PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joe Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Sharpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Rivas had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Joe Rivas could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Travis Sharpe's chin.

Rivas
vs
Sharpe

200 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 Hilo, Joe Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Travis Sharpe!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sharpe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rivas tries for a takedown but Sharpe circles away easily

and Sharpe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sharpe.
Sharpe trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sharpe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rivas's head.
Rivas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sharpe postures up in Rivas's guard and throws a big left but Rivas blocks it.
Sharpe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sharpe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rivas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sharpe controls the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sharpe on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sharpe passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Rivas struggling a bit here.
Sharpe scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rivas to see if he's OK.
Rivas managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sharpe.
Sharpe is looking to take a break and control but Rivas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sharpe scoring with punches from side control.
Sharpe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rivas to see if he's OK.
Sharpe lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sharpe scoring with punches from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sharpe wants to control but Rivas is keeping him busy.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sharpe scoring with punches from side control.
Sharpe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivas keeps working.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sharpe working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe landing strikes.
Sharpe landing strikes.

Sharpe goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rivas has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sharpe but great work by Rivas.
Sharpe regains half guard.
Sharpe moves into full guard.

Sharpe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rivas looking to pass the guard.
Sharpe is looking to stand up but Rivas isn't so interested in that idea.
Sharpe is pulling down on Rivas's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivas trying to control but Sharpe is working from the bottom.
Sharpe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rivas's guard.
Sharpe lands a couple of elbows.
Sharpe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sharpe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sharpe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sharpe trying to control but Rivas is working from the bottom.
Sharpe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rivas fails with the takedown

and Sharpe counters with a single leg into guard. Rivas didn't expect that.
Sharpe with a nice head shot there.
Rivas keeping moving, preventing Sharpe from controlling successfully.
Sharpe seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sharpe preventing the sweep.
Sharpe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rivas's head.
Sharpe throws an elbow that misses. Rivas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sharpe's guard. Nice move by Rivas!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sharpe trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharpe pulls Rivas in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Sharpe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rivas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Sharpe is tightening it up a little... Rivas has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Rivas reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Rivas taps out! Nice BJJ there by Sharpe!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Travis Sharpe!