PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rivet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rivet might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Hol' Up. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rivet
vs
Richards

200 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
23
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 Sydney, Tom Rivet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Travis Richards!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Richards wants it to stay on the feet.
Richards closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rivet circles away.
Rivet misses with a double jab.
Rivet looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Richards changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rivet looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivet misses with a strike from the bottom.
Rivet can't do much from the bottom here.
Rivet is not content to let Richards control the position.
Richards taking a breather here.
Rivet tries to improve position but can't.
Richards working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards decides to stand back up.
Richards misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivet stuffs the takedown.
Richards fails with the takedown

and Rivet counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Richards's guard now.
Tom Rivet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Richards.
Rivet trying to control but Richards is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivet is really struggling to control Richards but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Rivet slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Tom Rivet wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rivet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Richards.

Rivet darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivet is keen to just control but Richards is a slippery customer.
Richards trying to hold on to Rivet's head to control him but Rivet postures up.
Rivet knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Richards on the ground.
Richards is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Rivet is staying active.
Rivet wants to take a breather but Richards is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tom Rivet.
Richards fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Rivet. No joy for Richards on that attempt.
Rivet fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivet is trying hard to land a takedown here. Richards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivet misses with a wild combination.

Richards drives through and clinches with Rivet against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivet controls his hands.
Rivet is trying to break free.
Rivet tries a body shot but Richards blocks it.
Richards is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Richards jumps into guard, dragging Rivet to the mat.
Rivet has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Rivet from controlling successfully.
Rivet seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Rivet from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tom Rivet will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rivet's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Richards shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivet pinned against the cage. Rivet gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Richards with a poor takedown

and Rivet decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Richards's guard.
Rivet working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tom Rivet overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richards keeping moving, preventing Rivet from controlling successfully.
Rivet works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richards throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rivet misses with a head shot. Richards uses the momentum to regain guard.
Rivet is looking to work some ground and pound but Richards has wrist control.
Rivet trying to control the position from guard on top but Richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richards avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivet wants to pass the guard but Richards is keeping the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Richards avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivet won't allow Richards to get back to his feet.
Rivet postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivet is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sloppy strikes from Rivet. Those never looked like landing.
Tom Rivet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivet rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richards moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Richards shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivet manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Richards's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tom Rivet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Travis Richards.
Some wild striking there from Rivet.
Richards throws a right hand that Rivet ducks under and follows up with a left that Rivet also avoids with ease.
Rivet throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rivet throws a series of punches but Richards avoids them all with ease.

Richards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rivet to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivet throws a big right hand that misses.
Richards manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivet manages to get himself to full guard.
Richards wants to get up but he can't break Rivet's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Richards is breathing heavily.

Rivet looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Richards stopping the sweep attempt from Rivet.
Rivet avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivet keeping full guard, as Richards tries to pass.
Richards sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rivet looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivet, not yet.

Rivet is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Richards is aware though and is defending well.
Rivet preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rivet trying to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rivet working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Richards doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Richards manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Richards gets to his feet - Rivet follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rivet dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Richards shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivet pinned against the cage. Rivet gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Rivet does no damage.

Richards tries to sprawl but Rivet drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Richards gets full guard.
Rivet stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Richards swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richards manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rivet wants to control but Richards is having none of it.
Richards wants to control the pace but Rivet is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivet is trying desperately to improve position.
Rivet wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Well, with Richards on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Rivet is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Richards keeps control of the position as Rivet tries to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Richards's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Richards is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Richards is hanging on to Rivet's back as he tries to escape.
Richards avoiding Rivet 's attempts to control his hands.

Richards looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Rivet taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Travis Richards!