PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rivers (ranked 1492 p4p, 177 weight class) and John Wall (ranked 1153 p4p, 144 weight class). Rivers's entrance music is start from scratch. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Wall's choice of entrance music: Metallica - Enter Sandman. 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.

Rivers
vs
Wall

178 cm
28
157 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

193 cm
24
165 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Wall!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wall slips under a jab.
Wall uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wall fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rivers looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rivers lands with an overhand left.
Rivers lands with a right hand.
A big right from Rivers misses.
Wall throws a hook but Rivers blocks it.
A lazy left from Wall finds it's target.
Rivers misses with a hook to the body
enabling Wall to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wall missing with a left hand there. Rivers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rivers throws a jab but it's blocked by Wall.
Rivers misses with a right hand
and Wall counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wall is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Wall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivers keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rivers looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rivers bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A quick step to the side and Rivers tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wall needs to keep his hands up - Rivers had a free shot at his head there.
A jab from Wall does it's job there.
Wall has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Wall has time to react.
Rivers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivers loads up on a big right hand but Wall slips the punch.
Rivers digs a good hook to Wall's body.
Rivers swings widly with a right hand
and Rivers takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rivers takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wall connects with a crisp jab.

Rivers is rocked!
Wall throws an overhand right that lands on Rivers's shoulder, as Rivers tries to avoid the shot.
Wall scores with a jab.
Oh Rivers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wall waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.
Wall will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rivers seems to have got his legs back now.
Rivers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Wall.

Wall drives through and clinches with Rivers against the cage.
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!
Rivers pushes Wall back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivers lands with a left to the head.
Wall swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wall has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Rivers.
Wall has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Wall is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wall can't find room to land a body shot as Rivers controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wall.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivers circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rivers counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wall listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Wall throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Wall ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wall misses the shot to the body.
Rivers takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wall tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wall is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wall misses with a body shot.
It looked like Rivers wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wall throws a jab but it's blocked by Rivers.
Wall slips a jab from Rivers.
Wall throws out a counter right but Rivers avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivers throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wall misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivers was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wall. Rivers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivers tests Wall's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wall scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wall throws a right and a left that Rivers avoids nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Rivers misses the target.
Tom Rivers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivers takes one to the side of the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rivers.
Rivers checks a low kick from Wall.
Wall uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivers.
Wall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivers misses the jab.
Wall connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wall.
Wall misses with a hook
enabling Rivers to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wall fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A little feinted left hand from Rivers on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wall. Rivers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivers pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wall with a nice cross.
Rivers misses with a body shot.
Wall on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rivers. Rivers obviously looking to wear him down.
Wall drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Rivers throws a jab when Wall was well out of range.
Rivers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Wall ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Wall jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivers ducks under a wild hook from Wall.
Rivers looks to land a right hand but Wall moved out of range.
Rivers feints and then cracks Wall's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Wall down.
Wall throws out a powerful jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Wall will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Wall throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rivers on the side of the head.
Wall wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.
Wall throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wall throws a series of punches but Rivers avoids them all with ease.
Donk. Wall catches Rivers right on the button with a cross.
Rivers throws the left hand but Wall avoids the punch easily.
A big left from Rivers misses.
Rivers takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wall tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wall fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rivers clobbers Wall with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Wall checks a low kick from Rivers.
Rivers misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivers staying out of range there.
Rivers takes one on the chin but seems OK.
John Wall seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rivers lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wall blocks a jab.
Wall takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rivers on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rivers jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice straight punches there by Wall. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Wall.
Rivers moves away from the strike by Wall.
Wall tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivers was well out of range. Poor timing from Wall.
Wall with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wall looks to land a left hand but Rivers moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Rivers was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Wall.
Rivers throws a hook but Wall blocks it.
Rivers looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Wall jabs Rivers to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Wall throws a shot from downtown. Rivers moves away and avoids it.
Wall misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivers.
Wall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wall throws a looping overhand right but Rivers ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wall takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wall with a jab.
Wall swinging wildly here.
Wall waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.
Rivers misses with a looping right.
Wall ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Rivers defending well as Wall loads up on a big left hand.
Wall misses with a straight right.
Wall misses with a right hand
and Rivers counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wall.
Wall steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rivers.
Wall avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wall throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Rivers misses the target.
Rivers ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wall waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers misses with a hook
letting Wall counter with a right hand.
Wall lands with a hook. Rivers tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rivers connects with a body shot that sends Wall's belly button to the back.
Wall cracks Rivers with a right hand to the side of the head.
Wall swings for the body but Rivers moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivers lands with an uppercut that bounces Wall off the cage and back into range.
Wall tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wall goes for a double leg but Rivers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivers continues to drive forward.
Wall takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wall on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rivers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wall moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Wall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice uppercut lands for Rivers. That snapped Wall's head back.
Wall slips under a jab.
Rivers tries to land a front kick but Wall steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wall doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rivers lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rivers takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wall throws out a loose jab but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Decent striking displayed by Rivers there.
Wall ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Rivers has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Wall.
Wall rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rivers counters with a right hand to the body.
A swing and a miss from Wall.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wall.
Wall throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rivers feints and then cracks Wall's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Wall down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wall is looking to score with low kicks.
Wall connects with a right hand. Rivers shakes it off.
Wall swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wall throws a combination that misses
and Rivers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
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 Tom Rivers will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rivers throws an off balance right hand
and Wall counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rivers slips under a jab from Wall.
Wall misses with a hook
and Wall takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wall staying out of range there.
Rivers scores with a punch to the head.

Wall is rocked!
Rivers slips a jab and a cross from Wall.
Wall is still on wobbly legs! Can Rivers finish him?
Wall misses the shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Rivers.
Wall seems to have recovered his senses.
Wall shoots in for a takedown but Rivers shows good takedown defense.
Rivers swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rivers cracks Wall with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Wall falls to his knees and Rivers doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Rivers!
An out of breath Tom Rivers thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.