PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cliff Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keris Joen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keris Joen has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rivers
vs
Joen

171 cm
20
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cliff Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Keris Joen!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Ben Watson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Joen moves into the clinch.
Joen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Joen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Joen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rivers just stands there and leans against the cage.
Joen lands an elbow inside that Rivers shrugs off.

It looks like Cliff Rivers has been cut.
Rivers has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Joen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Joen moves in looking to clinch but Rivers pushes him off.
Joen fails with a takedown attempt.
Cliff Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keris Joen.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is working Joen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rivers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Joen is trying to keep Rivers in close.
Rivers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rivers gets to his feet. Joen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Joen shoots in looking for a takedown. Rivers tries to sprawl out of it but Joen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rivers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Joen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joen shoots in looking for a takedown. Rivers tries to sprawl out of it but Joen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rivers manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rivers dives in for a single leg takedown but Joen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

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

Joen breaks the clinch.
Rivers stuffs the takedown attempt from Joen. Joen gets slowly back to his feet.
Joen has a takedown stuffed.

Rivers gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivers tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivers has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Joen trying to remain calm as Rivers controls from the top position.
Rivers's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rivers working away.

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 just content to control the position.
Joen is trying to get back to half guard.
Rivers wants to stand but Joen is controlling his arm.
Joen tries to bench press Rivers off him but Rivers keeps the position.
Rivers in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Joen is looking to reverse the position.
Joen looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rivers looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Joen is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Rivers dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cliff Rivers's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rivers darts in looking for a takedown but Joen gets double underhooks and turns Rivers into the cage.
Joen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rivers with a body shot.
Joen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rivers as he avoids it easily.
Rivers dodges the punch combination from Joen.
Joen wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.
Joen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivers.
Rivers keeps the fight on the outside.
Joen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rivers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers leaves Joen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Keris Joen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Joen moves into range and clinches up with Rivers.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivers pulls guard successfully.
Rivers is trying to keep Joen in close.
Rivers wants to stand up but Joen is controlling him.

Joen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Joen gets caught napping as Rivers dives in and scores a takedown. Joen manages to retain guard.

Joen manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joen has his takedown stuffed
and Rivers counters with a left and a right that stings Joen.
Cliff Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keris Joen.
Joen is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers stuffs the takedown.
Joen throws a series of punches but Rivers moves out of range.
Rivers shoots in and drives through. Joen sprawls well.
Joen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers dives in and grabs Joen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Joen pushes down on Rivers's head and hops out.
Joen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rivers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Joen wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Rivers.
No luck for Rivers with that takedown attempt.
Joen misses with a takedown attempt - Rivers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Joen tries for a takedown but Rivers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rivers throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joen tries to clinch up
and Rivers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cliff Rivers is winning the standup battle so far.
Joen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivers.
And Joen tries to counter it with a takedown but Rivers pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Rivers fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joen to the ground. Rivers is now in Joen's guard.

Joen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rivers off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Joen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rivers counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Joen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Joen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rivers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 Cliff Rivers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cliff Rivers's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rivers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Joen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivers.
Rivers trying to control the pace.
Joen is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rivers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Joen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rivers is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joen trying to control here.
Joen gets full guard.
Rivers could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Joen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rivers postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Joen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rivers, into his guard.

Rivers is looking to stand up but Joen isn't so interested in that idea.
Joen looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rivers is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rivers has escaped and now he's on top!

Joen trying to control the position.
Cliff Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joen wants to stand and escape but Rivers is having none of it.

Rivers drops back looking for a leg! Joen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Joen manages to kick Rivers off! Rivers jumps back into Joen's guard.
Rivers is working Joen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Rivers gets to his feet. Joen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Cliff Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck for Joen with that takedown attempt.
Joen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivers looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joen tries to counter with a clinch but Rivers shakes him off and moves away.

Rivers is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Joen's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joen trying to control here.
Rivers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivers seems to be looking for submissions.
Rivers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Keris Joen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cliff Rivers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Joen is trying to stand back up but Rivers is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
Cliff Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivers, 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:27

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