PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tod Rivas (ranked 25451 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sidney Rousey (ranked 5917 p4p, 0 weight class). Tod Rivas has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rivas
vs
Rousey

225 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tod Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sidney Rousey!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rousey scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rivas regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rivas keeping moving, preventing Rousey from controlling successfully.

Rousey has gone for a leg lock! Rivas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rousey's guard.

Rivas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rousey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivas stays in close to Rousey's body and controls the position.
Rivas seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rousey for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rousey is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rivas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rousey is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas passes into half guard.
Rivas trying to control the pace.
Rousey wants to control but Rivas is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rousey tries to get to full guard but Rivas has control of the leg.

Rivas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rousey sees it coming and defends easily.

Rousey looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rivas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

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.
Rousey avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivas.
Rivas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rivas sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rousey slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rivas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rousey is adopting a defensive guard.
Rivas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rousey fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rivas to the ground. Rousey is now in Rivas's guard.

Rivas uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Rousey gets the takedown into side control.
Rousey looks winded!
Rivas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rivas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rivas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rousey passes Rivas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rivas tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rivas moves into full guard.

Rivas manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Rousey looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rivas has his feet on Rousey's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Rivas drives through with a takedown into Rousey's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rivas controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tod Rivas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rousey drives through and clinches with Rivas against the cage.
Rivas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rousey has him pressed against the cage.
Rivas stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rivas slows down the pace here.
Rivas fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rousey pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rousey breaks the clinch.
Rousey tries to clinch but Rivas moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivas shoots for a double leg takedown but Rousey sprawls well. He's pushed Rivas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tod Rivas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rivas enables Rousey to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rivas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rousey landing some decent shots from guard.
Rousey wants to pass the guard but Rivas is keeping the position.
Tod Rivas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rousey thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rivas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rousey gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivas wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rousey trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rousey pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivas is keeping the position for now.
Rivas trying to keep a closed guard but Rousey is proving a slippery customer.
Rivas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rousey trying to control but Rivas is working from the bottom.
Rivas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rousey is looking to escape.
Rivas is taking a breather. Rousey says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rivas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rousey punching from the bottom.
Rousey is doing well to control the position and prevent Rivas from advancing to side control.
Rousey tries to roll over but Rivas keeps him under control.
Rivas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Rivas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rousey sees it coming and defends easily.
Rivas is taking a breather. Rousey says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rousey is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Well, if Rivas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tod Rivas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rousey drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Rivas sneaks out the side door and pushes Rousey away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rivas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rousey sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rivas somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rousey drives through with a takedown into Rivas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Rivas pushes Rousey off and gets back to his feet.
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 Tod Rivas will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rivas.
Rousey is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rivas asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rivas controlling from side mount.
Rivas working the ground and pound from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Rousey's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rousey is trying to get back to half guard.
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.

Rivas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Rousey's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rousey striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Rousey is trying to escape the position but Rivas is controlling the position.
Rousey is looking to regain half guard here but Rivas keeps moving and retains side control.
Rousey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivas prevents Rousey from escaping the position.
Rousey is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rivas controls the position from side control.

That's two 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.
Rivas has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rousey is trying to improve his position.
Rivas controls the position.
Rousey tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rousey can't do much from the bottom here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rousey let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rivas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rousey can do to turn this around?
Rousey tries to clinch
and Rivas counters with a left to the body.
Rivas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rousey tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rivas throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rousey was covering up waiting for the punch and Rivas finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rivas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rousey is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rivas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Rivas.
Rousey wants to sweep here but Rivas controlling him for the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rivas sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rousey is looking to land body kicks.
Rivas appears to be looking for a big counter.
Sidney Rousey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tod Rivas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rivas looking to score a takedown here. Rousey is defending well but Rivas drives through and ends up in Rousey's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tod Rivas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tod Rivas!