PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dark Striker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down . I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

River
vs
Striker

168 cm
20
153 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Work Hard, Fight Hard Apparel
Pitt Nutrition (3x158 2x159 products)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dark Striker!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Striker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from River.
Striker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from River.
Striker thows a leg kick but River checks it
and River counters with an outside leg kick.
River takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
River avoids the body shot from Striker.
Striker throws a jab but it's blocked by River.
Striker misses with a wild body shot.
River fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Striker.
River fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Striker has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
River takes a swing at Striker's ribcage but misses.
Striker avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
River tries to move into range but Striker moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Striker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
River misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Striker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A good leg kick by River.
Striker goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
River feints and then cracks Striker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Striker down.
River takes a shot right to the bread basket.
An inside leg kick from River misses.
River defending well as Striker loads up on a big left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for River. That snapped Striker's head back.
Striker walks forward, straight into a front kick from River.
Striker on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Striker just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by River.
River slips under a jab from Striker.
River on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Striker takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

River moves into the clinch.
River is leaning against Striker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Good body shot from River.
River scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from River.
River lands a nice uppercut.
River lands a left hand that snaps the head of Striker backwards.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Striker controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Striker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from River.
Striker is trying to force a seperation but River has the dominant position.
River is working Striker over against the cage.
A short left from River.
River lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
River throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Strikers head.
River presses Striker against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
River gets through Striker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
River using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
River lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River prevents Striker from breaking the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
River lands a hook to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from River.
Nice body punch from River - that landed with a thud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Striker's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Striker takes a shot to the head.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Striker backwards.
Striker's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Striker managing to block the knees to the body from River.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Striker takes a knee to the side of the body.
River tries to throw a body punch but Striker avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River tries a body shot but Striker blocks it.
Striker takes a shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Striker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
River lands with a nice body kick.
Striker swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Striker takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Striker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
An inside leg kick lands from River.
Striker throws a right hand that River ducks under and follows up with a left that River also avoids with ease.
River has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Striker finds it's way round the side to connect with River's head.
Striker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
River throws a quick inside leg kick.

River gets in close and instigates a clinch.
River lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River is working Striker over against the cage.
Striker being controlled against the cage.
River landing knees to the body.
River stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
River controlling the action here for a moment.
River scores with a shoulder strike.
River lands a nice knee to the body.
River lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Striker tries to break the clinch but River is controlling the position.
Striker is looking to break free of the clinch but River has double underhooks.
River throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Strikers head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River misses with a knee strike.
River keeps control of Striker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
River using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Steve River has scored more points in the clinch so far.
River lands a body punch in the clinch.
River digs a right hand underneath Striker's ribcage. Striker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
River is stalling here.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A frustrated look appears on Striker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
River scores with a hook to the body.
River scores a nice knee to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from River.
River gets through Striker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Striker is looking to break free of the clinch but River has double underhooks.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
River lands a good knee to the midsection. Striker won't want to take too many of those.
Nice body punch from River.
River lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River landing some nice looking knees to the body.
River working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
River stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
River lands a nice knee to the body.
Striker is looking to break free of the clinch but River has double underhooks.
River lands a left hand.
River landing knees to the body.
Striker is breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
River leaning his opponent against the cage.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve River dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A swing and a miss from Striker.
Striker throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
Striker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract River.
River is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Striker can do to turn this around?
River throws a quick inside leg kick.

River pushes Striker up against the cage in a clinch.
River lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
River lands a good knee to the midsection. Striker won't want to take too many of those.
River is leaning against Striker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River lands an uppercut.
Striker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
River works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
River cracks Striker with a nice body shot.
River just leaning against Striker, taking a breather.
River misses with a body punch.
A short left from River.
A right hand to the body from River.
Knees to the body from River.
River avoiding damage.
River lands with a short head shot on the inside.
River presses Striker against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
River digs a right hand into Striker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Striker's gas tank.
River works on Striker's body with a couple of short punches.
Good body shot from River.
A quick uppercut on the inside from River.
River lands a hook to the side of the head.
Striker takes an elbow to the forehead.
River lands with a left to the head.

It looks like Dark Striker has been cut.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from River.
River digs a right hand into Striker's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Striker's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River effectively controlling the action here.
A short right from River.
Striker is trying to push River away but River has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
River digs a right hand underneath Striker's ribcage. Striker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
River makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
River using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. River obliges.
A right handed body shot lands from River.
River scores with a shoulder strike.
River pushes Striker back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
River scores with a hook to the body.
Steve River is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River leaning his opponent against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River lands with a left to the head.
River lands an uppercut.
Dark Striker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River lands with a left to the head.
River tries to throw a body punch but Striker avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River connects with a nasty looking knee right to Striker's face.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A hook to the body from River.
A bit of stalling here from River.
River makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve River showed his dominance in that final round.
Well River has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve River!
An out of breath Steve River thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.