PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harold Hayworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harold Hayworth looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Hayworth
vs
Rivera

185 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Pirates Powder
Brute

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, Harold Hayworth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franco Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivera has managed to clinch.
Hayworth working hard to break the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rivera takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hayworth throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hayworth is trying to break free.

Rivera has hold of one of Hayworth's legs. Hayworth is fighting the takedown attempt but Rivera gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Hayworth is looking to stand up but Rivera isn't so interested in that idea.
Rivera would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hayworth is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera controlling Hayworth's posture.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hayworth looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hayworth seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rivera for as long as he can get away with.
Hayworth is breathing heavily.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Hayworth is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hayworth avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A swing and a miss from Hayworth.
Hayworth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rivera forces Hayworth back against the cage and clinches.
Rivera is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hayworth is defending well.
Rivera tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivera stalling in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.
Rivera has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hayworth avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Harold Hayworth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Rivera.
Rivera has Hayworth pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hayworth manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayworth is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rivera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hayworth is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hayworth wants to break free but Rivera has control.
Hayworth prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Rivera tries to clinch but Hayworth is having none of it.
Rivera throws a head kick but Hayworth moves out of range.
Hayworth looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Hayworth circles away.
Hayworth tries a head kick but it misses.
Hayworth tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Rivera throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hayworth was covering up waiting for the punch and Rivera finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rivera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Hayworth is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hayworth is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rivera stays in close to Hayworth's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rivera tries to clinch but Hayworth is having none of it.
Harold Hayworth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hayworth paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rivera tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivera has Hayworth pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hayworth manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Rivera has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hayworth is trying to keep an underhook but Rivera manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hayworth wants to get back to full guard.
Rivera is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Rivera. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera wants to stand but Hayworth has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hayworth pushes Rivera off looking to stand but Rivera dives back in and keeps control.
Rivera slows the pace down in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Franco Rivera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hayworth swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera throws the kick towards the body but Hayworth avoids it.

Rivera rushes Hayworth and presses him up against the cage.
Rivera looking for a takedown.
Harold Hayworth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Rivera.
Rivera drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is pushing Hayworth up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hayworth tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
Hayworth tries for a takedown but Rivera manages to get underhooks.
Rivera lands a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hayworth to keep the fight standing.
Rivera wants to take the fight to the mat but Hayworth manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rivera landing knees to the body.
Rivera tries to score a body lock takedown but Hayworth shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Rivera lands a takedown into guard.
Rivera controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Franco Rivera wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hayworth is looking to score with low kicks.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rivera takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rivera ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rivera no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch but Hayworth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hayworth looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rivera is fending him off so far but Hayworth persists. Nope, Rivera circles away and we're back to standing.

Rivera closes the distance and pushes Hayworth back into the cage.
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rivera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hayworth fights it off and pushes away nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hayworth's waist but Hayworth gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rivera off to one side.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Hayworth circles away.
Hayworth throws a series of punches but Rivera moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hayworth swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Hayworth is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivera is defended easily by Hayworth.
Harold Hayworth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Rivera.
Hayworth throws a right and a left that Rivera avoids nicely.

Rivera closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rivera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hayworth is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rivera pulls guard effortlessly.
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.
Hayworth trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera pulls Hayworth in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rivera had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hayworth defends it easily.
Rivera pulls Hayworth in to control the position.
Hayworth tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
Rivera is controlling Hayworth's posture.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hayworth swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rivera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rivera fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayworth pushes off an throws an elbow but Rivera leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rivera misses with an elbow over the top.

Rivera pulls guard.
Rivera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Hayworth from controlling successfully.
Hayworth is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rivera is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayworth stopping the sweep attempt from Rivera.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Harold Hayworth just wasn't active enough.

Rivera moves into the clinch.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hayworth tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Come on Rivera - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Harold Hayworth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hayworth has had enough of the clinch but Rivera keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franco Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rivera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franco Rivera!