PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Millard Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Young John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rivers
vs
John

158 cm
25
194 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Millard Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Young John!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
John keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
John misses with a few strikes there.

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

John's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from John.
Rivers is looking to counter punch.
Rivers throws a right and a left that John avoids nicely.
John shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing John's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Rivers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

John is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rivers can't fight it off and eventually John manages to take the fight to the floor. Rivers looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivers wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and John is now in half guard.
John slips a nice elbow through Rivers's hands, connecting with Rivers's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

John is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rivers has managed to free his arm - good work.
John prevents Rivers from standing back up.
John is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rivers tries to get to full guard but John has control of the leg.
Rivers throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rivers manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
John is looking to stand up but Rivers won't let him.
John trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
John wants to pass the guard but Rivers is keeping the position.
John is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
John postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John misses with a takedown
and Rivers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
John wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.

Rivers clinches.
Rivers really is a fat lump.

John has picked Rivers up - he's going for a ride! John dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
John looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers gets full guard.
John won't allow Rivers to sweep him here.
John throwing strikes but missing.
Rivers lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws a big elbow that misses.
John wants to control the position but Rivers says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
John makes his way to full guard. A much better position for John.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
John tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Rivers was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rivers slaps away a takedown attempt from John, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Millard Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Young John.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivers.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
John darts in looking for a takedown but Rivers gets double underhooks and turns John into the cage.
As John looks to move away, Rivers throws a big counter combo bu John just gets out of the way.
Rivers wants to clinch up but John keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Young John dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck with that takedown attempt from John.
Rivers seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
John shoots in but no luck this time.
John fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Millard Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Young John.
Rivers tries to clinch there but John circles away.

John tries to keep at a distance but Rivers has taken the fight into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for John.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

John gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rivers pushes John off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
John shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rivers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
John is breathing heavily.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Young John seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
John pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sloppy strikes from John. Those never looked like landing.
Rivers tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but John swivels and escapes.

Rivers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
John is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but John has him pressed against the cage.
John is struggling to control the position.
Rivers tries to break free but John pushes him back against the cage.
John on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and John avoids it.

John has picked Rivers up - he's going for a ride! John dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
John is thwarting Rivers's attempts to control the position.
Rivers tries to get to full guard but John has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John is figuring out what he wants to do next.
John is looking to pass Rivers's guard but actually Rivers recovers to full guard.
John with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rivers wants to sweep here but John controlling him for the moment.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rivers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from John.
Rivers swinging wildly here.

Rivers clinches with his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
John is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rivers gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
John tries for a takedown but Rivers manages to get underhooks.
John tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivers smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Millard Rivers will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rivers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with John but John pushes him off and we're back to square one.
John only half commits to the counter leg kick.

John scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rivers trying to control here.
Young John has got the better of the ground game so far.

John is trying to work for a kimura but Rivers is defending well.
Rivers throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

John is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rivers doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time John.
Rivers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rivers trying to control but John postures up.
Rivers gets back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
John avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
John fails with the takedown
and Rivers counters with a lovely straight right hand!

John closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - John lands in his opponent's guard.

Rivers uses the cage to get back to his feet.
John takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
John tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rivers defends well and John ends up having to push Rivers into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

John looking to score a takedown here. Rivers is defending well but John drives through and ends up in Rivers's guard.
Rivers 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.
John wanted to stand there but Rivers had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John throws an elbow that misses. Rivers uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in John's guard. Nice move by Rivers!
Rivers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivers postures up.
Rivers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rivers throwing strikes from guard but John blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivers working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rivers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rivers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rivers trying to stand up but can't free himself from John's guard.
Rivers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rivers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivers stuffs the takedown.
As John looks to move away, Rivers throws a big counter combo bu John just gets out of the way.
Millard Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Young John.
Rivers is looking to clinch but John is avoiding it.
Millard Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
John leaves Rivers with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers moves out of range of the body kick from John.
Rivers fails to land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Young John.
I think John 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Young John!