PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wilmer Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lucas Teixeira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lucas Teixeira has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Wilmer Rivers's chin.

Rivers
vs
Teixeira

185 cm
18
214 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 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, Lucas Teixeira!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Teixeira pushes Rivers up against the cage in a clinch.

Rivers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Teixeira.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Teixeira fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Teixeira tries to land a front kick but Rivers steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Teixeira has closed the distance and engaged Rivers in a clinch.
Teixeira has had enough of the clinch but Rivers keeps him there for the moment.
Teixeira doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Teixeira wants a takedown but no success here.
Rivers keeps control of Teixeira as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Teixeira wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teixeira is working for takedown but Rivers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Teixeira looking for a takedown.
Wilmer Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Teixeira.
Rivers gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Teixeira.
With the fighters up against the cage, Teixeira throws an elbow but misses.

Teixeira pulls guard effortlessly.
Teixeira trying to control the position here.
Rivers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teixeira has Rivers pulled in close to control his posture.
Rivers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivers is looking to stand up but Teixeira won't let him.
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.

Teixeira uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Rivers gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Teixeira jumps guard but Rivers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rivers just leaning against Teixeira, taking a breather.

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Teixeira is fending him off so far but Rivers persists. Nope, Teixeira circles away and we're back to standing.
Teixeira misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Teixeira should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Some wild striking there from Teixeira.
Rivers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Teixeira defends it nicely.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Teixeira circles away.
A head kick misses from Teixeira.
Teixeira lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivers circles away quickly and effectively.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Teixeira circles away.
Teixeira misses with a kick to the body.
Rivers shoots for a takedown but Teixeira saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Teixeira circles away from the clinch attempt.
As Rivers backs off Teixeira throws a huge counter combo but Rivers manages to avoid it all.
Teixeira misses with a hook.
Teixeira shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rivers but Rivers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Teixeira looks winded!

Rivers closes the distance and clinches.
Teixeira is trying to pull guard but Rivers has him pressed against the cage.
Teixeira blocking some punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Teixeira tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rivers defends well and Teixeira ends up having to push Rivers into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucas Teixeira dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Teixeira dives in for a single leg takedown but Rivers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rivers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rivers wants it to stay on the feet.
Rivers tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Teixeira manages to circle out of the way.
Teixeira shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivers as he jumps to the side.
Wilmer Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Teixeira.
Teixeira stuffs the takedown.
Teixeira showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivers.
Teixeira avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Teixeira swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch but Teixeira swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Teixeira closes the distance and clinches up with Rivers, looking for a takedown. Teixeira pushes Rivers against the cage but Rivers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Teixeira or perhaps it was just good defense by Rivers, which made it look bad.
Teixeira is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teixeira throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Teixeira jabs Rivers to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Teixeira will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rivers feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivers trying to stand up but can't free himself from Teixeira's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Teixeira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rivers.
Rivers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rivers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Teixeira really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rivers stands up from Teixeira's guard - Rivers perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rivers manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Teixeira on his heels. He'll look to pass Teixeira's guard now, I'm sure.
Rivers is working Teixeira over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers throwing strikes but missing.

Rivers stands up and waves to Teixeira to follow him.
Teixeira keeps the fight on the outside.

Rivers clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers has Teixeira pressed against the cage, preventing Teixeira from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Teixeira shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivers as he jumps to the side.
Teixeira throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rivers counters by moving into the clinch.
Rivers blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Teixeira is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rivers is defending well.

Rivers breaks from the clinch.

Teixeira rushes Rivers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Teixeira jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rivers walks away with a smile on his face. Teixeira gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Teixeira back to the cage. Rivers follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Teixeira shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rivers sprawls well. Rivers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Teixeira gets slowly back to his feet.
Teixeira has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rivers wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilmer Rivers dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Teixeira tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rivers swivels and escapes.
Rivers avoids the body shot from Teixeira.
It looked like Rivers wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Rivers shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rivers stops Teixeira from standing up.
Rivers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Teixeira can do to turn this around?
Teixeira 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.

Teixeira is working an open guard so Rivers takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Teixeira.
Lucas Teixeira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Teixeira takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Teixeira moves into range and clinches up with Rivers.
Teixeira has had enough of the clinch but Rivers keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Teixeira is defending well for now.

Rivers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rivers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rivers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rivers throws a strike aimed at the side of Teixeira's head but Teixeira avoids it well.
Teixeira manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rivers's best efforts.
Rivers slips a nice elbow through Teixeira's hands, connecting with Teixeira's forehead.
Rivers winds up and cracks Teixeira with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rivers drops an elbow to the side of Teixeira's head.

Rivers is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Teixeira has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Teixeira's head.
Rivers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Teixeira's head.
Rivers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Teixeira is looking to improve his position.
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 Teixeira over with strikes.
Teixeira is controlling Rivers's trapped leg to prevent Rivers from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rivers lands a nice short elbow.
Rivers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rivers not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Teixeira tries to roll over but Rivers keeps him under control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Teixeira keeps the fight on the outside.
Rivers tries to clinch there but Teixeira circles away.
Teixeira shoots in and drives through. Rivers sprawls well.
Wilmer Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lucas Teixeira.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rivers's jab looks to have found its range, popping Teixeira under the eye.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivers wants to clinch up but Teixeira keeps it at a distance.

Rivers bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Rivers decides to stand up, so the ref orders Teixeira to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivers.

Rivers closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivers prevents Teixeira from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wilmer Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivers 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

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