PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Greenfield (ranked 7548 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rivers Nihil (ranked 7761 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Greenfield has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Greenfield
vs
Nihil

181 cm
18
188 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
196 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ben Greenfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rivers Nihil!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Greenfield coming out on top.
Nihil swings widly with a right hand
and Greenfield cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Greenfield takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Nihil closes the distance and pushes Greenfield back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Nihil fails to land.
Greenfield is looking to break free of the clinch but Nihil has double underhooks.
A short left from Nihil.
Nihil throws a punch but it's blocked by Greenfield.
Nihil digs a right hand into Greenfield's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Greenfield's gas tank.
Nihil tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nihil pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nihil will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Greenfield up against the cage.
Nihil has Greenfield pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nihil swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nihil misses with a punch on the inside.
Greenfield avoids the elbow strike from Nihil, against the cage.
Nihil tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Greenfield avoids it.
Greenfield has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Greenfield is pressed up against the cage. Nihil has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Greenfield down to the mat. Greenfield avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rivers Nihil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nihil throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Greenfield sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Greenfield avoids the head kick by Nihil.
Greenfield takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nihil throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nihil slips a jab and a cross from Greenfield.

Greenfield gets tackled into the cage by Nihil. Nihil maintains the clinch.
Nihil tries to land knees in the clinch but Greenfield avoids the damage to the body.
Nihil keeps control of Greenfield as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Greenfield blocking some punches.
Nihil jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Greenfield walks away with a smile on his face. Nihil gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Greenfield scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Nihil gets a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right handed body shot lands from Nihil.
Nihil is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nihil tries to pull guard but Greenfield forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ben Greenfield has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rivers Nihil.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Greenfield blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nihil misses with a knee to the head.
Nihil misses with a hook from the clinch.
Greenfield working hard to break the clinch.
Nihil using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Greenfield has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Greenfield avoids a wild elbow strike from Nihil.
Knees in the clinch landing for Nihil.
Greenfield blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Greenfield letting Nihil take a breather here.
Greenfield is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Greenfield blocks a body shot from Nihil.
Nihil misses with a knee strike.
Nihil has a couple of punches blocked by Greenfield.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Greenfield.
Nihil using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Greenfield has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nihil throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Greenfield avoiding damage as Nihil throws knees to the body.
Nihil misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nihil fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nihil misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rivers Nihil dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Greenfield works the jab nicely.
Greenfield misses with a series of wild punches.
Greenfield looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ben Greenfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nihil misses with a body kick.
Greenfield throws a big shot that misses.
Nihil throws a lazy body kick
and Greenfield counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A head kick misses from Nihil.
Greenfield throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Nihil.
Greenfield rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nihil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Greenfield lands a jab to the head.
Greenfield avoids the head kick by Nihil.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Greenfield swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nihil throws a big counter head kick but Greenfield avoids it with no problem.
Greenfield throws a hook to the side of Nihil's head but Nihil sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nihil misses with a straight right.
Nihil tries a head kick but it misses.
Greenfield throwing a counter right hand but Nihil manages to avoid it.
Nihil throws an overhand right that lands on Greenfield's shoulder, as Greenfield tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nihil throws a head kick that misses
and Nihil takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ben Greenfield is winning the standup battle so far.
Greenfield lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nihil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Greenfield punishes Nihil's body with a nice straight punch.
Nihil misses with a body kick.
Greenfield scores with a body shot.
Nihil drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nihil misses with a wild combination.
Greenfield seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Greenfield misses the jab.
Nihil throws a head kick that misses.
Nihil throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Greenfield scores with a one two! Nihil had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Greenfield takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nihil takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Greenfield pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big left from Nihil misses.
Greenfield throws a nice looking combination but Nihil bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nihil avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Greenfield misses with a wild combination.
Nihil lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Greenfield takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
No joy there for Greenfield, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Greenfield.
Nihil uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Nihil closes the distance and clinches.
Rivers Nihil seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Greenfield blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Nihil scores with a nice hook to the head.
Greenfield blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nihil effectively controlling the action here.
Nihil throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Greenfield has had enough of the clinch but Nihil keeps him there for the moment.
Nihil wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Nihil.
Nihil misses with a knee to the head.
Nihil lands a left hand that snaps the head of Greenfield backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Greenfield.
Greenfield managing to block the knees to the body from Nihil.
Greenfield is trying to force a seperation but Nihil has the dominant position.
Nihil throws an elbow that misses.
Nihil misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nihil tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nihil misses with a short punch on the inside.
Greenfield has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Greenfield has had enough of the clinch but Nihil keeps him there for the moment.
Nihil doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
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 Ben Greenfield 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!

Greenfield blocks a head kick by Nihil.
Greenfield connects with a jab.
Greenfield thuds his right hand into Nihil's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Nihil clinches with his opponent.
Greenfield is looking to break free of the clinch but Nihil has double underhooks.
Greenfield blocks a body shot from Nihil.
Nihil keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Greenfield's efforts to push away.
Nihil misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nihil throws an elbow that misses.

Nihil pulls Greenfield into guard.
Nihil trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nihil throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Greenfield wants to control from the top but Nihil keeps moving.
Nihil looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Greenfield looking to sit in guard and control but Nihil gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nihil wants to control from the top but Greenfield keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Greenfield looking for a sweep. Not yet Greenfield, not yet.
Nihil throws a big right hand that misses.
Greenfield keeping moving, preventing Nihil from controlling successfully.
Nihil controlling from the top position.

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

Greenfield wants to control from the top but Nihil keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nihil is pulling down on Greenfield's head to control his posture.
Nihil keeping moving, preventing Greenfield from controlling successfully.
Greenfield won't allow Nihil to sweep him here.

Nihil working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Greenfield doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Greenfield manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Nihil is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Greenfield trying to control but Nihil is working from the bottom.
Greenfield wants to stand but Nihil is controlling his posture from full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.
Nihil looking for a sweep. Not yet Nihil, not yet.
Greenfield would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Greenfield blocks a head kick by Nihil.
Nihil is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Greenfield scores with a three punch combo!
Nihil showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Greenfield.
Greenfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nihil moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nihil throws a head kick that misses.
Greenfield avoids the head kick by Nihil.
A little feinted left hand from Greenfield on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Greenfield stuns Nihil with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Greenfield swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little jabbing left from Nihil on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rivers Nihil.
I think Nihil has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 29:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!