PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fausto Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam O Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Connor has chosen Theme to Braveheart as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Rivas
vs
O Connor

161 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fausto Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liam O Connor!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Connor throws a right and a left that both miss.
O Connor throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rivas counters by clinching up.
O Connor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
O Connor tries to break free but Rivas pushes him back against the cage.

Rivas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rivas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
O Connor trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
O Connor postures up in Rivas's guard and throws a big left but Rivas blocks it.
O Connor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Connor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rivas is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas controlling O Connor's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
O Connor throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rivas counters with a single leg into guard. O Connor didn't expect that.

O Connor looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
O Connor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rivas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

O Connor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rivas decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Connor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rivas did well to prevent O Connor getting side control.
O Connor thows a huge punch but Rivas dodges it nicely.
O Connor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like O Connor is going to stand back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivas is controlling O Connor's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivas is looking for a sweep. O Connor is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas is not content to let O Connor control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

O Connor darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
O Connor tries to stand and escape but Rivas actually recovers to full guard.
Rivas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
O Connor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam O Connor will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

O Connor throws a nice looking combination but Rivas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
O Connor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rivas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
O Connor feints a jab promting Rivas to slip. O Connor then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rivas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
O Connor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Danga de danga de dang - O Connor scores with a four punch combination!
O Connor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Connor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivas.
As O Connor tries to get set, Rivas tries to push him back and clinch up but O Connor manages to avoid the attempt.

O Connor fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rivas to the ground. O Connor is now in Rivas's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
O Connor wants to stand but Rivas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rivas keeping moving, preventing O Connor from controlling successfully.
O Connor is fighting to break Rivas's control of his arms but Rivas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liam O Connor has got the better of the ground game so far.
O Connor looking to sit in guard and control but Rivas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

O Connor utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rivas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rivas slips a jab and a cross from O Connor.
O Connor misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivas is looking for a counter combo.
O Connor lands a jab-cross combination.
O Connor misses with a two punch combination.
O Connor is breathing heavily.
O Connor misses with the combination.
Liam O Connor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Connor pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rivas back to the cage. O Connor follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

O Connor has managed to clinch.
Rivas is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rivas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Rivas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Connor looking to sit in guard and control but Rivas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rivas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Rivas stands up from O Connor's guard - Rivas perhaps looking for a knockout.
Liam O Connor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
O Connor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivas slips a jab and a cross from O Connor.
Rivas dodges the punch combination from O Connor.
Rivas drops down looking for a counter takedown but O Connor sprawls and moves away.
O Connor throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

O Connor closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Rivas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rivas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on O Connor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
O Connor stalling away here and it's allowed Rivas to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
O Connor tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivas is retaining full guard.
O Connor wants to control from the top but Rivas keeps moving.
Rivas pulls O Connor in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam O Connor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

O Connor drives through with a takedown into Rivas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rivas has a closed guard, preventing O Connor from standing up.
O Connor throwing strikes but missing.
O Connor tries to stand but Rivas is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
O Connor wants to stand and escape but instead Rivas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rivas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Connor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivas stands and steps away. O Connor gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
O Connor throws a series of punches but Rivas moves out of range.
O Connor throws a series of punches but Rivas avoids them all with ease.
O Connor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
O Connor misses with a double jab.
A left and a right from O Connor both land. Nice combination.

O Connor gets a clinch.

Rivas is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. O Connor can't fight it off and eventually Rivas manages to take the fight to the floor. O Connor looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. O Connor is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

O Connor looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rivas has picked O Connor up and slammed him! O Connor can't keep hold of the triangle and Rivas manages to pass to side control!

Rivas decides to stand back up. Rivas steps back and let's O Connor get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
O Connor throws a right and a left that both miss.
As O Connor looks to move away, Rivas throws a big counter combo bu O Connor just gets out of the way.
O Connor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rivas counters by clinching up.

Rivas gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rivas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
O Connor throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rivas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Rivas decides to stand up.
O Connor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rivas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rivas.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rivas.

Rivas pulls guard successfully.
O Connor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rivas's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Connor with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in O Connor's guard.

O Connor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

O Connor working for a triangle but Rivas defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fausto Rivas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think O Connor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liam O Connor!
Liam O Connor decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.