PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Cricket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cricket comes to the cage accompanied by Fxxk everything. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Cricket
vs
Rivers

189 cm
19
208 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Ruthless Violence Clothing Association

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rick Cricket!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Rivers!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers misses with a few strikes there.
Rivers throws a big shot that misses.
Rivers digs a good body shot into Cricket's ribs.
Cricket chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cricket throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rivers fails to land the takedown.
Rivers throws out a leg kick but Cricket moves out of range and Rivers only half commits.
Rivers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cricket.
Rivers checks a leg kick.
Good work by Cricket as he checks the leg kick.
Rivers scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rivers shoots in looking for a takedown. Cricket tries to sprawl out of it but Rivers keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cricket manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
An inside leg kick from Rivers misses.
Rivers throws the left hand but Cricket avoids the punch easily.
Rivers swings for the body but Cricket moves out of range.
Cricket feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivers's calf.
Rick Cricket is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Joe Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cricket lands a high kick!

It looks like Joe Rivers has been cut.
Cricket definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rivers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rick Cricket has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Rivers.
Rivers swats away the attempt to clinch by Cricket.
Rivers checks a leg kick.
Rivers lands a nice shot to the body.
Cricket is looking to clinch but Rivers is avoiding it.
Rivers throws out a leg kick but Cricket moves out of range and Rivers only half commits.
Rivers jabs Cricket to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cricket manages to avoid it.
Rivers wants to clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rivers checks a leg kick.
Cricket tries to work over Rivers's front leg with a kick but Rivers checks it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short left from Cricket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cricket can't find room to land a body shot as Rivers controls the action.
Cricket prevents a body shot from Rivers.
Cricket has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.
Cricket tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivers is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A short body shot lands from Cricket as the two fighters clinch.
Cricket has Rivers pressed against the cage, preventing Rivers from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cricket misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivers is trying to push Cricket away but Cricket has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rivers has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Cricket seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rivers can turn it around.
Rivers wants a takedown.
Rivers can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cricket tries to stall but Rivers uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rivers tries to pull guard but Cricket forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rivers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cricket dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rivers scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cricket tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivers chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cricket can pounce on him.

Rivers rushes Cricket and presses him up against the cage.
Rivers has had enough of the clinch but Cricket keeps him there for the moment.
Cricket is working Rivers over against the cage.
Cricket using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cricket struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivers controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cricket misses with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rivers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cricket wants to clinch.
Cricket throws a sloppy head kick and Rivers moves out of range easily.
Rivers is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Cricket rather than just go for the knockout.
Cricket takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rivers has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Cricket.
Rivers misses with a wild body shot.
A low kick from Rivers misses
and Cricket counters with an inside leg kick.
Rivers looks winded!
Rivers uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cricket has time to react.
Cricket tries to clinch up but Rivers circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cricket tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivers swings for the body but Cricket moves out of range.
Cricket is looking to chop away at Rivers's legs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cricket looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cricket dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rivers's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rivers thows a body shot but no joy.
Cricket feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivers's calf.
Cricket fakes the leg kick and cracks Rivers in the body.
Cricket misses with a wild body shot.
Cricket is looking to chop away at Rivers's legs.
Rivers throws a shot to the body.
Joe Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivers swings for the body but Cricket moves out of range.
Cricket throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rivers.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cricket fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rivers.
Cricket pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rivers checks the leg kick.
Rivers looks to score with a jab to the body but Cricket is just out of range.
Rivers takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rivers is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cricket connects with a solid leg kick.
Rivers throws a combination that misses
and Cricket counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cricket throws a chopping leg kick but Rivers manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rivers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cricket fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rivers has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cricket connects with a solid leg kick.
Cricket pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rivers tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rivers misses with a hook.
Crunch! Cricket slams his shin into Rivers's torso.
Cricket connects with a leg kick. Rivers looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cricket uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivers.
Rivers takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cricket throws a leg kick but Rivers checks it.
Cricket thuds his shin into the meat of Rivers's side.
Cricket scores with a leg kick.
Cricket looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cricket scores with a spinning back kick!
Rick Cricket is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Cricket.
Cricket throws a shot from downtown. Rivers moves away and avoids it.
Cricket throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Cricket is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivers can do to turn this around?

Cricket moves into the clinch.
Cricket looking to throw knees to the head but Rivers is blocking nicely.
Cricket tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivers's elbow.
Cricket throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cricket misses with a body punch.
Cricket throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cricket misses with a punch to the body.
Cricket tries a body shot but Rivers blocks it.
Rivers's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Rivers breaks from the clinch.
Rivers has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cricket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cricket using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivers has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cricket prevents Rivers from breaking the clinch.
Rivers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rivers has had enough of the clinch but Cricket keeps him there for the moment.
Cricket misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rivers.
Rivers avoiding damage as Cricket throws knees to the body.
Cricket looking to throw knees to the head but Rivers is blocking nicely.

Rivers manages to break the clinch.
Cricket turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Rivers blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers just misses with a punch to the body.
Cricket lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rivers misses the jab.
Cricket pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rivers is out of range and Cricket settles back down.
Rivers circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cricket swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Rivers moves into the clinch successfully.
Cricket scores with a shot to the side of Rivers's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cricket manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rivers managing to block the knees to the body from Cricket.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cricket misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Cricket dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rivers's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cricket checks a leg kick.
Cricket is looking to chop away at Rivers's legs.
Rivers shoots in and drives through. Cricket sprawls well.
Rivers cracks a nice hook into Cricket's ribs.
A combination from Rivers does no damage.
Rivers blocks a leg kick.
Rivers throws a nice looking combination but Cricket bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivers misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivers scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cricket lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cricket throws a leg kick that misses.
Cricket tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cricket tries to clinch there but Rivers circles away.
Rivers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cricket is looking to score with low kicks.
Rivers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cricket moves away.
A jab from Rivers misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cricket circles away quickly and effectively.
Cricket is looking to clinch but Rivers is avoiding it.
Cricket motions for Rivers to come forward. Cricket throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cricket.
Cricket wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.
A big left from Cricket misses.
Rivers punishes Cricket's body with a nice straight punch.
Cricket feints and then cracks Rivers's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rivers down.

Cricket has closed the distance and engaged Rivers in a clinch.
Cricket trying to control the position but instead, Rivers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cricket into the cage.
Cricket pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cricket lands a hook to the side of the head.
Joe Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is trying to push Cricket away but Cricket has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cricket missing with knees to the body.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivers tries a head kick but it misses.
Cricket throws a push kick but Rivers slaps the foot to one side.
Rivers stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Cricket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cricket throws a leg kick but Rivers sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cricket scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cricket wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.
Cricket lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Cricket rushes Rivers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cricket works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cricket scores with a shoulder strike.
Rivers is working for takedown but Cricket is calmly controlling the position for now.
Cricket effectively controlling the action here.
Rick Cricket has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cricket is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Cricket.
Cricket misses with a knee strike.
Cricket misses with a knee strike.
Rivers can't break the clinch.
Rivers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cricket swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cricket lands a shot to the body.
Cricket swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cricket wants to stall.
Cricket with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Cricket has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cricket tries to work over Rivers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cricket throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivers blocks it with crossed arms.
Cricket keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rivers's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Cricket showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cricket 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Cricket!
During a confident post fight interview, Rick Cricket thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Joe Rivers was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll be back..'.