PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ronald Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wakoko Wakeke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wakoko Wakeke is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivas
vs
Wakeke

198 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ronald Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Wakoko Wakeke!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Wakeke slams his shin into Rivas's torso.
Wakeke moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Rivas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wakeke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wakeke as he jumps to the side.
Rivas avoids the head kick by Wakeke.
Wakeke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rivas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wakeke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivas.
Wakeke misses with an attempted mid kick.
Wakeke throws a series of punches but Rivas moves out of range.

Rivas forces Wakeke back against the cage and clinches.
Rivas takes an elbow to the temple.
Wakeke trying to land knees to the body.
Rivas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wakeke pushes Rivas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wakeke tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivas avoids the damage to the body.
A body shot lands from Wakeke.
Rivas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakeke softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wakeke lands an elbow that stopped Rivas in his tracks for a moment.
Rivas tries to pull guard but Wakeke holds him up against the cage and eventually Rivas drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronald Rivas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knees to the body from Wakeke.
Wakeke lands a good knee to the midsection. Rivas won't want to take too many of those.
Wakeke lands with a light punch inside.
Wakeke working Rivas over with knees to the body.
Wakeke landing knees to the head.
Wakeke lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wakeke connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rivas's face.
Rivas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Wakeke.

Rivas is rocked!
Nice elbow from Wakeke.
Oh Rivas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wakeke lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke lands a knee to the head.
Wakeke putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rivas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Wakeke is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wakeke unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rivas lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Wakeke working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rivas has had enough of the clinch but Wakeke keeps him there for the moment.
Rivas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wakeke lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wakeke digs a right hand underneath Rivas's ribcage. Rivas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Wakeke unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Wakeke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wakeke with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wakeke lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Wakeke lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rivas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wakeke just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wakeke gets through Rivas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wakeke gets through Rivas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Wakeke.
Rivas jumps guard but Wakeke stands there with Rivas around his waist. Rivas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wakeke putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rivas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Rivas drags the fight down to the ground.
Rivas wants to stand but Wakeke is controlling the position.
Wakeke advances position into side control!

Wakeke has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Wakeke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Wakeke instigates a clinch.
Wakeke lands with a right to the head.
Rivas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wakeke lands an elbow that stopped Rivas in his tracks for a moment.
Wakeke crunches a lovely knee into Rivas's ribcage.
Rivas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wakeke lands a body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Wakeke.
Wakeke is working Rivas over against the cage.
Wakeke using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A hook to the body from Wakeke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke misses with a knee to the head.
Rivas blocks an elbow strike.
Wakeke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rivas is defending well for now.
Rivas seems to have got his legs back now.
Rivas wants to get back to striking at distance but Wakeke won't allow it.
Wakeke misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivas is trying to pull guard but Wakeke turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rivas is looking for a takedown.
Wakeke looking to throw knees to the head but Rivas is blocking nicely.
Rivas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wakeke has him pressed against the cage.
Wakeke throws an elbow that misses.
Wakeke digs a right hand underneath Rivas's ribcage. Rivas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Wakeke lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivas blocks an uppercut.
Wakeke has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Rivas seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Wakeke can turn it around.
Wakeke working aggressively here.
Rivas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wakeke walks away with a smile on his face. Rivas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas tries to close the distance and clinch but Wakeke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivas wants to clinch.
Rivas wants to clinch.
Wakeke lands a head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivas is looking to clinch.
Rivas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wakeke tries to avoid it but Rivas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wakeke to the ground. Wakeke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wakeke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wakeke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wakeke swings for the body but Rivas moves out of range.
Rivas is looking to clinch but Wakeke is avoiding it.
Rivas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wakeke lands a leg kick that knocks Rivas off balance momentarily.
Wakeke throws a head kick that misses.
Wakeke throws a push kick but Rivas slaps the foot to one side.
Wakeke misses with a hook to the body
and Rivas counters with a leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Wakeke. Those never looked like landing.
Rivas looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Wakeke misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Wakeke is predictable there
and Rivas counters with a slapping leg kick.
Wakeke is breathing heavily.
Rivas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wakeke tries to avoid it but Rivas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wakeke to the ground. Wakeke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivas.
Wakeke takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakeke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivas manages to avoid it.

Rivas closes the distance and pushes Wakeke back into the cage.
Wakeke lands with a right to the head.
Wakeke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivas is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rivas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronald Rivas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wakeke misses with a knee to the head.

Rivas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wakoko Wakeke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Rivas moves into the clinch.
Rivas blocks an elbow strike from Wakeke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivas jumps guard but Wakeke stands there with Rivas around his waist. Rivas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wakeke with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivas stalls.
Rivas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wakeke pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Wakeke is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rivas is defending well for now.
Rivas avoiding damage as Wakeke throws knees to the body.
Rivas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wakeke walks away with a smile on his face. Rivas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Wakeke throws a head kick that misses.
Rivas tries to clinch but Wakeke moves out of range.
Rivas is looking to clinch but Wakeke is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wakeke.
Rivas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wakeke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wakeke throws a sloppy head kick and Rivas moves out of range easily.
Wakeke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rivas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wakeke.
As Wakeke backs away, Rivas returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Wakeke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Rivas counter with a right hand.
Rivas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wakeke misses with a body kick.
Rivas doesn't manage to clinch there - Wakeke circles away.

Wakeke clinches.
Wakeke misses with some punches.
Good body shot from Wakeke.
Rivas looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wakeke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivas dodges an elbow strike from Wakeke.

Rivas pulls guard.
Rivas working a defensive guard here.
Rivas trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Wakeke decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rivas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wakeke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Wakeke gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wakeke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rivas's efforts to push away.
Rivas jumps guard but Wakeke stands there with Rivas around his waist. Rivas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Wakeke lands an elbow that stopped Rivas in his tracks for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wakoko Wakeke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Wakeke goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Wakeke tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wakeke is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rivas rather than just go for the knockout.
Wakeke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivas.
Wakoko Wakeke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A bone on bone clash there as Rivas blocks the leg kick.
Wakeke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wakeke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wakeke connects with a body shot that sends Rivas's belly button to the back.
Wakeke is looking to slow Rivas down with leg kicks.
Wakeke misses with a head kick.
Rivas tries to close the distance and clinch but Wakeke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivas is looking to clinch but Wakeke is avoiding it.
Wakeke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wakeke loads up on a big right hand but Rivas slips the punch.
Rivas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Wakeke has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wakeke circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivas moves out of range as Wakeke throws a body kick.
Wakeke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rivas can pounce on him.
Rivas tries to clinch but Wakeke moves out of range.

Rivas gets tackled into the cage by Wakeke. Wakeke maintains the clinch.

Rivas drags the fight down to the ground.
Rivas is trying to keep Wakeke in close.
Wakeke stops Rivas from standing up.

Rivas pushes Wakeke off and scrambles back to his feet.

Rivas pushes Wakeke up against the cage in a clinch.
Wakeke with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rivas just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wakeke's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wakeke misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivas is trying to pull guard but Wakeke has him pressed against the cage.
Wakeke using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
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!
Rivas throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wakeke pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Rivas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wakeke swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivas.
Rivas is looking to clinch.
Rivas avoids the head kick by Wakeke.
Rivas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wakeke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wakeke keeps the fight on the outside.

Rivas clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Wakeke after a bit of a struggle.
Wakeke lands a nice knee to the body.
Wakeke creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rivas's defenses.
Rivas prevents a body shot from Wakeke.

Rivas manages to break the clinch.
Wakeke scores with a push kick.

Rivas gets tackled into the cage by Wakeke. Wakeke maintains the clinch.
Rivas tries to break the clinch but Wakeke is controlling the position.

Rivas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wakeke explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Wakeke lands with a slapping head kick.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas is trying to pull guard but Wakeke has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ronald Rivas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Wakeke.
Wakeke misses with a body punch.
Rivas avoids a wild elbow strike from Wakeke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rivas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wakeke lands an elbow inside.
Rivas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivas tries to break the clinch but Wakeke is controlling the position.
Wakeke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rivas backwards.
A short right from Wakeke.
Ronald Rivas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivas is trying to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wakoko Wakeke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wakeke winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wakoko Wakeke!
Wakoko Wakeke seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.