PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cole River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salosen Mara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Creedence Clearwater Revival - Born On The Bayou. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

River
vs
Mara

188 cm
35
175 lbs
37 - 10 - 1

186 cm
29
176 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cole River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Salosen Mara!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Mara's calf.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mara.
River lands a nice looking body shot.
River lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
River moves out of range of the body kick from Mara.
River wants to clinch up but Mara keeps it at a distance.
Mara moves away from the strike by River.
Mara feints a counter leg kick.
River takes a swing at Mara's ribcage but misses.
Decent striking displayed by River there.
River misses with a wild body shot.
Cole River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mara misses with a low kick.
A little feinted left hand from River on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mara moves away.
A left lands for Mara.
River dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mara. That did some damage!
Mara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mara scores with a jab to the body.
River falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mara counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Mara tenderised River's leg. River is trying to keep his angry face on.
River throws a leg kick but Mara moved away.
River swings widly with a right hand
and Mara cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mara throws out a leg kick but River moves out of range and Mara only half commits.
River throwing a counter right hand but Mara manages to avoid it.
River connects with a solid leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from River lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mara has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mara and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mara walks into a straight right hand from River.
Mara has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from River finds it's way round the side to connect with Mara's head.
River lands a head shot.
Mara throws a body shot but no joy.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River throws a head kick but Mara moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Mara's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
River scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
River tries to close the distance and clinch but Mara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
River throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A jab lands there for Mara.
A low kick from River misses
and Mara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
River takes a shot to the body in his stride.
River looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mara avoids a kick to the body.
River scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A head kick by River misses
and Mara counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
River checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
River is looking to clinch but Mara is avoiding it.
Mara checks a leg kick.
Mara takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
River jabs Mara right on the nose. Mara blinks but takes it well.
Mara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
River scores with a jab to the jaw.
River throws a push kick but Mara slaps the foot to one side.
Mara shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mara misses with a jab, cross combination.
River throwing a counter right hand but Mara manages to avoid it.
River lands the left hand.
Mara connects with a nice looking jab.
River ducks under a wild hook from Mara.
River was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
River misses with a looping right.
Mara is looking to land body kicks.
Mara looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
River tries to clinch but Mara moves out of range.
Mara throws a low kick but River moves out of range easily.
Good work by River as he checks the leg kick.
Mara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck River on the side of the head.

River closes the distance and clinches.
River prevents a body shot from Mara.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mara lands a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River lands a body punch.
Mara working aggressively here.
Nice body punch from River - that landed with a thud.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
Mara lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
Mara prevents a body shot from River.
Mara lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
River is looking to control Mara's arms but Mara gets an underhook and turns him. Now River has his back to the cage.
River has a couple of punches blocked by Mara.
Mara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
River looks to throw an elbow but misses.
River lands a body shot.
Mara lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mara can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River scores with a knee to the head.
River tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mara avoids it.
Mara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
River lands with a left to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cole River will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mara bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
River connects with a solid leg kick.
Cole River is winning the standup battle so far.
Mara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A clash of legs there as Mara blocks the low kick.
Mara throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
As Mara backs away, River returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Mara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from River.
An inside leg kick from River misses.
Mara connects with a crisp jab.
Mara on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by River. River obviously looking to wear him down.
River takes a shot to the body in his stride.
River misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mara cracks a nice hook into River's ribs.
River misses with a leg kick.
River tries to clinch up.
River darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
River lands a high kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Mara blocks the leg kick.
River gets cracked there but stands up to it.
River scoring well with a low kick there.
River lands a nice shot that snaps Mara's head back.
Mara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by River.
Mara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River is looking to land body kicks.
Mara looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
River throws a hook to the side of Mara's head but Mara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As River backs off Mara throws a huge counter combo but River manages to avoid it all.
Mara does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Mara with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
River feints and then cracks Mara's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mara down.
Mara's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
River tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mara throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice defenses there by Mara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mara throws a leg kick that is checked
and River counters with a good low kick that Mara was not able to check.
River throws the kick towards the body but Mara avoids it.
Mara uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from River.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract River.
Mara misses with a two punch combination.
Mara throws a sloppy head kick
and River counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Good leg kick by Mara there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
River fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mara is out of range.
Mara throws a chopping leg kick but River manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
River cracks the inside of Mara's front leg.
Mara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River misses with a low kick.
River throws a leg kick but Mara checks it.
Mara moves out of range of the body kick from River.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River misses with a telegraphed body shot
and River takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A low kick from Mara is predictable there
and River cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
River throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Mara.
Mara fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Good work by River as he checks the leg kick.
River fails in his attempt to clinch.
River pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nice uppercut there from Mara.
Mara lands with a right hand.
Mara connects with a jab.
Mara misses with a low kick.
Mara fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. River looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A solid leg kick lands there for River.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
River throws a leg kick which misses Mara's front leg but catches the back leg as Mara tries to avoid it.
River avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mara throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.
River fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mara on the side of the head.

River closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mara struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
River gets through Mara's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mara lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of River backwards.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mara ducks down and throws a hook to the body but River moves away.
Mara connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed River momentarily.
River ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
River takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mara throws a body shot but no joy.
Mara gets cracked with a nice right hand there by River.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Salosen Mara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mara does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
River chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mara can pounce on him.
A head kick misses from Mara.
River dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mara. That did some damage!
River pulls out of a head kick attempt.
River slips under a jab from Mara.
Mara connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mara throws a low kick but River avoids it.
Mara shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mara looks to land a body kick but River moved away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River throws a hook but Mara avoids it easily.
Mara thumps River with a low kick.
River moves away from the strike by Mara.
River looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Mara moves forwards but River connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Mara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mara was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
Mara steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Mara throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
River tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mara manages to circle out of the way.
River motions for Mara to come forward. River throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
River getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
River throws a quick inside leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Mara finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Mara staying out of range there.
River misses with a kick to the body.
Mara dodges the punch combination from River.
A little jabbing left from Mara on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice uppercut lands for Mara. That snapped River's head back.
River walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mara checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mara.
A solid leg kick lands there for River.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River moves out of range as Mara throws a body kick.
River tries to clinch but Mara moves out of range.
Mara throws a body shot but no joy.
Mara throws a low kick, looking for River's leg but River calmly moves out of range.
Mara tries to land a leg kick but River saw it coming and moves away.
River connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mara scores with a jab. River acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mara was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
A countering left hand to the body from Mara misses.
River throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mara! But no joy.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by River.
Mara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from River.
River slips under a jab.
River is looking to land body kicks.
Mara misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mara throws an uppercut from half a mile away. River sees it coming and avoids it easily.
River chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mara can pounce on him.
Mara misses the shot to the body.
Mara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
River moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
River throws a leg kick but Mara sees it coming and moves out of range.
River lands with an overhand left.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from River lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mara has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mara and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mara replies with a solid counter kick to the body but River blocks it well.
River looks for the body kick but Mara saw that one coming.
Mara misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from River.
River moves out of range of the body kick from Mara.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as River checks a leg kick.
River uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mara.
Mara lands a nice hook to River's body. River takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
River tests Mara's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mara.
River throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
River throws a body kick that misses.
Mara scores with a nice right hand.
Mara throws a front kick aimed at River's knee but River avoids it well.
River scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
River steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Mara. That one must have hurt.
River scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
River gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mara blocks the body kick.
Mara lands a nice shot that snaps River's head back.
Mara lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Salosen Mara.
I think Mara 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salosen Mara!
Salosen Mara tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.
Cole River spoke after the fight, saying 'I want to thank MFN for letting me fight here. This has been a great ORG. I hate that my skills are declining like they are, but it is time to move to KT and see if I can keep going a little longer. '.