PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rivet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Laidler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivet's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Hol' Up. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rivet
vs
Laidler

200 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

195 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tom Rivet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Laidler!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Laidler gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Laidler looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rivet is stalling in the full guard.
Rivet trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivet stays in close to Laidler's body and controls the position.

Tom Rivet has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A punch combination from Rivet misses.
Rivet throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laidler.
Rivet fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivet shoots for a takedown but Laidler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Laidler is looking to clinch but Rivet is avoiding it.

Rivet closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Laidler quickly recovers to half guard.
Rivet stops Laidler from getting back to his feet.
Rivet not doing much here.
Laidler looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivet sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rivet is looking to advance position but Laidler won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Rivet is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Tom Rivet has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivet misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivet throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laidler.
Rivet looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rivet throws a combination that misses
and Laidler counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Laidler slips a jab and a cross from Rivet.
Rivet shoots for a double leg takedown but Laidler sprawls well. He's pushed Rivet's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A punch combination from Rivet misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivet misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivet misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rivet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivet fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Laidler tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rivet looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rivet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laidler keeps working.
Laidler wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivet passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Laidler!
Rivet sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Rivet working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rivet wants to take his opponent's back but Laidler doesn't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivet tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rivet dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kyle Laidler's cut.
That's time! Rivet's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivet misses with a two punch combination.
Rivet tries to bum rush Laidler with a series of wild strikes but Laidler uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivet misses with a body shot.

Rivet drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rivet trying to control the position from guard on top but Laidler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivet trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rivet is working hard here to advance position.

Rivet drops back looking for a leg! Laidler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Laidler manages to kick Rivet off! Rivet jumps back into Laidler's guard.
Rivet slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Laidler is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Rivet is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Laidler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Laidler seems a little lost for a moment, as Rivet dominates the positioning.
Laidler is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Laidler seems a little lost for a moment, as Rivet dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivet'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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Rivet wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rivet throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laidler.
Rivet misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laidler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivet.
Rivet misses with a wild combination.
Rivet shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Laidler sprawls well. Laidler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivet gets slowly back to his feet.
Laidler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivet misses with a wild combination.
Rivet throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Rivet with that takedown attempt.
Tom Rivet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivet shoots for a takedown but Laidler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Rivet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivet swats away the attempt to clinch by Laidler.
Rivet will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rivet misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivet throws a left and a right that both miss
and Laidler counters with a left and a right that stings Rivet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivet swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rivet fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Laidler sprawls well initially but Rivet persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rivet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laidler keeps working.
Rivet sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rivet tries to pass to full mount but Laidler defends it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivet seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rivet dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kyle Laidler's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rivet misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laidler tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rivet manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rivet misses with a looping left.
Rivet misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivet throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivet misses with a combination

and Laidler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Laidler.
Rivet is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Laidler has Rivet pressed against the cage, preventing Rivet from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Laidler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivet goes for a takedown attempt but Laidler pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rivet misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivet fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rivet shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rivet wants to control but Laidler is keeping him busy.
Rivet controlling the pace.

Rivet is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Laidler sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laidler won't allow Rivet to pass to mount.

Rivet is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Laidler has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rivet with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Laidler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rivet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laidler avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivet.

Rivet is trying to work for a kimura but Laidler is defending well.
Rivet works his way into side control.
Tom Rivet is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivet controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivet tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Laidler being controlled for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Rivet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivet, 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Rivet!
Tom Rivet decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.