PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Maconha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Igor Maconha has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivas
vs
Maconha

150 cm
24
193 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
187 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Igor Maconha!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivas darts in and clinches Maconha up against the cage.

Rivas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Maconha decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivas is trying to stand back up but Maconha is controlling him

Rivas makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rivas throws a jab when Maconha was well out of range.
Rivas sets himself, and Maconha steps forward looking for the clinch! Rivas avoids it this time.

Rivas clinches up with Maconha and pushes him back against the cage.

Rivas pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rivas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maconha stopping the sweep attempt from Rivas.
Maconha wants to pass the guard but Rivas is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas is trying to keep Maconha in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Maconha stops Rivas from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Maconha lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivas circles away quickly and effectively.

Maconha has Rivas up against the cage in a clinch.

Rivas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Maconha uses from the top position.
Maconha landing with the ground and pound.
Rivas pulls Maconha in close to prevent any damage.
Rivas really is a fat lump.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivas wants to stand up but Maconha is controlling him.
Maconha wants to control from the top but Rivas keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivas pushes Maconha off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Maconha looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maconha stops Rivas from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rivas manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Rivas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Maconha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maconha looking to slow down the pace here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivas fails to pull guard.

Maconha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Maconha fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rivas sprawls well initially but Maconha persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Maconha looks winded!

Rivas manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Maconha wants to clinch but Rivas slips to the side
and Rivas counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Maconha closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rivas did well to prevent Maconha getting side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivas wants to get back to his feet.

Rivas has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Maconha is on him like a limpet, forcing Rivas back against the cage.

Maconha pulls Rivas into guard.

Maconha looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rivas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rivas dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rivas closes the distance and clinches.
Maconha is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maconha can do to turn this around?
Rivas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Maconha tries a body shot but Rivas blocks it.

Rivas manages to break the clinch.
Maconha avoids the head kick by Rivas.
Maconha throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rivas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maconha is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rivas tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Maconha manages to circle out of the way.

Maconha closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rivas to the mat! Rivas manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maconha wants to control from the top but Rivas keeps moving.
Rivas wants to get back to his feet but Maconha is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Maconha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rivas is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Maconha is breathing heavily.

Rivas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivas tries to clinch but Maconha moves out of range.

Maconha closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Maconha lands in his opponent's guard.
Maconha trying to control but Rivas is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Rivas manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Rivas manages to break the clinch.

Rivas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Rivas has his feet on Maconha's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Rivas moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivas breaks the clinch.
Maconha throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Rivas counters with a one-two to the body.
Rivas shoots in and drives through. Maconha sprawls well.
Rivas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maconha misses with a head kick.
Rivas tries to clinch but Maconha is having none of it.

Maconha tries to keep at a distance but Rivas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rivas pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivas has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Maconha is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Rivas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Maconha after a bit of a struggle.

Rivas pulls Maconha into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivas throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Rivas wriggles free and stands up.

Rivas closes the distance and pushes Maconha back into the cage.

Maconha decides to pull guard.
Rivas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rivas trying to control but Maconha is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rivas dominated that second 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!

Rivas tries to clinch there but Maconha circles away.

Maconha shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Rivas flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Rivas pushes Maconha off and gets back to his feet.
Rivas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maconha paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rivas tries to sprawl but Maconha drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Rivas has one foot on Maconha's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivas sets himself, and Maconha steps forward looking for the clinch! Rivas avoids it this time.
Maconha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivas throws a sloppy head kick and Maconha moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivas tries to keep at a distance but Maconha has taken the fight into the clinch.

Maconha gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rivas moves into full guard.
Rivas wants to stand up but Maconha is controlling him.
Rivas will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Rivas manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Maconha wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivas won't allow it.
Maconha is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rivas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maconha's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Maconha is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rivas's half guard.

Rivas manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivas throws a head kick that misses.
Rivas is looking to clinch.
Rivas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivas is defended easily by Maconha.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maconha connects with a high kick.

Maconha drives through with a takedown into Rivas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Rivas uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Rivas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Maconha looking for a guillotine here but Rivas defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rivas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rivas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Igor Maconha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rivas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivas 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rivas!
Igor Maconha was interviewed post fight and said 'Kkkkkkk'.