.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A jab from Rivera finds it's way through James's defenses.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera tries to bum rush James with a series of wild strikes but James uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ryder Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rivera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rivera keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rivera drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivera wants to stand up but James is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.
James throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.
James is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

James drops back looking for a leg! Rivera is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rivera manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Rivera's guard.
James throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
James looking to pass the guard.

Rivera scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rivera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Rivera cracks James with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rivera connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rivera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Rivera misses.

Rivera takes the fight into the clinch.
Rivera is struggling to control the position.
James has had enough of the clinch but Rivera keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivera throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.
James avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Rivera jabs James to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivera manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice body punch from Rivera.
James is breathing heavily.

Rivera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Rivera lands a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera works on James's body with a couple of short punches.
James creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Rivera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
James avoids the head kick by Rivera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryder Rivera dominated that round.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Danga de danga de dang - Rivera scores with a four punch combination!
A leg kick checked by James.
Nick James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and James moves out of range easily.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera misses with an attempted mid kick.

Rivera instigates a clinch.

Rivera drags the fight down to the ground.
James 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.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rivera can do anything to dispel that myth.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Rivera pushes James off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rivera goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rivera thuds a left hand into James's body.
Rivera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Jab from Rivera.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
James throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice shot by Rivera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rivera lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
James misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rivera.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James wants to break free but Rivera has control.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Rivera digs a right hand underneath James's ribcage. James let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rivera has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rivera has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
James looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rivera lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rivera scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rivera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rivera scores with a one two! James had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera lands a big head kick that sends James tumbling to the mat! Rivera takes a step backwards and waves James back to his feet - he wants the finish!

James is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera wobbles James with a right hand and the left hook that follows puts him on his rear! Rivera dives in with a huge flying punch that connects right on the button and puts James to sleep! - What a violent and spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:12 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ryder Rivera!
Ryder Rivera decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.