PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Papa Legba (ranked 943 p4p, 1296 weight class) and Patrick River (ranked 141 p4p, 199 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying River's choice of entrance music: Pantera - Walk. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Legba
vs
River

178 cm
28
185
16 - 7 - 1

188 cm
28
186
11 - 8 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Conviction

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 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Papa Legba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patrick River!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River misses with a wild body shot.
River just misses with a punch to the body.
Legba throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
An inside leg kick from River misses.
Legba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between River's hands.
River scores with a decent looking hook.
Legba misses with a jab to the body
and River counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Legba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
Legba is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Legba displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
River thows a left - swing and a miss!

Legba instigates a clinch.
River stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Legba backwards.
Legba has River pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. River manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Legba wants a takedown.
River lands with a right to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is keeping an eye on Legba - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Legba wants to take the fight to the mat but River manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

River is fighting off a takedown attempt but Legba is just too persistent for him and manages to trip River to the mat. River regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Legba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. River swivels though and keeps the full guard.
River can't keep his opponent in guard - Legba advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
River is trying to get back to full guard.

Legba is sneakily working for an arm triangle but River sees it coming and defends easily.
River keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
River is trying to maintain the position but Legba is very close to passing his half guard.
River blocking the ground and pound attempt from Legba.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
River is trying to maintain the position but Legba is very close to passing his half guard.
Legba wants to pass the guard but River is defending well.
River is staying active underneath Legba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Legba is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so River is just riding it out for now. Legba eventually gives up the hold.
River is pressing down on Legba's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
River managing to control the position.
Legba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Legba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
River manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Legba manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Legba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
River trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
River wants to control from the top but Legba keeps moving.
River throws a big right hand that misses.
River must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
River throws a strike but Legba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

River has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Legba has passed into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Papa Legba will probably get the nod.
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.

Legba misses with a takedown attempt
and River counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from River.
Legba looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
River connects with a leg kick.
River uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Legba.
Legba moves into range and connects with a jab.
River throws a leg kick that is checked
and Legba makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
River slips under a jab.
River fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Legba is out of range.
River lands a jab to Legba's midsection.
River throws a nice inside leg kick.
River throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Legba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts River as he jumps to the side.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Legba misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
It seemed like River was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Legba avoids the body shot from River.
A shot to the liver by Legba. Beautiful body shot.
Legba chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before River can pounce on him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba shoots in looking for a takedown. River tries to sprawl out of it but Legba keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. River manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Papa Legba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
River misses with a looping left.
River throws a big shot that misses.
River staying out of range there.
River scores with a jab to the head.
Patrick River seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Legba shoots in and gets a takedown into River's guard.
Papa Legba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
River keeping moving, preventing Legba from controlling successfully.
Legba won't allow River to sweep him here.

River had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Legba defends it easily.
River is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

River working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Legba has passed into half guard!

Legba seems to be looking for submissions.
Legba not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Legba trying to control the action but River is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Legba passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Legba throwing strikes here but River is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Legba tries to control but River wriggling away.

Legba goes for an armbar but River turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from River.
Legba keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.

Legba throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! River escapes and throws Legba's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legba sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Legba moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Legba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but River can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
River in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Legba looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Patrick River will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Legba checks the leg kick.
Legba on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by River. River obviously looking to wear him down.
Legba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Legba walks into a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from River. Legba does a little dance to reset his feet.
River throws a solid leg kick but Legba takes the impact on his shin and smiles at River.
Legba was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Legba missing with a left hand there. River was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Legba's jab looks to have found its range, popping River under the eye.
Legba takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Patrick River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Legba works River's body with a nice hook.
Legba walks forward, straight into a front kick from River.
Legba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by River.
Legba avoids the body shot from River.
Legba swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
River just misses with a punch to the body.
Legba connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed River momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Legba takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legba takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice uppercut there from Legba.
Some wild striking there from River.

Legba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
River trying to control the position.

River is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Legba is aware though and is defending well.
Legba throws an elbow that misses. River uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Legba's guard. Nice move by River!

River throws a strike but Legba rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legba passes River's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Legba is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but River still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, River has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
River in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
River wants to lay and pray for a moment but Legba keeps working.
Legba tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but River presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Legba is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River with shots to the head and body - Legba looks very uncomfortable down there.
River is landing with some decent strikes but Legba is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Legba is wriggling around trying to escape.
River lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Legba really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River landing punches.
Legba manages to regain half guard. Good work.

River is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Legba regains full guard. Nicely done.
River trying to control the position from guard on top but Legba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think River has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!