PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Davidson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davidson comes into the arena with August Burns Red - Meridian blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Davidson
vs
Rivera

172 cm
22
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
159 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dustin Davidson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franco Rivera!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Davidson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Davidson lands in his opponent's guard.
Rivera looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Davidson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Davidson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Davidson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davidson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Davidson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rivera manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Davidson has his foot on Rivera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rivera works his way back into a safe position though.
Rivera won't allow Davidson to sweep him here.
Davidson controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.
Rivera wants to stand but Davidson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera won't allow Davidson to sweep him here.
Rivera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Davidson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rivera preventing the sweep.
Davidson is working hard here to advance position.
Davidson has a closed guard, preventing Rivera from standing up.
Davidson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson lands strikes from half guard.
Davidson throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Davidson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Davidson trying to control the action but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Davidson throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Davidson.
Rivera is staying active underneath Davidson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Davidson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Davidson is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson with the ground and pound but Rivera uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Davidson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivera controls Davidson momentarily but Davidson frees himself.
Rivera wants to sweep here but Davidson controlling him for the moment.
Davidson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Davidson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Davidson lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson landing with the ground and pound.
Davidson wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Davidson throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davidson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rivera controls Davidson momentarily but Davidson frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davidson throws a big right hand that misses.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Davidson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Davidson cracks a nice hook into Rivera's ribs.
Davidson circles away from the clinch attempt

so Davidson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Davidson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dustin Davidson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Davidson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Davidson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Davidson from controlling successfully.
Davidson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rivera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Davidson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Davidson throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davidson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Davidson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Davidson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Davidson won't allow Rivera to get back to his feet.
Davidson throws a big right hand that misses.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Davidson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Davidson postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
Davidson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rivera has momentary wrist control but Davidson slips an elbow through the middle.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Davidson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Davidson from controlling successfully.
Davidson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Davidson looking to sit in guard and control but Rivera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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!

Davidson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson looking for a sweep. Not yet Davidson, not yet.
Rivera wants to get up but he can't break Davidson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Davidson is trying to control the position but Rivera postures up.

Rivera got a little sloppy there for a moment and Davidson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rivera has managed to get both his arms back between Davidson's legs - danger averted.
Rivera wanted to stand there but Davidson had control of the position.
Davidson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivera manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davidson is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.
Rivera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Davidson manages to get himself to full guard.
Davidson is adopting a defensive guard.
Rivera wanted to stand there but Davidson had control of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davidson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dustin Davidson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rivera tries to clinch but Davidson is having none of it.
Rivera darts in trying to clinch

so Davidson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Davidson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Davidson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Davidson wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Rivera looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davidson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rivera can't keep his opponent in guard - Davidson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rivera trying to control but Davidson postures up.
Rivera won't allow Davidson to pass to mount.
Davidson trying to control from half guard but Rivera is working away.
Davidson controlling the action here.
Davidson trying to pass the guard but Rivera defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson working the head and body with strikes.
Rivera regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Davidson.
Davidson is working Rivera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Davidson is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.

Rivera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Davidson defends well.
Rivera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Davidson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davidson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?
Rivera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Franco Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Davidson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Davidson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davidson lands a couple of digs.
Davidson postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davidson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Davidson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davidson advances to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davidson is stalling here. Rivera is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Davidson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rivera has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Davidson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rivera's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dustin Davidson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Davidson 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dustin Davidson!
Dustin Davidson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.