PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyrone Van Der Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Van Der Berg has chosen Moi Misi as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Tyrone Van Der Berg will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rivera
vs
Van Der Berg

169 cm
26
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

The Adrenaline Matrix

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tyrone Van Der Berg!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera dives in for a single leg takedown but Van Der Berg sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Van Der Berg is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rivera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Van Der Berg defends it nicely.
Van Der Berg tries to counter with a clinch but Rivera shakes him off and moves away.

Rivera clinches up with Van Der Berg and pushes him back against the cage.
Van Der Berg wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rivera gets underhooks to prevent Van Der Berg's takedown attempt.

Rivera pulls Van Der Berg into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Van Der Berg is one step ahead there.
Rivera controls Van Der Berg momentarily but Van Der Berg frees himself.
Rivera wants to stand but Van Der Berg is controlling the position.
Rivera on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rivera tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera 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.
Van Der Berg tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
Rivera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Van Der Berg from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Der Berg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Van Der Berg thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van Der Berg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Van Der Berg pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Van Der Berg trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera pulls Van Der Berg in close to prevent any damage.

Van Der Berg drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rivera looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rivera looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rivera!

Rivera misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Van Der Berg is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Van Der Berg takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Van Der Berg tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rivera wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Berg is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Van Der Berg taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rivera is putting a hurting on Van Der Berg here, landing some big shots from side control.

Rivera tries for a kimura but Van Der Berg is defending well.
Rivera looks up at the clock and then as Van Der Berg takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rivera smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rivera controls the position.
Van Der Berg is not content to let Rivera control the position.
Rivera cracks Van Der Berg with a big right hand but Van Der Berg just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rivera wants to control but Van Der Berg is keeping him busy.
Van Der Berg tries to buck Rivera off but Rivera is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to control but Van Der Berg is keeping him busy.
Van Der Berg is trying to get back to half guard.
Van Der Berg keeps trying to improve his position.
Rivera scoring with punches and elbows.
Rivera 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.
Rivera advances to mount.

Rivera is working for a guillotine from mount but Van Der Berg frees his head quite easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera avoids the attempt from Van Der Berg to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Rivera dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rivera keeps the fight on the outside.

Rivera rushes Van Der Berg and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rivera jumps guard and drags Van Der Berg to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Van Der Berg wants to stand and escape but instead Rivera has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rivera preventing the sweep.
Rivera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Van Der Berg can do to turn this around?
Van Der Berg keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Van Der Berg looking for a sweep. Not yet Van Der Berg, not yet.
Van Der Berg keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Der Berg wants to control but Rivera passes easily into half guard.
Rivera trying to control from half guard but Van Der Berg is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Der Berg with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rivera thows a huge punch but Van Der Berg dodges it nicely.
Alex Rivera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivera is nestled in close to Van Der Berg, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rivera is trying to control the action in half guard but Van Der Berg is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Van Der Berg tries to get to full guard but Rivera has control of the leg.
Van Der Berg trying to control here.
Rivera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Van Der Berg tries to get to full guard but Rivera has control of the leg.
Rivera trying to control the action but Van Der Berg is working from the bottom.

Rivera seems to be working for a kimura but Van Der Berg defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to take a break and control but Van Der Berg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rivera prevents Van Der Berg from improving his position.
Rivera misses with a head shot. Van Der Berg uses the momentum to regain guard.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Van Der Berg.
Rivera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Van Der Berg is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Berg works over Rivera with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera trying to keep a closed guard but Van Der Berg is proving a slippery customer.
Van Der Berg throws a big elbow that misses.
Van Der Berg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van Der Berg preventing the sweep.
Van Der Berg keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rivera's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Van Der Berg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van Der Berg drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rivera dives on top into guard.

Rivera advances position into side control!
Rivera moves into full mount!
Rivera connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Van Der Berg defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rivera.
Rivera postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Van Der Berg looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Der Berg is trying desperately to improve position.

Van Der Berg bucks up and throws Rivera to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Rivera 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!

Rivera darts in and clinches Van Der Berg up against the cage.
Rivera tries for a takedown but Van Der Berg manages to get underhooks.
Van Der Berg has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rivera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Van Der Berg breaks the clinch.

Rivera has closed the distance and engaged Van Der Berg in a clinch.

Rivera has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Van Der Berg uses from the top position.

Rivera pushes Van Der Berg off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rivera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And Van Der Berg tries to counter it with a takedown but Rivera pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Rivera has Van Der Berg up against the cage in a clinch.

Rivera ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rivera no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rivera taking a breather here.
Sloppy strikes there by Rivera.
Van Der Berg is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rivera trying to control the position but Van Der Berg is working away.
Van Der Berg tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rivera tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Rivera is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Van Der Berg knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Der Berg is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Rivera is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Van Der Berg throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rivera. What's that going to do exactly?

Rivera working for a submission but Van Der Berg is keeping him at bay.
Van Der Berg tries to reverse the position but Rivera maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Berg is still trying to improve position.
Rivera lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Van Der Berg hang on?
Van Der Berg working to try and regain half guard.
A nice elbow there by Rivera.
Van Der Berg wants to control but Rivera is having none of it.
BOOM! Rivera connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Alex Rivera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Der Berg is desperately trying to improve his position but Rivera has a good base and remains in mount.
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Van Der Berg is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rivera looking to control but Van Der Berg is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rivera working Van Der Berg over with strikes here.
Van Der Berg tries to lock up and control but Rivera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rivera pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tyrone Van Der Berg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Rivera!