PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wilmer Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Filipeas Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rivers
vs
Luiz

185 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wilmer Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Filipeas Luiz!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luiz misses with a takedown
and Rivers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Luiz as he avoids it easily.
Luiz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rivers gets a takedown into half guard.
Rivers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Rivers.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luiz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rivers is working away from the top position though.

Rivers is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Luiz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rivers lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rivers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rivers working the head and body with strikes.
Rivers 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.
Luiz moves into full guard.
Rivers scoring with punches to the head and body.

Rivers got a little sloppy there for a moment and Luiz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rivers has managed to get both his arms back between Luiz's legs - danger averted.

Luiz working for a triangle but Rivers defends it easily.
Rivers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Luiz has eaten all the pies!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers stands up and waves to Luiz to follow him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Luiz.
Wilmer Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Filipeas Luiz.
Nice takedown defense from Rivers. No joy for Luiz on that attempt.
Luiz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luiz tries to keep at a distance but Rivers has taken the fight into the clinch.
Luiz taking a breather.
Luiz wants to stall.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivers has Luiz pressed against the cage, preventing Luiz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Luiz breaks the clinch.

Luiz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rivers to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Luiz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Luiz looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is in close to Luiz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rivers prevents Luiz from getting back to his feet.
Rivers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivers wants to get up but he can't break Luiz's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rivers gets to his feet - Luiz follows without any prompting.

Rivers changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Luiz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Luiz can't do much from the bottom here.

Rivers has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilmer Rivers dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Luiz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivers as he jumps to the side.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Luiz.
Luiz shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Luiz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Luiz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rivers shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rivers showed some decent athleticism there.
Rivers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Luiz is defending against the submission attempts here by Rivers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Rivers.
Rivers throwing shots but Luiz is blocking nicely.

Rivers is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Luiz defends it well.
Rivers lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Luiz tries to get to full guard but Rivers has control of the leg.

Rivers is working for a kimura but Luiz is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers prevents Luiz from improving his position.
Luiz has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rivers is working away from the top position though.
Wilmer Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivers lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Luiz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivers.
Rivers is nestled in close to Luiz, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rivers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rivers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rivers lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rivers thows a huge punch but Luiz dodges it nicely.
Rivers throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Rivers wants to work for an arm triangle but Luiz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Luiz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Luiz is breathing heavily.

Rivers escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Luiz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Luiz but Luiz pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Luiz drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Rivers defends it well.
Luiz goes for a double leg but Rivers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivers continues to drive forward.
It looked like Rivers was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Wilmer Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Filipeas Luiz.
No luck for Luiz with that takedown attempt.

Rivers closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luiz drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilmer Rivers 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!

Rivers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Luiz sprawls well. Luiz wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivers gets slowly back to his feet.
Luiz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Luiz pushes Rivers up against the cage in a clinch.
Rivers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luiz can do to turn this around?
Luiz is trying to drag Rivers to the mat but Rivers just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rivers can't find room to land a body shot as Luiz controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Luiz breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivers is defended easily by Luiz.
Rivers walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rivers checks a leg kick nicely.
Luiz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luiz throws a push kick but Rivers slaps the foot to one side.
Rivers went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Luiz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivers is looking to clinch.
Luiz is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Rivers takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luiz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Luiz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Luiz gets underhooks to prevent Rivers's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilmer Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Luiz gets control of Rivers's arms and successfully pulls guard. Luiz will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rivers working some strikes from top position.
Rivers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Luiz avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Luiz 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.
Luiz trying to keep a closed guard but Rivers is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Luiz is proving hard to escape from.

Rivers gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Filipeas Luiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Rivers forces Luiz back against the cage and clinches.
Rivers taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Luiz tries to pull guard but Rivers holds him up against the cage and eventually Luiz drops back down to his feet.
Luiz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivers smiles and moves away.

That's four 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.
Luiz shoots for a double leg takedown but Rivers sprawls well. He's pushed Luiz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Luiz gets tackled into the cage by Rivers. Rivers maintains the clinch.

Rivers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rivers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Luiz avoids it really well and circles away.
Luiz fails with a takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers stuffs the takedown.
Wilmer Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rivers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Luiz's half guard.
Filipeas Luiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wilmer Rivers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rivers connects with a nice short shot to Luiz's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wilmer Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

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