PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dan Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Hernadez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raul Hernadez is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivers
vs
Hernadez

169 cm
22
138 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

164 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raul Hernadez!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernadez just misses with a punch to the body.
Hernadez moves in looking to clinch but Rivers pushes him off.
Rivers gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hernadez.
The fighters circling - Hernadez throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rivers lands a nice shot to the body.
Rivers throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hernadez's head.

It looks like Raul Hernadez has been cut.
A big left from Hernadez misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivers.
Hernadez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rivers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hernadez thows a body shot but no joy.
Hernadez stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivers. Rivers gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivers has a takedown stuffed.
Hernadez throws a hook to the side of Rivers's head but Rivers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hernadez throws a low kick but Rivers avoids it.

Rivers scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rivers.
Hernadez is looking to improve his position but Rivers isn't that keen on the idea.
Rivers wants to control the pace but Hernadez is squirming around nicely.
Hernadez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rivers working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Rivers working for a submission but Hernadez is keeping him at bay.
Rivers is breathing heavily.

Rivers working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hernadez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hernadez is refusing to be controlled, as Rivers sits in half guard.
Hernadez won't allow Rivers to pass to mount.
Hernadez tries to roll over but Rivers keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers wants to free his trapped foot but Hernadez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hernadez gets back to full guard.

Hernadez is looking for a triangle but Rivers pushes his legs off easily.
Rivers looking to sit in guard and control but Hernadez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hernadez stands and throws Rivers's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rivers tries to bench press Hernadez off him but Hernadez keeps the position.
Hernadez lands a few punches from side control.

Hernadez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hernadez looks up at the clock and then as Rivers takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hernadez smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Hernadez is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rivers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hernadez decides to stand back up. Hernadez steps back and let's Rivers get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernadez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hernadez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hernadez scores with a jab. Rivers acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rivers ducks right into an uppercut from Hernadez.
Rivers doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hernadez misses with the combination.

Rivers has closed the distance and engaged Hernadez in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hernadez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The is referee keeping an eye on Rivers - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hernadez gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rivers.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raul Hernadez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Raul Hernadez's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rivers moves in looking to clinch but Hernadez pushes him off.
Rivers shoots for a takedown but Hernadez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivers misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hernadez misses with a few strikes there.
Rivers slips a jab and a cross from Hernadez.
Dan Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hernadez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice sprawl there from Hernadez as Rivers shoots in.
Rivers throws a leg kick that is checked

and Hernadez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hernadez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice defenses there by Rivers.
Horrible takedown by Rivers or perhaps it was just good defense by Hernadez which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hernadez moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hernadez manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hernadez's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hernadez duly obliges.
Hernadez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rivers dodges the punch combination from Hernadez.
Hernadez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivers.
Rivers fails to land the takedown.
Rivers walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
No luck for Rivers with that takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Hernadez misses.
Hernadez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rivers tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hernadez swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hernadez.
Rivers looks for a takedown but Hernadez sprawls well.
Hernadez throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rivers clinches with his opponent.
Rivers trying to control the position but instead, Hernadez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rivers into the cage.

Hernadez breaks from the clinch.
Hernadez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hernadez misses with a few strikes there.

Rivers decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivers is pressing down on Hernadez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hernadez is holding on for now.
Rivers lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
It looks like Rivers is going to stand back up.
Hernadez missing with punches from the bottom.
Hernadez wants to control but Rivers is keeping busy.

Hernadez pushes Rivers off and gets back to his feet.
Hernadez misses with a low kick as Rivers jumps back.
Hernadez misses with a combination

and Rivers counters with a single leg into guard. Hernadez didn't expect that.
Rivers wants to pass the guard but Hernadez is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernadez is trying to control the position but Rivers postures up.

Hernadez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernadez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hernadez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hernadez controls Rivers momentarily but Rivers frees himself.
Rivers trying to control but Hernadez is working from the bottom.
Rivers tries to free his leg and advance position but Hernadez is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hernadez thows a leg kick but Rivers checks it

and Rivers counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Rivers dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Raul Hernadez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivers wants to clinch up but Hernadez keeps it at a distance.
Rivers wants to clinch but Hernadez slips to the side
and Hernadez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Rivers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rivers trying to control the position but instead, Hernadez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rivers into the cage.
Rivers tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hernadez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rivers has Hernadez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hernadez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hernadez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hernadez is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hernadez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rivers prevents Hernadez from breaking the clinch.
Rivers has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hernadez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hernadez can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernadez is trying to break free.
Rivers tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rivers struggles to land a body shot inside as Hernadez controls his hands.
Rivers wants to get back to striking at distance but Hernadez won't allow it.

Hernadez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hernadez throws a series of punches but Rivers moves out of range.
Hernadez falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rivers counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rivers is looking to take a break and control but Hernadez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hernadez trying to control here.

Hernadez actively working from the bottom here.
Rivers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernadez wants to improve his position but Rivers is controlling well.

Rivers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dan Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivers is keen to just control but Hernadez is a slippery customer.

Hernadez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rivers pulls his head out easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rivers throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hernadez's head.
Hernadez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivers.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hernadez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hernadez scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernadez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivers.
Rivers bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Rivers moves into the clinch.
Rivers tries to pull guard but Hernadez won't allow it.
Rivers tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hernadez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Knees to the body from Rivers.
Hernadez is looking to break free of the clinch but Rivers has double underhooks.
Rivers tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hernadez is struggling to control the position.
Rivers can't break the clinch.
Hernadez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hernadez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rivers lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernadez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rivers preventing the sweep.
Rivers is working Hernadez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernadez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rivers.
Hernadez is pulling down on Rivers's head. It's preventing any offense from Rivers, at least for the moment.
Rivers 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.
Rivers passes into half guard.

Rivers is trying to work for a kimura but Hernadez is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rivers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Rivers!