PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cheyenne Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Amr Al As (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Amr Al As has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivera
vs
Al As

176 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cheyenne Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Amr Al As!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al As looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
Al As jabs Rivera right on the nose. Rivera blinks but takes it well.
Al As throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rivera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown but Al As manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rivera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rivera seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Rivera tries to clinch up.
Rivera takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Al As lands a nice shot that snaps Rivera's head back.
Al As looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al As moves out of range of the body kick.
Al As throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Al As throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rivera is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Al As.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
It seemed like Al As was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Al As gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rivera to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rivera looking to pass the guard.
Al As wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera looking to pass the guard.
Rivera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Al As looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivera is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera content to stall in guard here.
Al As really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Al As is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rivera goes for a double leg but Al As avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al As continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Al As as he connects with a hook.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cheyenne Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera tries to land a body kick
and Al As counters with a nice uppercut.
Al As has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Al As looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.
Al As misses with a head kick.
Al As thows a leg kick but Rivera checks it

and Rivera counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rivera.
Rivera stops Al As from standing up.
Rivera passes into half guard.

Rivera is looking for a kimura but Al As is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rivera to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Al As sees it coming and defends easily.
Rivera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rivera is looking to take a break and control but Al As is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rivera wants to work for an arm triangle but Al As is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rivera misses with a head shot. Al As uses the momentum to regain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rivera thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amr Al As dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Al As throws a leg kick but Rivera moved away.
As Al As looks to move away, Rivera throws a big counter combo but Al As just gets out of the way.
Al As scores with a shot to the body.
Rivera fails with the takedown
and Al As counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Al As.
Rivera wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al As misses with a hook. Rivera ducked under it nicely.
Al As throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rivera looks to land a right hand but Al As moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al As scores with a jab. Rivera acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Al As thows a leg kick but Rivera checks it

and Rivera counters with a takedown into side control.

Rivera tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivera has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Rivera thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Al As 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.
Rivera content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera trying to control the position but Al As is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Rivera is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Al As is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rivera has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Al As!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to control but Al As wriggling away.
Rivera wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Rivera looking to ground and pound but Al As is blocking nicely.
Rivera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Al As is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rivera is looking to work his way around to Al As's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Rivera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Rivera moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Al As has worked his arm free - good work by Al As!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to score with some ground and pound. Al As controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rivera is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rivera'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.
Al As is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rivera goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Al As has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rivera but great work by Al As.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rivera works his way to full guard. Good work.
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 Cheyenne Rivera will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Al As stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Al As wants it to stay on the feet.
Al As listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Al As tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Al As throws a leg kick but Rivera sees it coming and moves out of range.
Al As throws a body shot but no joy.
Al As misses with a hook.
It looked like Rivera was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Al As.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al As tries a head kick but it misses.
Al As lands a head kick. Rivera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Al As throws a looping overhand right but Rivera ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Al As connects with a solid leg kick.

Rivera is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Al As's half guard.
Rivera is trying to control the action in half guard but Al As is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rivera controlling the action here.
Rivera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Al As has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cheyenne Rivera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rivera is working for a submission of some sort.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Rivera is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Al As has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rivera works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Al As knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rivera trying to control the position but Al As is working away.
Rivera advances to mount.
Rivera fails to advance to Al As's back.
Rivera controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Rivera has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Al As is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cheyenne Rivera!