PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ribaraoi Tawaivuna (ranked 4682 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Hilton (ranked 3835 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ribaraoi Tawaivuna has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tawaivuna
vs
Hilton

185 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ribaraoi Tawaivuna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lance Hilton!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Eddie Farnsworth and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hilton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tawaivuna counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tawaivuna shoots in for a takedown but Hilton shows good takedown defense.
Hilton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hilton stuffs the takedown.
Lance Hilton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hilton looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hilton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tawaivuna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tawaivuna wants to sweep but no luck.
Tawaivuna controls Hilton momentarily but Hilton frees himself.

Hilton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tawaivuna dives on top into guard.

Hilton trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hilton will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hilton lands a couple of shots from the bottom.

Hilton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tawaivuna defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilton is striking but Tawaivuna is not phased and passes to half guard.
Hilton landing rabbit punches to the side of Tawaivuna's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Hilton is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

Tawaivuna is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hilton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tawaivuna.
Tawaivuna really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hilton missing with punches from the bottom.
Hilton is looking to improve his position.
Hilton missing with punches from the bottom.
Hilton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tawaivuna. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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.
Hilton throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Tawaivuna manages to pass to side control.
Hilton tries to improve position but can't.
Hilton throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Hilton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hilton is not content to let Tawaivuna control the position.
Tawaivuna slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Hilton.
Hilton swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hilton flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hilton throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tawaivuna. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tawaivuna trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hilton swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Tawaivuna tries to control but Hilton wriggling away.
Hilton srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.

Hilton is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tawaivuna gets his way!
I really don't envy Hilton right now.
Hilton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Hilton preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Tawaivuna.
Hilton tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hilton is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilton is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Hilton throwing hammer fists to the chest of Tawaivuna. What's that going to do exactly?
Hilton tries to improve his position but instead Tawaivuna has taken his back!
Tawaivuna is trying to stick to Hilton's back but Hilton is turning into Tawaivuna. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tawaivuna's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hilton.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hilton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Tawaivuna wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tawaivuna cracks the inside of Hilton's front leg.
Tawaivuna has a takedown stuffed.
Hilton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ribaraoi Tawaivuna. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hilton shoots and misses
and Tawaivuna counters with a series of strikes. Hilton will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tawaivuna looks for a takedown but Hilton sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ribaraoi Tawaivuna dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tawaivuna tries to clinch up.
Hilton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tawaivuna swivels and escapes.
Nice sprawl there from Tawaivuna as Hilton shoots in.
Tawaivuna shoots for a takedown but Hilton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hilton shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tawaivuna as he avoids it easily.
Ribaraoi Tawaivuna has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Hilton.
Tawaivuna throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Lance Hilton has been cut.

Hilton shoots in and gets a takedown into Tawaivuna's guard.

Tawaivuna has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hilton is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hilton wants a takedown.
Hilton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Tawaivuna avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tawaivuna gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hilton.
Tawaivuna lands a body shot.
Hilton is breathing heavily.
Hilton is looking to take this one to the mat.
Tawaivuna is looking to break free of the clinch but Hilton has double underhooks.
Hilton is trying to drag Tawaivuna to the mat but Tawaivuna just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tawaivuna holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hilton can't get the takedown.
Hilton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tawaivuna gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hilton wants to take the fight to the mat but Tawaivuna manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hilton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tawaivuna fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tawaivuna fails with a takedown attempt.
Hilton tries for a takedown but Tawaivuna circles away easily
and Tawaivuna counters with a nice uppercut.
Tawaivuna fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hilton dives in and scores a takedown into Tawaivuna's guard.
Hilton is looking to work some ground and pound but Tawaivuna has wrist control.
Hilton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tawaivuna preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Tawaivuna has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hilton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hilton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hilton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tawaivuna manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hilton has Tawaivuna in his guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hilton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tawaivuna trying to control the position from guard on top but Hilton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tawaivuna wants to get up but he can't break Hilton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hilton looking for a guillotine here but Tawaivuna defends easily.
Hilton is looking to sweep but instead, Tawaivuna has passed into half guard.

Tawaivuna seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Hilton is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ribaraoi Tawaivuna!