PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Husein Magomaevaboff (ranked 482 p4p, 953 weight class) and Patrick River (ranked 74 p4p, 151 weight class). Magomaevaboff comes to the cage accompanied by Shaolin of Dagestan. River has chosen Pantera - Walk as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Patrick River was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Magomaevaboff
vs
River

183 cm
28
191
16 - 14 - 0

188 cm
30
186
13 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Husein Magomaevaboff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Patrick River!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magomaevaboff swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
River let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Magomaevaboff has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Chakuriki LA Gym in the buildup to the fight.
River staying out of range there.
A jab from River misses.
River misses with a body shot.
Magomaevaboff looks for the body kick but River saw that one coming.
A lazy left from River finds it's target.
Magomaevaboff thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on River if he has to take too many more of those.
Magomaevaboff keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Magomaevaboff will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

River closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Magomaevaboff regains full guard. Nicely done.
Magomaevaboff keeping full guard, as River tries to pass.

Magomaevaboff looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as River accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
River missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Magomaevaboff pulls River in to control the position.
River scoring with some ground and pound.
Magomaevaboff is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Magomaevaboff is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Magomaevaboff wants to lay and pray for a moment but River keeps working.
Magomaevaboff wants to pass the guard but River is defending well.
Magomaevaboff trying to control the pace.
River is refusing to be controlled, as Magomaevaboff sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River wants to get back to full guard.
Magomaevaboff performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
River is not content to let Magomaevaboff control the position.

Magomaevaboff seems to be looking for submissions.
Magomaevaboff is looking to take a break and control but River is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

River is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Magomaevaboff pulls his head out easily.
River is looking for a sweep. Magomaevaboff is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomaevaboff works his foot free and advances to mount.
River bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Magomaevaboff trying to control the position.
River controlling from the top position.
River trying to control but Magomaevaboff is working from the bottom.
River wants to pass the guard but Magomaevaboff is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magomaevaboff is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and River defends well.
Magomaevaboff keeping full guard, as River tries to pass.
River in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Magomaevaboff 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.
Magomaevaboff 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Magomaevaboff 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 round but Patrick River will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Magomaevaboff motions for River to come forward. Magomaevaboff throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Magomaevaboff throws a body shot but no joy.
River throws out a counter right but Magomaevaboff avoids it with no problem.
River throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Magomaevaboff sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Magomaevaboff scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Magomaevaboff. River does a little dance to reset his feet.
Magomaevaboff misses with a telegraphed body shot
and River cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
River staying out of range there.
River throws a quick inside leg kick.
River will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Magomaevaboff staying out of range there.
A jab from Magomaevaboff does it's job there.
Magomaevaboff throws a leg kick
and River counters with a two punch combo.
Magomaevaboff avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
River throws a low kick but Magomaevaboff avoids it.
River darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Magomaevaboff throws the left hand but River avoids the punch easily.
River doesn't manage to clinch there - Magomaevaboff circles away.
A jab lands there for River.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Magomaevaboff.
River throws a low kick, looking for Magomaevaboff's leg but Magomaevaboff calmly moves out of range.
Magomaevaboff misses the shot to the body.
Magomaevaboff fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
River slips under a jab from Magomaevaboff.
Magomaevaboff staying out of range there.
Magomaevaboff takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magomaevaboff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Magomaevaboff manages to avoid it.
Magomaevaboff doesn't manage to clinch there - River circles away.
Magomaevaboff throws a body shot but no joy.
Magomaevaboff takes a swing at River's ribcage but misses.
River dives in and grabs Magomaevaboff's left leg, looking for a takedown. Magomaevaboff pushes down on River's head and hops out.
River tried to score with a low kick but Magomaevaboff checks it.
River moves out of range of the body kick.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River throws a front kick aimed at Magomaevaboff's knee but Magomaevaboff avoids it well.
Magomaevaboff fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and River has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
River takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Magomaevaboff defending well as River loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Magomaevaboff misses with a body shot.
River throws out a powerful jab.
River shoots in for a takedown but Magomaevaboff shows good takedown defense.
Nice uppercut lands for Magomaevaboff. That snapped River's head back.
River wants to clinch up but Magomaevaboff keeps it at a distance.
River tries to close the distance and clinch but Magomaevaboff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Husein Magomaevaboff is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Magomaevaboff circles away from the clinch attempt.
Magomaevaboff tries to clinch up.
Nice defenses there by River.
A little jabbing left from River on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Magomaevaboff scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Magomaevaboff wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Magomaevaboff lands a lovely overhand right.
Magomaevaboff connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomaevaboff moves out of range as River strikes.
Magomaevaboff bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Magomaevaboff throws a body punch but River moves out of range.
A good leg kick by River.
The fighters circle momentarily. River darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
River throws a left and a right that both miss
and Magomaevaboff counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Husein Magomaevaboff is winning the standup battle so far.
Magomaevaboff misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from River.
River slips under a jab.
Magomaevaboff lunges at River with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by River's hand.
River lands with a slapping head kick.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
River misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Magomaevaboff scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

River drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Magomaevaboff is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

River actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Magomaevaboff seems content to control.
Magomaevaboff is keen to just control but River is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Magomaevaboff is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because River is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Magomaevaboff is trying to work for a kimura but River is defending well.
River wants to control but Magomaevaboff is keeping busy.
Magomaevaboff is figuring out what he wants to do next.
River trying to control but Magomaevaboff postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Husein Magomaevaboff will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Magomaevaboff throws a hook but River blocks it.
Magomaevaboff avoids a kick to the body.
Magomaevaboff checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Magomaevaboff moves away.
Magomaevaboff throws out a powerful jab.
Magomaevaboff avoids the body shot from River.
River buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
River blocks a leg kick.
A clash of legs there as River blocks the low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from River misses.
Magomaevaboff cracks a nice hook into River's ribs.
River throws a jab when Magomaevaboff was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Magomaevaboff counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Magomaevaboff takes a swing at River's ribcage but misses.
River walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Magomaevaboff checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
River looks to score with a jab to the body but Magomaevaboff is just out of range.
River has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from River there as he acknowledges the shot.
River takes a swing at Magomaevaboff's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomaevaboff swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
That kick from River tenderised Magomaevaboff's leg. Magomaevaboff is trying to keep his angry face on.

Magomaevaboff moves into the clinch.
Magomaevaboff lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from River fails to land.
Magomaevaboff presses River against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
River jumps guard but Magomaevaboff turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Magomaevaboff is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Magomaevaboff struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
Magomaevaboff lands with a right to the head.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
Magomaevaboff blocks a body shot from River.
River prevents a body shot from Magomaevaboff.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Magomaevaboff creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stalling in the clinch from River.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Magomaevaboff's elbow.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River missing with knees to the body.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Magomaevaboff's elbow.
Magomaevaboff struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
Magomaevaboff lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River takes a shot to the head.
River jumps guard but Magomaevaboff turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

River jumps guard.
Magomaevaboff trying to control but River is working from the bottom.
Magomaevaboff's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Magomaevaboff passes easily into side control. Nice work.
River is not content to let Magomaevaboff control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River tries to improve position but can't.
River is trying to work for a sweep but Magomaevaboff has mounted him!
Magomaevaboff lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
River has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

River preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Magomaevaboff.

River is having to fend off submission attempts from Magomaevaboff, who is looking to sink in the choke. Magomaevaboff doesn't have the hooks in though and River manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
River throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River postures up and lands a big shot to Magomaevaboff's brow.
Magomaevaboff wants to control the position but River says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Magomaevaboff is looking to improve his position.

Magomaevaboff is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and River has latched onto it... Big trouble! River pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Magomaevaboff is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from River!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Patrick River!
Patrick River thanked the fans post fight for their support.