PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Perry St Hype (ranked 3707 p4p, 311 weight class) and Ruben Rivera (ranked 1716 p4p, 179 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

St Hype
vs
Rivera

168 cm
27
158 lbs
10 - 4 - 1

157 cm
26
145 lbs
6 - 4 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Perry St Hype!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 2, fighting out of London, Ruben Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera tries to clinch up.
St Hype keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've been informed that Rivera has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Rivera tries a head kick but it misses.
St Hype blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and St Hype moves out of range easily.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but St Hype swats him away and circles back towards the center.
St Hype fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rivera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from St Hype.
Rivera is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
St Hype was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
St Hype fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rivera takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Hype lands a nice shot that snaps Rivera's head back.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses
and St Hype counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rivera gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St Hype paws at him with a jab and circles away.
St Hype blocks a low kick nicely.
A swing and a miss from St Hype.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Hype looks to land a left hand but Rivera moved out of range nicely.
Rivera tries to work over St Hype's front leg with a kick but St Hype checks it.
St Hype misses with a hook. Rivera ducked under it nicely.

Rivera rushes St Hype and presses him up against the cage.
Rivera lands a damaging elbow.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but St Hype blocks it.
St Hype stalling against the cage.
St Hype blocks an elbow strike from Rivera.
St Hype lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rivera keeps control of St Hype as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from St Hype.

St Hype's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
St Hype is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

St Hype gets tackled into the cage by Rivera. Rivera maintains the clinch.

St Hype breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St Hype throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from St Hype.
St Hype looks to land a body kick but Rivera moved away.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but St Hype paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivera wants to clinch up but St Hype keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera connects with a high kick.
Rivera is looking to clinch but St Hype is avoiding it.
Rivera staying out of range there.
Rivera feints a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
St Hype takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
St Hype throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab lands there for St Hype.
Rivera gets cracked with a nice right hand there by St Hype.
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.
Rivera pushes off an throws an elbow but St Hype leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rivera misses with an elbow strike.
St Hype blocks an elbow strike.
St Hype dodges an elbow strike from Rivera.
St Hype managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.

St Hype breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perry St Hype seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera tries to score with a low kick but St Hype moves his leg out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a half hearted mid kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
St Hype throws an overhand right that lands on Rivera's shoulder, as Rivera tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from St Hype.

Rivera clinches up with St Hype and pushes him back against the cage.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rivera.
St Hype is looking to break free of the clinch but Rivera has double underhooks.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from St Hype.
Rivera lands an elbow that stopped St Hype in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Perry St Hype has been cut.
St Hype is trying to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling him.
St Hype avoids a wild elbow strike from Rivera.
Rivera landing knees to the body.
Rivera prevents St Hype from breaking the clinch.
Rivera scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ruben Rivera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Perry St Hype's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

That kick from Rivera tenderised St Hype's leg. St Hype is trying to keep his angry face on.

St Hype darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivera pushes St Hype off looking to stand but St Hype dives back in and keeps control.
St Hype throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
St Hype wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.
St Hype has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
St Hype will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
St Hype wants to pass to mount but Rivera is defending the position.

St Hype is trying to work for a kimura but Rivera is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Hype not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
St Hype has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

St Hype is working for an americana but Rivera has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst St Hype was thinking about the submission.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing St Hype from controlling successfully.
St Hype stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
St Hype is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
St Hype missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

St Hype is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
St Hype sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
St Hype throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera throws a head kick but St Hype moves out of range.
Rivera scoring well with a low kick there.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts St Hype, as that shot connected.
St Hype jabbing away but nothing is landing.
St Hype sets himself, and Rivera steps forward looking for the clinch! St Hype avoids it this time.
St Hype misses with a looping right.
St Hype looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
St Hype lands a really nice looking cross but Rivera seems unphased.
Rivera throws a nice head kick!
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Hype throws a poor cross that misses

and Rivera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rivera comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rivera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite St Hype's efforts to push away.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and St Hype avoids it.
St Hype blocks the elbow strike.
Rivera throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. St Hype is defending well for now.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but St Hype avoids the damage to the body.
St Hype on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but St Hype is blocking nicely.
Rivera throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
St Hype blocks the elbow strike.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

St Hype breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A lazy left from St Hype finds it's target.
Ruben Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera tries to clinch
and St Hype connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
St Hype was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rivera wants to clinch.
St Hype wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Rivera wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera tries to clinch up but St Hype circles away and keeps his distance.
Perry St Hype is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from St Hype.
Rivera appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
St Hype misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivera counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruben Rivera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Perry St Hype's cut.
That's time! St Hype's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

St Hype dips to his left and cracks Rivera with an uppercut!
Rivera staying out of range there.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch but St Hype swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rivera pushes St Hype up against the cage in a clinch.
St Hype dodges an elbow strike from Rivera.
Rivera looks to throw an elbow but misses.
St Hype managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but St Hype has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rivera throws an elbow but it's blocked.
St Hype tries to break free but Rivera pushes him back against the cage.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Hype wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rivera throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
St Hype avoids the elbow strike from Rivera, against the cage.
Rivera crunches a lovely knee into St Hype's ribcage.
Rivera lands a damaging elbow.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
St Hype blocks the elbow strike.
Perry St Hype has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rivera.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but St Hype is blocking nicely.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but St Hype avoids the damage to the body.
Ruben Rivera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
St Hype is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivera pushes off an throws an elbow but St Hype leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
St Hype blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

St Hype breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
St Hype misses with a straight right.
Rivera walks into a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
St Hype throws a body shot but no joy.
St Hype scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
St Hype avoids a kick to the body.
Rivera scoring well with a low kick there.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rivera takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. St Hype manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rivera wants to clinch.
St Hype lands with a cross.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and St Hype moves out of range easily.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from St Hype.
Rivera feints and then cracks St Hype's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow St Hype down.
Rivera misses with a lunging right hand
enabling St Hype to counter with a crisp jab.

Rivera takes the fight into the clinch.
Rivera crunches a lovely knee into St Hype's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through St Hype's defenses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rivera throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rivera lands an elbow that stopped St Hype in his tracks for a moment.
Rivera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

St Hype breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivera throws a good cross that connects.
Rivera slips under a jab from St Hype.
St Hype blocks the body kick.
St Hype misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.
Rivera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rivera scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruben Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rivera 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruben Rivera!
During a confident post fight interview, Ruben Rivera thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.