PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Spencer Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Salvatore Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salvatore Soprano will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rivera
vs
Soprano

161 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Spencer Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Salvatore Soprano!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Soprano drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rivera is not content to let Soprano control the position.
Soprano is putting a hurting on Rivera here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rivera prevents Soprano from moving into mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soprano wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.
Soprano throws an elbow but Rivera slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to get back to half guard.
Soprano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivera keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soprano misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rivera could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Soprano wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.
Rivera is trying to control Soprano's posture but Soprano avoids it.

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.
Rivera stops Soprano from passing to mount.
Rivera is looking for a sweep.
Soprano tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rivera's legs.
Soprano wants to control for a moment but Rivera uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Soprano is keen to just control but Rivera is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

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

Rivera gets a double leg takedown into Soprano's guard.
Soprano is looking to stand up but Rivera isn't so interested in that idea.
Rivera trying to control but Soprano is working from the bottom.
Rivera preventing the sweep.
Rivera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rivera stands up over Soprano, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soprano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soprano wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera stops Soprano from standing up.
Rivera slips nicely into half guard.
Rivera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Still in half guard, Rivera seems content to control.
Soprano is trying to maintain the position but Rivera is very close to passing his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rivera lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Salvatore Soprano will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Soprano tries to clinch up but Rivera circles away and keeps his distance.

Soprano looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Soprano pushes down on Rivera's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Soprano wants to pass the guard but Rivera is defending well.
Soprano prevents Rivera from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soprano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Soprano lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano is keen to just control but Rivera is a slippery customer.
Soprano is stalling here. Rivera is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Soprano seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rivera has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Salvatore Soprano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Soprano is looking to reverse the position.
Soprano is trying to escape the position but Rivera is controlling the position.
Soprano sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rivera with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Soprano is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Soprano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rivera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera controlling the action here.

Rivera decides to return to a standing position.
Rivera shoots for a takedown but Soprano saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Soprano shoots in and bounces Rivera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rivera trying to keep a closed guard but Soprano is proving a slippery customer.

Soprano gets to his feet. Rivera looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soprano is looking to slow Rivera down with leg kicks.

Soprano throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rivera tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Soprano is in Rivera's guard.
Soprano throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rivera controlling from the top position.
Soprano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera landing some decent shots from guard.
Soprano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rivera passes Soprano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Soprano makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Soprano.

Soprano isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rivera stacks Soprano on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rivera!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Salvatore Soprano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Soprano scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Soprano trying to control the position but Rivera is working away.

Soprano is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rivera has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera wants to control but Soprano postures up.
Soprano wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano working the ground and pound.

Soprano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rivera is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Soprano is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Soprano is trying to ground and pound but Rivera uses the momentary lack of control by Soprano to regain half guard.

Soprano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rivera defends it well.
Rivera is not content to let Soprano control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Soprano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano trying to control the action but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Soprano is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Soprano dives in and scores a takedown into Rivera's guard.

Soprano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rivera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soprano has managed to get both his arms back between Rivera's legs - danger averted.
Soprano trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rivera has his foot on Soprano's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Soprano works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Soprano is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rivera.
Rivera avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Soprano.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soprano is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Salvatore Soprano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Soprano has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Salvatore Soprano!