PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Nasri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Astrud Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alex Nasri had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Nasri
vs
Rivera

179 cm
19
144 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
145 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Nasri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Astrud Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nasri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nasri wants it to stay on the feet.

Rivera closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nasri's guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nasri is on top in guard.
Nasri sitting in guard, not really doing much.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rivera is on top in guard.
Rivera throws an elbow that misses. Nasri uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rivera's guard. Nice move by Nasri!
Nasri is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nasri is pushing down on Rivera's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rivera is fighting to maintain full guard but Nasri has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rivera tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rivera tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Nasri has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rivera wants to hold on but Nasri pushes him away.
Rivera holds of for dear life.
Nasri really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nasri controlling his opponent.
Nasri's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Nasri trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rivera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nasri controlling his opponent.
Rivera is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Nasri content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alex Nasri has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivera with a lazy takedown attempt

and Nasri counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rivera looking to control.
Nasri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nasri wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nasri shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nasri controlling the action here.
Rivera trying to control here.
Rivera wants to get back to full guard.
Nasri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivera keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nasri sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Alex Nasri has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivera tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Nasri counters with a takedown into side control.

Nasri decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt

and Nasri decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rivera's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rivera has an active guard here but Nasri has managed to pass into half guard.
Rivera tries to roll over but Nasri keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nasri is trying to work for a kimura but Rivera is defending well.
Rivera is staying active underneath Nasri, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nasri takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Nasri decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Rivera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nasri sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rivera somewhat.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nasri sprawls well. Nasri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Alex Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Astrud Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Nasri sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alex Nasri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Nasri.

Rivera tries to sprawl but Nasri drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to control but Nasri is keeping busy.
Rivera keeping control of the position.
Rivera trying to hold on to Nasri's head to control him but Nasri postures up.
Nasri sitting and controlling from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Nasri manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Nasri dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rivera looks to clinch

and Nasri counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rivera's guard now.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Nasri from controlling successfully.
Rivera wants to control the position but Nasri says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Nasri performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rivera pushes Nasri off but Nasri dives into side control.
Rivera can't do much from the bottom here.
Nasri remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Nasri has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Nasri is staying tight to Rivera's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Rivera struggling a bit here.
Rivera tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Nasri is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to escape the position.
Nasri gets his hands free as Rivera looks to control.
Nasri controls the action.
Alex Nasri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Nasri working for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nasri just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Rivera preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Nasri.
Nasri controlling the position well here. Rivera rolled but Nasri kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Nasri slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Nasri keeps control of the position as Rivera tries to break free.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nasri lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Nasri.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Nasri clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rivera closes the distance but Nasri moves to the side

and Nasri counters with a takedown into side control.
Nasri remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rivera misses with a strike from the bottom.
Rivera trying to remain calm as Nasri controls from the top position.
Nasri passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rivera!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nasri controlling from the full mount.
Nasri looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera gets back to half guard.

Nasri gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Rivera darts in trying to clinch

and Nasri counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rivera won't be happy with that.
Rivera is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Nasri's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nasri controlling the action here.
Rivera wants to control but Nasri is keeping busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nasri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivera keeps working.
Nasri performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alex Nasri has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivera fails to land the takedown.
Rivera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nasri pinned against the cage. Nasri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rivera with a poor takedown

and Nasri counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Alex Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Astrud Rivera.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasri is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alex Nasri.
Rivera darts in trying to clinch

and Nasri decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rivera's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Nasri had his way with Astrud Rivera in that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nasri blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Rivera closes the distance looking to clinch

and Nasri counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rivera!
Nasri controlling the position easily from mount.
Nasri landing strikes, looking to finish!
Nasri tries to control but Rivera wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to reverse the position but Nasri maintains control.
Nasri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?
Rivera tries to lock up and control but Nasri gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rivera regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nasri is trying to control. Rivera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nasri slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alex Nasri.
Rivera shoots and misses

and Nasri decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rivera's guard.
Rivera can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nasri controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nasri trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Nasri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Alex Nasri has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Nasri shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivera as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nasri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivera.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Nasri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rivera tries to avoid it but Nasri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rivera to the ground. Rivera escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Good exchange - Rivera coming out on top.
Nice defenses there by Nasri.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nasri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nasri sprawls well. Nasri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Alex Nasri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Astrud Rivera.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivera.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Nasri sprawls well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Nasri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Nasri, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Alex Nasri!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Alex Nasri!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Alex Nasri!

Alex Nasri wins by unanimous decision!