PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jean Riviere (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hideya Kaayi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riviere comes to the cage accompanied by Le Vagabond. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Riviere
vs
Kaayi

191 cm
21
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

182 cm
29
193 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jean Riviere!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hideya Kaayi!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riviere with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kaayi to score with a decent uppercut.
Riviere is looking to score with low kicks.
Riviere ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kaayi moves away.

Kaayi drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Riviere tries to buck Kaayi off but Kaayi is having none of it.
Kaayi working the ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaayi working the head with strikes.
Riviere is looking for a sweep.
Riviere wants to control but Kaayi postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaayi controls the position from side control.

Kaayi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kaayi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaayi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Riviere is avoiding damage well.
Kaayi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Riviere is trying to improve his position.
Kaayi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kaayi throws an elbow but Riviere slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kaayi trying to control the action but Riviere is working from the bottom.
Riviere tries to bench press Kaayi off him but Kaayi keeps the position.

Kaayi decides to stand back up. Kaayi steps back and let's Riviere get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviere walks into a left hand.
Kaayi looks to throw the jab but Riviere is out of range.
Hideya Kaayi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riviere bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kaayi's head backwards.
A jab from Kaayi misses.
Riviere has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Riviere tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Riviere misses.
Kaayi throws a lazy right hand but Riviere sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Riviere lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaayi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riviere cracks a nice hook into Kaayi's ribs.
Kaayi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kaayi shoots in looking for a takedown but Riviere manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kaayi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kaayi shoots in looking for a takedown but Riviere manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kaayi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kaayi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rivieres jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Riviere throws a series of punches but Kaayi avoids them all with ease.
Riviere misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kaayi shoots in looking for a takedown. Riviere tries to sprawl out of it but Kaayi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Riviere manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jean Riviere has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hideya Kaayi.
A leg kick checked by Kaayi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaayi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kaayi scores with a hook to the body. Riviere takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kaayi fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaayi tries to clinch but Riviere moves out of range.

Riviere tries to keep at a distance but Kaayi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kaayi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Riviere avoids it.
Kaayi landing knees to the body.

Kaayi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kaayi, right into the meat.
A good leg kick by Kaayi.
A telegraphed right hand from Riviere misses the target.
Riviere throws a front kick that sends Kaayi stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riviere turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Riviere throws the left hand but Kaayi avoids the punch easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Riviere tries to land a front kick but Kaayi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kaayi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Riviere checks it well.
Riviere thuds a left hand into Kaayi's body.
Kaayi scores with a hook.
Kaayi fails with the takedown.

Kaayi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Riviere tries to buck Kaayi off but Kaayi is having none of it.
Riviere trying to control but Kaayi flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Kaayi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Riviere has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riviere turns into Kaayi and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideya Kaayi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kaayi misses the shot to the body.
A combination from Kaayi does no damage.
Nice straight punches there by Kaayi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kaayi.
Kaayi moves out of range as Riviere throws a body kick.
Kaayi avoids the body shot from Riviere.
Kaayi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
An inside leg kick lands from Riviere.
Riviere swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kaayi tries to clinch but Riviere is having none of it.
Riviere scores with a hook.
Riviere bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Riviere avoids the body shot from Kaayi.

A head kick lands from Kaayi that sends Riviere to the canvas. Riviere tries to scramble back to his feet but Kaayi brings him back down into side control.

Riviere is rocked!

It looks like Jean Riviere has been cut.
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!
Riviere is trying to get back to half guard.
Kaayi landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Riviere on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Riviere tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaayi throws an elbow but Riviere slips to the side and avoids it well.
Riviere wants to control but Kaayi postures up.
Kaayi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kaayi scoring with punches and elbows.

Kaayi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Kaayi working his ground and pound in the gym.

Kaayi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kaayi in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviere is trying to improve his position.

Kaayi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Riviere, who protects the arm well.
Kaayi throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kaayi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Riviere!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaayi avoids the attempt from Riviere to control.
Kaayi prevents Riviere from getting the reversal.

Kaayi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Riviere has worked his arm free - good work by Riviere!

Kaayi tries for a kimura but Riviere is defending well.
Riviere tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kaayi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Riviere tries to bench press Kaayi off him but Kaayi keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaayi works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
You can see the frustration on Riviere's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Riviere is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hideya Kaayi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jean Riviere's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kaayi has closed the distance and engaged Riviere in a clinch.
Kaayi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Riviere breaks the clinch.
Riviere shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kaayi eats them both and turns towards Riviere to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Hideya Kaayi has been cut.
Kaayi throws a sloppy head kick and Riviere moves out of range easily.
Kaayi lands a jab.
Riviere throws a hook to the side of Kaayi's head but Kaayi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Riviere throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kaayi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Riviere thows a body kick. Kaayi tries to catch it but that hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Kaayi.
Riviere avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaayi moves out of range of the body kick.
Kaayi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riviere lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riviere stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Riviere wants it to stay on the feet.
Kaayi feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rivieres jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kaayi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Riviere misses with a series of wild punches.
Kaayi connects with a right hand. Riviere shakes it off.
Riviere shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kaayi eats them both and turns towards Riviere to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kaayi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riviere moves away.

Kaayi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riviere, pushing him back against the cage.
Riviere avoiding damage as Kaayi throws knees to the body.
Kaayi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Riviere gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kaayi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Riviere gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jean Riviere has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hideya Kaayi.

Kaayi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riviere shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hideya Kaayi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kaayi throws a lazy uppercut
and Riviere counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two 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!
Riviere fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kaayi checks it well.
Kaayi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Riviere doesn't seem bothered though.
Kaayi jabs Riviere to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kaayi misses with an attempted mid kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Riviere darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kaayi avoids the body shot from Riviere.
Kaayi cracks a nice hook into Riviere's ribs.
Kaayi looks to land a body kick but Riviere moved away.
Kaayi closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Riviere is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kaayi lands an overhand right.
Kaayi connects with a jab.
Kaayi throws a lazy right hand but Riviere sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kaayi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Riviere is fending him off so far but Kaayi persists. Nope, Riviere circles away and we're back to standing.
Riviere swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaayi.
Kaayi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaayi lands a nice looking body shot.
Riviere blocks a jab.
Kaayi checks a low kick from Riviere.
Kaayi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaayi slips under a jab from Riviere.
Kaayi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaayi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kaayi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jean Riviere has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riviere avoids the body shot from Kaayi.
An inside leg kick from Riviere misses.
Riviere slaps away a takedown attempt from Kaayi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kaayi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kaayi moves out of range as Riviere strikes.
Kaayi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jean Riviere is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kaayi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Riviere throws a leg kick that misses.
Riviere feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kaayis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaayi tries to clinch but Riviere moves out of range.
Riviere thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kaayi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Riviere throws a body kick that misses.
Kaayi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kaayi slips under a jab from Riviere.
Riviere misses with a kick to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaayi throws a head kick that misses.
Kaayi connects with the punch.
Riviere lands a really nice looking cross but Kaayi seems unphased.

Kaayi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riviere takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kaayi breaks the clinch.
Kaayi looks to land a combination but Riviere avoids it well.
Hideya Kaayi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A combination from Riviere does no damage.
Kaayi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hideya Kaayi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kaayi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hideya Kaayi!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Hideya Kaayi waved his t-shirt featuring Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]'s logo in front of the cameras.