PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Green (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Green
vs
Rivers

178 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alonzo Green!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nathan Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Green lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Green.

It looks like Nathan Rivers has been cut.
Green moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Rivers shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rivers was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Green is trying to get back to half guard.
Green dodges the ground and pound from Rivers.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers trying to control the position but Green is working away.
Rivers lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers controls the position.

Rivers tries for a kimura but Green is defending well.
Green is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Green gets one leg under and gets the fight to half 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.
Rivers works his way into side control.
Rivers controlling from side mount.
Green is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rivers asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Green tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivers decides to stand up, so the ref orders Green to his feet.

Green gets caught napping as Rivers dives in and scores a takedown. Green manages to retain guard.
Green wants to sweep but no luck.

Rivers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rivers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Green is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivers is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Green swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Green being controlled here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Green is looking to stand up but Rivers isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nathan Rivers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nathan Rivers's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rivers scores with a takedown into Green's guard.

Green has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Rivers is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Rivers manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rivers avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rivers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Green doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Green manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Green stopping the sweep attempt from Rivers.
Green wants to stand and escape but instead Rivers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Green looking for a guillotine here but Rivers defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is stalling in the full guard.
Green looking for a sweep. Not yet Green, not yet.
Green throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Rivers is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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.
Rivers wants to pass the guard but Green is keeping the position.
Rivers is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rivers won't allow Green to sweep him here.
Rivers controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rivers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Green is keeping the position for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivers controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivers takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivers shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rivers engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Green keeping full guard, as Rivers tries to pass.
Rivers trying to stand up but can't free himself from Green's guard.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Green is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Green tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Rivers has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A right hook to the body lands for Green.
Green is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rivers gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Green has been working on his balance at Silva Jiu Jitsu , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Rivers.

Rivers has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Green is trying to keep an underhook but Rivers manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nathan Rivers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nathan Rivers's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Green shoots for a takedown but Rivers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivers.

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

Rivers gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers scores with a body shot.

Rivers instigates a clinch.
Green is trying to break the clinch but Rivers has him pressed against the cage.
Rivers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Green smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers closes the distance and clinches up with Green, looking for a takedown. Rivers pushes Green against the cage but Green circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Alonzo Green has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nathan Rivers.
Green lands a slapping body shot.

Green scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rivers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rivers is looking to improve his position.

Rivers manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Rivers gets a double leg takedown into Green's guard.
Green has a closed guard, preventing Rivers from standing up.
Green looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Green has an active guard here but Rivers has managed to pass into half guard.

Green looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rivers stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Green tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rivers instigates a clinch.
Green wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivers has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Green is trying to keep an underhook but Rivers manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Green kicks off Rivers and gets to his feet.
Green throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rivers stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Rivers moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rivers as Green tries to tie him up.
Rivers has Green pressed against the cage, preventing Green from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Rivers lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Green's head.
Rivers is nestled in close to Green, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Green trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rivers wants to free his trapped foot but Green is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rivers controlling the action here.
Green flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathan Rivers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rivers winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:30

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