PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Bernhard Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Rivaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivaldi has chosen Joker's Wild as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Taylor
vs
Rivaldi

188 cm
30
187 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

180 cm
39
191 lbs
31 - 17 - 3

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 17 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominick Rivaldi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor misses with a head kick.
Rivaldi misses with a leg kick
and Taylor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivaldi lands a jab.
Taylor scores with a spinning back kick!
Dominick Rivaldi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivaldi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor clobbers Rivaldi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rivaldi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taylor.
Rivaldi is looking to score with low kicks.

Taylor moves into the clinch.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
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.
Rivaldi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivaldi throws a punch but it's blocked by Taylor.
Our sources have told us that Taylor has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivaldi.
Taylor lands a shot to the body.
Rivaldi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Taylor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi blocks a body shot from Taylor.
Rivaldi lands a left hand.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rivaldi's defenses.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivaldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivaldi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivaldi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Taylor misses with an elbow strike.
Rivaldi avoids the elbow strike from Taylor, against the ropes.
Rivaldi digs a right hand into Taylor's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taylor's gas tank.
Taylor tries to stall but Rivaldi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Taylor misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivaldi controls his hands.
Rivaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Taylor controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivaldi.
Rivaldi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivaldi avoids the elbow strike from Taylor, against the ropes.
Rivaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivaldi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Rivaldi avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the ropes.
Taylor blocks an uppercut.
Taylor lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Taylor misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivaldi blocks a body shot from Taylor.
Nice elbow from Taylor.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivaldi's elbow.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rivaldi as Taylor tries to tie him up.
Rivaldi avoids the elbow strike from Taylor, against the ropes.
Taylor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivaldi's elbow.
Taylor throws an elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rivaldi throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rivaldi wants to clinch up but Taylor keeps it at a distance.
Rivaldi checks a leg kick nicely.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Taylor forces Rivaldi back against the ropes and clinches.
Taylor is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Rivaldi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rivaldi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taylor looking to stall.
A head punch on the inside from Taylor fails to land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Taylor lands a nice elbow.
Taylor trying to stall but Rivaldi improves his position.
Taylor lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Dominick Rivaldi has been cut.
Taylor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivaldi can do to turn this around?
Rivaldi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Taylor throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivaldi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivaldi lands an uppercut.
Bernhard Taylor has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Rivaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivaldi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Taylor blocks an uppercut.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Taylor throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivaldi.
Rivaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Taylor digs a right hand into Rivaldi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rivaldi's gas tank.
Taylor tries to stall but Rivaldi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rivaldi digs a right hand into Taylor's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taylor's gas tank.
Rivaldi is leaning against Taylor and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rivaldi.
Taylor is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rivaldi is keeping busy.
Nice body punch from Rivaldi.
Taylor misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivaldi pushes Taylor back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi pushes Taylor back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Rivaldi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Taylor taking a breather.
Rivaldi lands a left hand.
Rivaldi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Rivaldi fails to land.
Taylor tries to work over Rivaldi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivaldi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Taylor prevents a body shot from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Rivaldi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi throws a head punch that misses.
Rivaldi lands a right hand.
Rivaldi can't find room to land a body shot as Taylor controls the action.
Rivaldi dodges an elbow strike from Taylor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Rivaldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dominick Rivaldi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taylor lands with a nice combination. Rivaldi backs away looking to recover.
Rivaldi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rivaldi slips under a jab from Taylor.
Rivaldi connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taylor's hands.
A jab lands there for Taylor.
Bernhard Taylor is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivaldi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rivaldi thumps Taylor with a low kick.
Rivaldi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rivaldi blocks a head kick by Taylor.
Taylor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Rivaldi rushes Taylor and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivaldi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rivaldi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rivaldi digs a right hand underneath Taylor's ribcage. Taylor let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rivaldi lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivaldi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to stall but Rivaldi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rivaldi blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Taylor just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rivaldi's brow.
Taylor throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivaldi.
A short right from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rivaldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Taylor taking a breather.
Rivaldi misses with some punches.
Rivaldi lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.
Rivaldi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rivaldi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taylor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Taylor pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivaldi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi has a couple of punches blocked by Taylor.
Nice body punch from Rivaldi.
Rivaldi works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Taylor misses with a punch to the body.
Rivaldi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short uppercut from Rivaldi.
Nice body punch from Taylor - that landed with a thud.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Rivaldi avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the ropes.
Rivaldi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Taylor backwards.
Taylor pushes off an throws an elbow but Rivaldi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Taylor lands an elbow inside.
Taylor looking to slow down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taylor.
Taylor throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Taylor controls his hands.
Rivaldi avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.
Rivaldi scores with a shot to the side of Taylor's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Rivaldi really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dominick Rivaldi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Rivaldi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rivaldi tries a low kick but Taylor avoids it.
Rivaldi throws a head kick that misses
and Taylor counters with a nice uppercut.
Rivaldi takes one to the side of the head.
Taylor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rivaldi is looking to clinch.
Taylor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rivaldi tries to clinch there but Taylor circles away.
Rivaldi showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Taylor.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivaldi. Taylor does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick but Taylor sees it coming and moves out of range.
Taylor clobbers Rivaldi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor motions for Rivaldi to come forward. Taylor throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Taylor forces Rivaldi back against the ropes and clinches.
Rivaldi swings wildly with an uppercut but Taylor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivaldi managing to block the knees to the body from Taylor.
Taylor throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Taylor throws an elbow but misses.
Taylor tries to stall but Rivaldi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rivaldi misses with a body punch.
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivaldi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rivaldi tries to work over Taylor's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivaldi blocks an elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivaldi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rivaldi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivaldi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Taylor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rivaldi blocks an elbow strike.
Taylor lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rivaldi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taylor 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!
Rivaldi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rivaldi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rivaldi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivaldi avoids a wild elbow strike from Taylor.
Taylor creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rivaldi's defenses.
Taylor blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Rivaldi as the two fighters clinch.
Taylor throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rivaldi pushes Taylor back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivaldi misses with a punch on the inside.
Taylor can't find room to land a body shot as Rivaldi controls the action.
Taylor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Bernhard Taylor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Dominick Rivaldi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rivaldi misses with a hook. Taylor ducked under it nicely.
Taylor throws a jab when Rivaldi was well out of range.
Rivaldi tries to close the distance and clinch but Taylor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivaldi throws the kick towards the body but Taylor avoids it.
Taylor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rivaldi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Taylor takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Nice uppercut lands for Rivaldi. That snapped Taylor's head back.
Taylor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rivaldi wants to land a leg kick but Taylor is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivaldi throws a low kick, looking for Taylor's leg but Taylor calmly moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rivaldi, right into the meat.
Taylor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Taylor connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor throws a head kick but Rivaldi moves out of range.
Taylor moves out of range as Rivaldi throws a body kick.
Rivaldi blocks a head kick by Taylor.
Taylor misses with an uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivaldi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taylor throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rivaldi throws a low kick but Taylor moves out of range easily.
Rivaldi connects with a looping right hand.
Rivaldi scores with a decent looking hook.
Taylor scores with a nice body kick.

Taylor gets a clinch.
Rivaldi misses with a body punch.
Taylor comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rivaldi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rivaldi lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A hook to the body from Taylor.
A body shot lands from Rivaldi.
Taylor doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivaldi blocking some punches.
Taylor tries to throw a body punch but Rivaldi avoids it by throwing Taylor back against the ropes.
Taylor is looking to control Rivaldi's arms but Rivaldi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taylor has his back to the ropes.
A bit of stalling here from Taylor.
Rivaldi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Taylor tries a body shot but Rivaldi blocks it.
Rivaldi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rivaldi.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taylor.
Taylor creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rivaldi misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dominick Rivaldi.
I think Rivaldi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 47:48
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 47:48
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dominick Rivaldi!
After winning the bout, Dominick Rivaldi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.