PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Opie River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morpheus Vulcan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Skillet - Monster . Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

River
vs
Vulcan

188 cm
21
210 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Opie River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Morpheus Vulcan!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vulcan gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vulcan with a lazy takedown attempt

and River moves into the clinch.
Vulcan wants a takedown but no success here.
River is pressed up against the cage. Vulcan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag River down to the mat. River avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Opie River has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morpheus Vulcan.
River throws an overhand right that lands on Vulcan's shoulder, as Vulcan tries to avoid the shot.
Vulcan with a lazy takedown attempt
and River counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vulcan misses with a takedown
and River counters with a right hand to the body.
River is looking to slow Vulcan down with leg kicks.
River is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vulcan.
Nice sprawl there from River as Vulcan shoots in.

River drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
River trying to control but Vulcan is working from the bottom.

Vulcan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. River gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
River definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Vulcan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and River defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River wants to control from the top but Vulcan keeps moving.
River is really struggling to control Vulcan but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Vulcan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and River defends well.
River passes easily into side control. Nice work.

River working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

River is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vulcan has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River cracks Vulcan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Vulcan manages to get back to half guard.

River seems to be looking for submissions.
Vulcan is looking to control River's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vulcan avoid being mounted?

Vulcan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vulcan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vulcan throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and River manages to pass to side control.
Vulcan gets back to half guard.

Vulcan actively working from the bottom here.
Vulcan tries to get to full guard but River has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

River is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vulcan defends it well.
River prevents Vulcan from improving his position.
River works his foot free and advances to mount.
River working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vulcan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vulcan has given up his back. Will we see River going for some submissions?
River wants to control but Vulcan is keeping busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vulcan showing good submission defense here.

River is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Vulcan is defending well though. River let's go of the attempt for now.
River is trying to stick to Vulcan's back but Vulcan is turning into River. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in River's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Vulcan.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Vulcan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

River misses with a low kick.
Vulcan with a lazy takedown attempt
and River counters with a slapping leg kick.
A head kick misses from Vulcan.
Vulcan tries for a takedown but River sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vulcan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but River swivels and escapes.
Opie River has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Morpheus Vulcan.
Vulcan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and River counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vulcan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
River jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vulcan misses with a takedown

and River counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vulcan won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River tries to move into full mount but can't pass Vulcan's legs.
River advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

River goes for an armbar but Vulcan turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Vulcan.
River looking to control.
Vulcan throws an elbow that misses. River uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vulcan's guard. Nice move by River!

River drops back looking for a leg! Vulcan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vulcan manages to kick River off! River jumps back into Vulcan's guard.

River thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Vulcan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
River has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Vulcan looking to hit a scissor sweep but River is one step ahead there.
River wants to control from the top but Vulcan keeps moving.
Vulcan trying to control the position.
Vulcan wants to sweep here but River controlling him for the moment.

Vulcan looking for a guillotine here but River defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vulcan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. River defends it easily.
River lands a couple of elbows.
River pushing down on Vulcan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vulcan throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

River is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vulcan has managed to free his arm - good work.
River is trying to control the action in half guard but Vulcan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vulcan missing with punches from the bottom.
Vulcan trying to control from the bottom.

Vulcan looking for submissions off his back.
Vulcan moves into full guard.

Vulcan has his foot on River's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. River works his way back into a safe position though.

River thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
River passes Vulcan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vulcan trying to control here.

River is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vulcan sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Opie River 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!

Vulcan fails with the takedown.
Vulcan moves out of range as River strikes.

River has closed the distance and engaged Vulcan in a clinch.

Vulcan drags the fight down to the ground.
River stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vulcan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Vulcan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Vulcan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. River is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vulcan keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.
Vulcan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

River avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Vulcan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. River is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Vulcan.
Vulcan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vulcan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of River.
You can see the frustration on Vulcan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Opie River overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

River working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vulcan wants to control but River postures up.
River advances to mount.
Vulcan has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
River not allowing Vulcan to control his hands.
River controlling well, preventing Vulcan from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vulcan tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Vulcan looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

River is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Vulcan knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Vulcan for a finish.
River is looking to control Vulcan but Vulcan is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Opie River is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
River cracks Vulcan with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Vulcan from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
River controlling well, preventing Vulcan from escaping the position.
Vulcan keeps trying to improve his position.

River looking for the RNC.
Vulcan is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vulcan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
River somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

River working for a choke but Vulcan is defending well.

River looking for the RNC.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vulcan turns into River and is now in his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Opie River.
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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

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