PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dan Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocky Rickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rocky Rickson looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Rivers
vs
Rickson

169 cm
22
138 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rocky Rickson!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rickson shoots for a takedown but Rivers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rivers works over Rickson's head and body with a nice combination.

Rickson is rocked!
Rivers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Rivers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rickson looks gassed!
Rivers passes Rickson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Rivers wants to work for an arm triangle but Rickson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivers wants to get back to his feet.
Rickson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rivers.
Rickson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivers is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rickson defends it well.
Rickson manages to get to full guard.

Rivers is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rickson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rickson has escaped and now he's on top!
Rivers trying to keep a closed guard but Rickson is proving a slippery customer.

Rivers working for a triangle but Rickson defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rivers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rivers had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rickson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rivers Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rickson's back instead.
Rivers doesn't have the hooks in and Rickson manages to turn into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers keeping moving, preventing Rickson from controlling successfully.
Rickson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rickson looking to pass the guard.
Rivers is trying to keep Rickson in close.
Rickson slips nicely into half guard.
Rivers is looking for a sweep. Rickson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four 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.
Rickson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rickson works his way into full mount!
Rivers is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rivers wants to hold on but Rickson pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Rickson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rivers is desperately trying to improve his position but Rickson has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Rivers dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rickson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivers throws a series of punches but Rickson avoids them all with ease.
Rivers misses with the combination.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Rickson circles away.
Rivers throws a head kick that misses.

Rivers feints and as Rickson raises his hands in defense, Rivers changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rickson looking for subs off his back but Rivers has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rivers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rickson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivers is working for a submission of some sort.
Rivers is looking to advance position but Rickson won't allow it.
Rivers lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rivers prevents Rickson from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rickson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rickson is staying active underneath Rivers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rivers forces Rickson back against the cage and clinches.

Rivers jumps guard and drags Rickson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rickson wants to stand and escape but instead Rivers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rivers is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rickson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rickson has escaped and now he's on top!

Rivers is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rickson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Rickson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rivers is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rivers has escaped and now he's on top!
Rivers wants to stand but Rickson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rickson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rivers wants to control the action here but instead Rickson manages to pass to full mount!
Rivers gets back to half guard.
Rickson drops an elbow to the side of Rivers's head.
Rickson prevents Rivers from improving his position.
Rivers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rivers with the active half guard here but Rickson passes nicely into side control.
Rivers is trying to work for a sweep but Rickson has mounted him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Rivers dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Rivers throws a nice looking combination but Rickson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Rivers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Rickson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rivers is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rickson to the mat. Rickson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rivers looking to sit in guard and control but Rickson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rivers working for a triangle but Rickson defends it easily.
Rickson postures up.
Rickson advances position into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rickson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rivers rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Rickson's guard! Nice work there by Rivers!
Rickson 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 controls from within his opponent's guard.

Rivers drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rickson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rivers has Rickson in his guard.
Rickson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rivers controls Rickson momentarily but Rickson frees himself.

Rivers has his foot on Rickson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rickson works his way back into a safe position though.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Rickson controlling him for the moment.
Rickson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rivers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rickson is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rickson stops Rivers from standing up.
Rivers trying to keep a closed guard but Rickson is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rivers looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rickson!
Rickson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rivers takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rickson is desperately trying to improve his position but Rivers has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rickson is bucking up trying to escape but Rivers cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rickson taking shots to the head.
Rickson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rivers looking to finish Rickson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rickson!
Rivers with good strikes from the mount here!
Rivers is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rickson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rivers looking to land elbow strikes but Rickson uses the position to regain half guard.

Rickson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rivers pulls his head out easily.
Rocky Rickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Rivers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rickson is refusing to be controlled, as Rivers sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

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