PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Sven Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Rivaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larsson comes to the ring accompanied by Wu-Tang Clan - Careful. Rivaldi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Joker's Wild. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Larsson
vs
Rivaldi

183 cm
33
195 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

180 cm
38
191 lbs
28 - 14 - 3

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Cage Star

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sven Larsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominick Rivaldi!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivaldi.
Larsson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Larsson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Donk. Rivaldi catches Larsson right on the button with a cross.
Larsson bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
An inside leg kick from Larsson misses.
Rivaldi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Larsson if he has to take too many more of those.
Larsson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rivaldi missing with a left hand there. Larsson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rivaldi blocks a head kick by Larsson.

Rivaldi rushes Larsson and presses him up against the ropes.
We've been informed that Rivaldi has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Larsson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivaldi.
Larsson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larsson tries a knee to the head but Rivaldi blocks it.
Larsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivaldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivaldi tries to throw a body punch but Larsson avoids it by throwing Rivaldi back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivaldi controls his hands.
Larsson scores with a shoulder strike.
Larsson looking to slow down the pace here.
Our sources have told us that Larsson has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Rivaldi misses with the head strike.
Larsson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivaldi's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi takes a shot to the head.
Larsson stalling in the clinch but Rivaldi improves position.
Larsson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Rivaldi.
Rivaldi takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rivaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Larsson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Larsson lands a right hand.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Larsson.
Larsson holding his opponent close, against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson blocking some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Larsson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivaldi has a couple of punches blocked by Larsson.
Rivaldi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Larsson throws a head punch that misses.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Larsson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Larsson controls his hands.
Larsson with a knee to the head.
Rivaldi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Rivaldi on the inside.
Larsson takes a shot to the head.
Rivaldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Larsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short right from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi has a couple of punches blocked by Larsson.
Larsson misses with a knee strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dominick Rivaldi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Larsson thumps Rivaldi with a low kick.
Larsson checks a leg kick.
Rivaldi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Larsson's head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Larsson.
Larsson tries to land a leg kick but Rivaldi saw it coming and moves away.
Rivaldi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Larsson. That did some damage!
Rivaldi cracks Larsson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
A swing and a miss from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi misses with a hook. Larsson ducked under it nicely.
Rivaldi misses with a leg kick

and Larsson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Larsson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivaldi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivaldi lands a body shot.
Larsson tries to work over Rivaldi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Larsson working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivaldi.
Dominick Rivaldi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Larsson tries to throw a body punch but Rivaldi avoids it by throwing Larsson back against the ropes.
Larsson misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Larsson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Larsson can't find room to land a body shot as Rivaldi controls the action.
Larsson throws a head punch that misses.
Larsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Larsson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivaldi controls his hands.
Larsson scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Larsson.
Larsson has a couple of punches blocked by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Larsson misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivaldi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Larsson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivaldi misses with some punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Larsson tries to work over Rivaldi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Larsson misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi tries to throw a body punch but Larsson avoids it by throwing Rivaldi back against the ropes.
Larsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivaldi uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivaldi.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Larsson.
A head punch on the inside from Larsson fails to land.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Larsson.
Larsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Larsson blocking some punches.
Rivaldi blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Larsson.
Rivaldi blocks an uppercut.
Rivaldi digs a right hand into Larsson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Larsson's gas tank.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Larsson working aggressively here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivaldi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rivaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rivaldi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sven Larsson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rivaldi lands a jab to the head.
Larsson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Larsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivaldi.
Larsson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick but Larsson checks it.
Larsson throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rivaldi counters with a good low kick that Larsson was not able to check.
Rivaldi connects with an inside leg kick.
Rivaldi looks for the body kick but Larsson saw that one coming.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick but Larsson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rivaldi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Larsson checks it well.
Dominick Rivaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivaldi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larsson dodges the punch combination from Rivaldi.
Larsson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivaldi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Larsson.
Rivaldi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rivaldi throws a lazy body kick

and Larsson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Larsson lands an uppercut.
Larsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Larsson fails to land.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Rivaldi avoiding damage as Larsson throws knees to the body.
Larsson tries a body shot but Rivaldi blocks it.
Rivaldi misses with the head strike.
Larsson misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Larsson fails to land.
Rivaldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Larsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Rivaldi lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson tries a body shot but Rivaldi blocks it.
Rivaldi tries to throw a body punch but Larsson avoids it by throwing Rivaldi back against the ropes.
Larsson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Larsson lands a nice shot to the body.
A shot in the inside from Rivaldi.
Larsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivaldi can't find room to land a body shot as Larsson controls the action.
Larsson lands a body shot in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Larsson.
Larsson wants to stall.
Larsson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivaldi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Good body shot from Larsson.
Rivaldi works on Larsson's body with a couple of short punches.
Rivaldi working aggressively here.
Rivaldi pushes Larsson back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Dominick Rivaldi just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rivaldi misses with a leg kick

and Larsson counters by clinching up.
Larsson takes a shot to the head.
Larsson lands a shoulder strike.
Rivaldi lands a shoulder strike.
Larsson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rivaldi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rivaldi throws a head punch that misses.
Rivaldi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Larsson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Larsson lands a right hand.
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!
Rivaldi lands a hook that snaps the head of Larsson backwards.
Rivaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivaldi.
Larsson tries to throw a body punch but Rivaldi avoids it by throwing Larsson back against the ropes.
Larsson lands with a right to the head.
Rivaldi lands a nice uppercut.
Rivaldi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson tries a body shot but Rivaldi blocks it.
Larsson blocks a body shot from Rivaldi.
Larsson is trying to stall.
Rivaldi misses with a body punch.
Larsson working aggressively here.
Rivaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Larsson controls his hands.
Rivaldi misses with a body punch.
Larsson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rivaldi working aggressively here.
Rivaldi blocks an uppercut.
Rivaldi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivaldi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Larsson backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Larsson.
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson misses with a punch to the body.
Still in the clinch, Rivaldi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rivaldi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivaldi working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Rivaldi fails to land.
Larsson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Larsson misses with some punches.
Larsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivaldi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivaldi has a couple of punches blocked by Larsson.
Rivaldi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Larsson.
Rivaldi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

Larsson is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Larsson misses with some punches.
Rivaldi misses with some punches.
Larsson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivaldi backwards.
Rivaldi lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Rivaldi dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Larsson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rivaldi scores with a kick to the body.
Good work by Rivaldi as he checks the leg kick.
A head kick misses from Rivaldi.
Larsson slips a straight right by Rivaldi.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Larsson, right into the meat.
Rivaldi misses with a series of wild punches.
Larsson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rivaldi.
Larsson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rivaldi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Larsson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rivaldi moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson wants to slow Rivaldi down by chopping away at his legs.
Rivaldi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rivaldi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rivaldi will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Rivaldi takes the fight into the clinch.
Larsson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivaldi backwards.
Larsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rivaldi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivaldi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rivaldi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rivaldi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi misses with a body punch.
Larsson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Larsson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivaldi misses with some punches.
Rivaldi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Larsson.
Rivaldi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Oh Larsson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rivaldi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Larsson backwards.
Rivaldi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Larsson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
A head punch on the inside from Larsson fails to land.
A knee to the head by Larsson.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivaldi prevents a body shot from Larsson.
Larsson seems to have got his legs back now.
Rivaldi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rivaldi pushes Larsson back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sven Larsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivaldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Larsson's elbow.
Rivaldi misses with the head strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominick Rivaldi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rivaldi 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 46:49
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 46:49
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominick Rivaldi!
Our winner, Dominick Rivaldi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Sven Larsson stepped up to the mic, saying 'Bork! Bork!Bork!'.