PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mountain Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Ballantine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mountain Rivera is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Rivera
vs
Ballantine

197 cm
34
274 lbs
17 - 50 - 0

195 cm
24
230 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 50 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mountain Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bill Ballantine!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ballantine tries to sprawl but Rivera drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rivera perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rivera takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rivera throwing shots but Ballantine is blocking nicely.
Ballantine really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rivera is trying to control the action in half guard but Ballantine is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ballantine wants to control but Rivera passes into side.
The ground and pound from Rivera seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Rivera looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rivera goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ballantine has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rivera but great work by Ballantine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballantine throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rivera is trying to get back to half guard.

Ballantine tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ballantine has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ballantine throwing strikes but Rivera manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Rivera working the ground and pound but Ballantine is defending the strikes.
Rivera slows the pace down.

Rivera thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine can't do much from the bottom here.

Rivera tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivera has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rivera looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ballantine is avoiding damage well.
Ballantine avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rivera.
Sloppy strikes there by Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Sloppy strikes there by Rivera.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ballantine is trying to improve his position.
Ballantine is being controlled here.
Ballantine is looking for a sweep.
Ballantine trying his best to control but Rivera has mounted him.
Rivera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rivera connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ballantine avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rivera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Rivera there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ballantine is desperately trying to improve his position but Rivera has a good base and remains in mount.
Rivera is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ballantine can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rivera controlling his opponent.
Rivera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rivera is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Ballantine is rocked!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rivera looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ballantine holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Rivera tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mountain Rivera dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rivera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Rivera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ballantine defends it well.

Rivera is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rivera looks to land a strike but Ballantine avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Rivera slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rivera throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera 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.
Ballantine looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivera is one step ahead there.
Ballantine keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Ballantine has momentary wrist control but Rivera slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ballantine works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ballantine controlling the position.
Rivera is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rivera is looking to work some ground and pound but Ballantine has wrist control.
Mountain Rivera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ballantine wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.
Ballantine trying to control the position.
Ballantine wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera trying to control but Ballantine is working from the bottom.
Ballantine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rivera.
Ballantine wants to stand but Rivera is controlling the position.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Ballantine.
Ballantine misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rivera closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ballantine to the mat! Ballantine manages to get full guard.
Ballantine controls Rivera momentarily but Rivera frees himself.
Rivera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Rivera drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rivera jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rivera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rivera sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rivera working some strikes from top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ballantine is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mountain Rivera dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Ballantine stuffs the takedown.
Rivera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ballantine swivels and escapes.
Ballantine lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivera circles away quickly and effectively.
Ballantine leaves Rivera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mountain Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ballantine darts in and clinches Rivera up against the cage.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rivera is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ballantine is defending well.
Rivera wants a takedown but no success here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.

Rivera is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ballantine can't fight it off and eventually Rivera manages to take the fight to the floor. Ballantine looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ballantine can do to turn this around?
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!
Rivera landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.
Rivera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ballantine avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.
Ballantine wants to stand up but Rivera is controlling him.
Rivera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rivera seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ballantine for as long as he can get away with.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mountain Rivera wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rivera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rivera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ballantine avoids it really well and circles away.
Ballantine has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Ballantine tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Ballantine.
Ballantine shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rivera defends it nicely.

Rivera feints and as Ballantine raises his hands in defense, Rivera changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.
Rivera throwing strikes from guard but Ballantine blocks nicely.
Rivera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rivera distracts Ballantine with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rivera with a nice head shot there.
Rivera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine wants to stand up but Rivera is controlling him.
Mountain Rivera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivera is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mountain Rivera.

Ballantine tries to keep at a distance but Rivera has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Ballantine avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mountain Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivera 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mountain Rivera!