PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Quiniou (ranked 2179 p4p, 2932 weight class) and Bert River (ranked 225 p4p, 285 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying River's choice of entrance music: Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company. 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.

Quiniou
vs
River

178 cm
26
152
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
145
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Knock Out Clothing

Conviction

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brendan Quiniou!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bert River!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've been informed that River has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Brendan Quiniou seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

River clinches up against the cage.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Quiniou uses good head movement to avoid it.
River lands a body shot.
River lands a hook to the side of the head.

Quiniou pulls River into guard.
Quiniou looking to hit a scissor sweep but River is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Quiniou keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.
River controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Quiniou working for a triangle but River defends it easily.

Quiniou working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. River doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. River manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River works over Quiniou with some ground and pound from guard.

Quiniou looking for subs off his back but River has passed one foot through into half guard.
Quiniou manages to get to full guard.
River forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Quiniou tries to get to full guard but River has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
River is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. River connects with a nice short shot to Quiniou's temple.
Quiniou wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Quiniou manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Quiniou looking for a sweep. Not yet Quiniou, not yet.
River wants to pass the guard but Quiniou is keeping the position.
River trying to control but Quiniou is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quiniou wants to sweep here but River controlling him for the moment.
River trying to control but Quiniou is working from the bottom.
River landing some decent shots from guard.
Quiniou 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.
Quiniou is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

River wants to improve his position but Quiniou is controlling well.
River gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Quiniou forces his way into half guard.
River wants to get back to full guard.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Quiniou wants to control but River is keeping him busy.

Quiniou is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and River defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Quiniou is working for a submission of some sort.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bert River dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

River slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Quiniou takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Quiniou misses with a low kick.
Quiniou tries to work over River's front leg with a kick but River checks it.
River avoids the head kick by Quiniou.
River shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Quiniou counters with a stiff right hand.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Quiniou.
Quiniou throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck River on the side of the head.
Quiniou throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
River throws a leg kick but Quiniou sees it coming and moves out of range.
Quiniou appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by River.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Quiniou swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Quiniou lands a jab.
River checks a leg kick.
Quiniou thows a left - swing and a miss!
River jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
River has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Quiniou.
River works the jab nicely.
River moves out of range of the body kick.
River uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Quiniou has time to react.
Quiniou lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Quiniou misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from River on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Quiniou dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on River. That did some damage!
We've been told by Quiniou's head coaches at That one gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
River lands with a right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Quiniou.
Quiniou throws a series of punches but River moves out of range.
River finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
River lands with a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Quiniou.
River fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Quiniou checks it well.
River misses with a low kick.
River looks to land a left hand but Quiniou moved out of range nicely.
A head kick misses from Quiniou.
Quiniou swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Quiniou manages to avoid it.
Quiniou thinks about countering with a body kick.
River motions for Quiniou to come forward. River throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Quiniou takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
River just misses with a punch to the body.
Quiniou throws a lazy uppercut
and River counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A nice leg kick lands there from River.
River scores with a head kick. Quiniou tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Quiniou moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A slow jab from Quiniou misses its intended target.
River was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Brendan Quiniou is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body punch from Quiniou.
River tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
River just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromQuiniou.
A big left from River misses.
Quiniou throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.
Bert River seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Quiniou takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Quiniou works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
River throws a jab when Quiniou was well out of range.
River slips under a jab from Quiniou.
River keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Quiniou.
River let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Quiniou throws a leg kick that is checked
and River counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
River throws a shot to the body.

River manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Quiniou on his heels. He'll look to pass Quiniou's guard now, I'm sure.
Quiniou wants to sweep but no luck.
River works over Quiniou with some ground and pound from guard.
Quiniou not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Quiniou isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. River stacks Quiniou on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by River!
Quiniou is looking to regain half guard here but River keeps moving and retains side control.
Quiniou is working hard here to advance position.
River trying to control the position but Quiniou is working away.
Quiniou is trying to work for a sweep but River has mounted him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

River jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Quiniou is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Quiniou and River has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
River is looking to take a break and control but Quiniou is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
River creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Quiniou taking a bit of punishment here - River scoring with strikes.
Bert River has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Quiniou gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
River prevents Quiniou from improving his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bert River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

River wants to clinch up but Quiniou keeps it at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Quiniou. River does a little dance to reset his feet.
River lands a head shot.
River lands with a straight right. Quiniou didn't see that one coming.
River tries to bum rush Quiniou with a series of wild strikes but Quiniou uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Quiniou takes a kick to the side of the head.
Quiniou jabbing away but nothing is landing.
River throws a head kick but Quiniou moves out of range.
River tries to work over Quiniou's front leg with a kick but Quiniou checks it.
Quiniou fakes high and swings low for a body shot but River manages to avoid it.
River misses the shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Quiniou there.
River attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
River throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Quiniou stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
River scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

River takes the fight into the clinch.

Quiniou pulls River into guard.
Quiniou keeping moving, preventing River from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River is in close to Quiniou's body, working some short punches and elbows.
River landing some decent shots from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Quiniou is on top in guard.

River keeping moving, preventing Quiniou from controlling successfully.

River looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Quiniou is defending well. River quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Quiniou has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! River celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bert River!
After winning the bout, Bert River thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.