PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hamlet Loveridge (ranked 3402 p4p, 0 weight class) and Subby Rio (ranked 6330 p4p, 0 weight class). Subby Rio acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Loveridge
vs
Rio

195 cm
25
250 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Paradigm - $60

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hamlet Loveridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Subby Rio!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rio with a poor takedown
and Rio takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Subby Rio has been cut.
Subby Rio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rio throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Loveridge tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rio is in Loveridge's guard.
Loveridge wants to sweep but no luck.
Loveridge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Loveridge tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
My spies in Island Sparring inform me that Rio has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Rio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Loveridge's head.
Rio wants to pass the guard but Loveridge is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Rio has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Loveridge misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rio shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio slows the pace down in half guard.
It looks like Rio might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Rio throwing shots but Loveridge is blocking nicely.
Loveridge trying to hold on to Rio's head to control him but Rio postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rio uses his free foot to push down on Loveridge's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Loveridge.
Rio controlling the position easily from mount.
Rio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rio controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loveridge is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rio controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Subby Rio dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Subby Rio's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rio misses with a takedown attempt - Loveridge sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Rio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rio works to advance to full mount. Loveridge defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Rio controlling his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rio looking to control and managing it successfully.
A nice elbow there by Rio.
Loveridge on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Loveridge tries to get out of the position.
Rio controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rio has isolated one of Loveridge's arms. Loveridge looking to fight him off but Rio twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Subby Rio!