PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Rivers (ranked 24905 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trouble Strange (ranked 3909 p4p, 408 weight class). Strange has chosen Rare by Raz Simone as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rivers
vs
Strange

188 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

195 cm
23
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocco Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Trouble Strange!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strange closes the distance and pushes Rivers back into the cage.
Rivers jumps guard but Strange turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Strange successfully pulls guard.
Rivers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Strange's head.
Strange really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivers. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Strange trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strange has momentary wrist control but Rivers slips an elbow through the middle.
Rivers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers looking to pass the guard.
Rivers really is a fat lump.

Strange has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Rivers has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Strange breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Strange with that takedown attempt.
Strange shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivers pinned against the cage. Rivers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rivers fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strange avoids it really well and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Strange's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Strange is defended easily by Rivers.
Rocco Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trouble Strange.
Strange throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Strange backs away, Rivers returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to clinch up.
Strange throws a counter combo.

Strange scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rivers manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Strange keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Rivers is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Strange can't fight it off and eventually Rivers manages to take the fight to the floor. Strange looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivers postures up.

Strange is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rivers is aware though and is defending well.
Rivers chips away with some ground and pound.
Rivers wants to get up but he can't break Strange's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Strange trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange 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.
Rivers not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Strange can do anything to dispel that myth.

Strange has an active guard here but Rivers has managed to pass into half guard.
Strange wants to control but Rivers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rivers keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Strange is trying to stand up here but Rivers is controlling him well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rivers is looking to clinch.
Strange thuds his shin into the meat of Rivers's side.
Strange goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Strange changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rivers tries to avoid it but Strange manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rivers to the ground. Rivers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Strange looks winded!

Strange has managed to clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rivers pulls guard effortlessly.

Rivers has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Strange off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Trouble Strange seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivers has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rocco Rivers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rocco Rivers's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Strange tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rivers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Strange somewhat.
Strange shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivers pinned against the cage. Rivers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Strange scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers slaps away a takedown attempt from Strange, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rocco Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trouble Strange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers tries to clinch but Strange is having none of it.
Rivers on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A punch combination from Rivers misses.
Strange darts in looking for a takedown but Rivers gets double underhooks and turns Strange into the cage.
Rivers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Strange tries to avoid it but Rivers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Strange to the ground. Strange escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Strange looks for a takedown but Rivers sprawls well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Strange.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rivers enables Strange to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rivers manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Strange avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rivers is pulling down on Strange's head to control his posture.
Strange postures up in Rivers's guard and throws a big left but Rivers blocks it.
Rivers is trying to keep Strange in close.
Rivers wants to stand up but Strange is controlling him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strange postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Strange in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Strange stands up over Rivers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strange wants to get up but he can't break Rivers's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rivers has his hands on Strange's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rivers has managed to clinch.
Rivers is trying to force a seperation but Strange has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strange manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rivers pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Strange breaks the clinch.
Rivers blocks a low kick nicely.
Strange looks for a takedown but Rivers sprawls well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Strange shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rivers manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rivers uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Trouble Strange will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rocco Rivers's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Strange doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Strange is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivers is controlling him.

Strange is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strange not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rocco Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strange has momentary wrist control but Rivers slips an elbow through the middle.
Strange controlling the position.
Rivers throws a strike but Strange rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Strange trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Strange looking to sit in guard and control but Rivers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rivers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Strange trying to keep a closed guard but Rivers is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Strange wants to control but Rivers passes easily into half guard.

Strange looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Strange takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strange tries to kick Rivers off but Rivers keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Rivers decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strange rushes Rivers and presses him up against the cage.

Strange's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Strange darts in looking for a takedown but Rivers gets double underhooks and turns Strange into the cage.
Trouble Strange seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Rivers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Strange, pushing him back against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Strange is pressed up against the cage. Rivers has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Strange down to the mat. Strange avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rivers stuffs the takedown attempt from Strange. Strange gets slowly back to his feet.
Rivers throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Rivers has closed the distance and engaged Strange in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivers jumps into guard, dragging Strange to the mat.
Rivers is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Strange prevents Rivers from getting back to his feet.
Rivers seems keen to control Strange's posture.
Rivers has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Strange manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocco Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rivers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

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