PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Stan Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin McArthur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivers kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Cyco Vision. McArthur has chosen Breathing as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rivers
vs
McArthur

182 cm
25
135 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

200 cm
24
144 lbs
11 - 9 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Stan Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin McArthur!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McArthur stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rivers tries to clinch there but McArthur circles away.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt.
Kevin McArthur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Rivers.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but McArthur pushes him off.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rivers has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McArthur is defending well for now.
Rivers tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivers tries for a takedown but McArthur manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McArthur working aggressively here.
McArthur tries to throw a body punch but Rivers avoids it by throwing McArthur back against the cage.
McArthur wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivers has him pressed against the cage.
McArthur looking to slow down the pace here.
Rivers prevents McArthur from breaking the clinch.
McArthur stops a takedown attempt from Rivers.
Rivers looking for a takedown.
McArthur doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivers tries for a takedown but McArthur manages to get underhooks.
McArthur stalling.
Rivers misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from McArthur.
Rivers tries for a takedown but McArthur manages to get underhooks.
McArthur gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rivers.

McArthur breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur lands with a straight right. Rivers didn't see that one coming.
Rivers closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kevin McArthur is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rivers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McArthur moves into range and clinches up with Rivers.
McArthur tries to throw a body punch but Rivers avoids it by throwing McArthur back against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivers obliges.
Rivers goes for a takedown attempt but McArthur pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but McArthur pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but McArthur swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - McArthur circles away.

Rivers has closed the distance and engaged McArthur in a clinch.
McArthur is pressed up against the cage. Rivers has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McArthur down to the mat. McArthur avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rivers looks to clinch
and McArthur counters with a one-two to the body.
Rivers wants to clinch up but McArthur keeps it at a distance.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McArthur as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur lands a head shot.
McArthur pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rivers back to the cage. McArthur follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
McArthur misses with an uppercut
and Rivers makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
McArthur swings widly with a right hand

and Rivers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McArthur escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers throws a series of punches but McArthur moves out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
McArthur lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kevin McArthur will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circling - McArthur throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

McArthur closes the distance and clinches.
Rivers wants a takedown but no success here.
McArthur stops a takedown attempt from Rivers.
Rivers wants to take the fight to the mat but McArthur manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stan Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McArthur is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rivers wants a takedown.

McArthur breaks the clinch.

McArthur moves into the clinch.
Rivers goes for a takedown attempt but McArthur pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rivers fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur misses with the combination.
McArthur avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McArthur swings widly with a right hand

and Rivers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A right hook to the body lands for McArthur.
Rivers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McArthur avoids it.
Rivers drops down looking for an ankle pick but McArthur pulls his leg out and moves away.

McArthur clinches up with Rivers and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McArthur tries to work over Rivers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivers misses with a knee strike.
Rivers tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McArthur gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kevin McArthur seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
McArthur misses with a body punch.
Rivers has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McArthur after a bit of a struggle.
Rivers tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivers prevents McArthur from breaking the clinch.
McArthur has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
McArthur prevents a takedown attempt there.

McArthur escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rivers's hands.
McArthur circles away from the clinch attempt
and McArthur counters with a straight right hand.
McArthur connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rivers is rocked!
Rivers tries to clinch but McArthur moves away
and McArthur rattles Rivers with a well-timed uppercut counter. - Rivers tries to back away and recover but his hands are down low and he gets tagged again, sending him stumbling down to the canvas. McArthur dives in after him and quickly finishes the job with a trio of brutal punches, leaving Rivers stiff and motionless on the mat!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Kevin McArthur!
A relieved looking Kevin McArthur thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.