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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John McCain (ranked 1964 p4p, 1365 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 117 p4p, 87 weight class). McCain comes to the cage accompanied by Anywhere I Go. The crowd seem to be enjoying River's choice of entrance music: Metallica: Enter Sandman. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 166 cm
29
140
11 - 6 - 0 |
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170 cm
26
135
8 - 6 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John McCain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCain has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from River.
McCain listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McCain throws a solid leg kick but River takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McCain.
McCain throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McCain has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A nice inside leg kick there by River. That's going to slow McCain down.
McCain displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
River throws a head kick but McCain moves out of range.
McCain connects with a solid leg kick.
River lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McCain has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from River finds it's way round the side to connect with McCain's head.
River feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McCain is pulling down on River's head. It's preventing any offense from River, at least for the moment.
River stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCain swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McCain 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 controls from within his opponent's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
River's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
McCain is looking for a triangle here but River uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCain is looking to reverse the position.
River with the ground and pound but McCain regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
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.
McCain wants to improve his position but River is controlling well.
McCain trying to control from the bottom.
River frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
River tries to control but McCain wriggling away.
River prevents McCain from getting the reversal.
McCain wants to control but River is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
River cracks McCain with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
McCain is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River tries to control but McCain wriggling away.
McCain wants to hold on but River pushes him away.
McCain is wriggling around trying to escape.
McCain tries to lock up and control but River gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McCain is trying to escape the mount.
McCain tries to hold on but River postures up.
River has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of McCain's face.
McCain is desperately trying to improve his position but River has a good base and remains in mount.
McCain wants to control but River is having none of it.
McCain is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCain tries to hold on but River postures up.
McCain is wriggling around trying to escape.
McCain tries to lock up and control but River gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bernhard River dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
River slips a jab from McCain.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from McCain lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and River has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from River and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
McCain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
River ducks under a wild hook from McCain.
McCain misses with a lunging right hand
and McCain takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McCain throws a body shot but no joy.
River lands an overhand right.
McCain avoids the body shot from River.
Bernhard River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCain moves away.
McCain was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
McCain throws a low kick, looking for River's leg but River calmly moves out of range.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McCain does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
River now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
McCain with a nice cross.
River throws a right and a left that McCain avoids nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McCain.
River lands a body shot.
McCain throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McCain blocks a jab.
As River backs away, McCain returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
River staying out of range there.
River blocks a jab.
River buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McCain tries to sprawl but River drives through with a takedown into half guard.
McCain looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
River sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McCain defending well though.
Bernhard River has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCain looking for submissions off his back.
River is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
River wants to control but McCain is keeping him busy.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
River tries to pass to full mount but McCain defends it.
River has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
McCain wants to hold on but River pushes him away.
McCain is squirming around, avoiding River's attempts to control the action.
River prevents McCain from getting the reversal.
River landing strikes from the mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCain is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McCain is surviving well by controlling River's body position as best he can.
River working McCain over with strikes here.
McCain tries to lock up and control but River gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
River working away from the top, dropping strikes.
River lands a big elbow.
McCain wants to control but River is having none of it.
McCain doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
River landing punches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCain is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
River wants to control the pace but McCain is squirming around nicely.
River is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
River avoids the attempt from McCain to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCain really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
River goes for an armbar but McCain turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from McCain.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
River has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. McCain is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for River.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Bernhard River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
River throws a front kick that sends McCain stumbling back into the cage.
River with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A big left from McCain misses.
River looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
River lands a nice leg kick that just misses McCain's sensitive parts.
McCain takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McCain moves away.
McCain throws a hook to the side of River's head but River sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McCain.
River throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
River lands with a thumping leg kick.
River is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McCain rather than just go for the knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCain lands with a shot to the body.
River moves out of range of the strikes.
River misses with a straight left.
River takes a swing at McCain's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCain throws a nice inside leg kick.
McCain steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from River. That one must have hurt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McCain moves out of range of the leg kick from River.
River throws a quick inside leg kick.
A big left from River misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for River.
McCain throws a hook but River avoids it easily.
That kick from River tenderised McCain's leg. McCain is trying to keep his angry face on.
McCain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
River digs a good hook to McCain's body.
McCain misses with a low kick.
River scores with a jab to the head.
River shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
John McCain has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
McCain is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
River throws out a loose jab but McCain uses good head movement to avoid it.
McCain takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
River stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McCain misses with a body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River tried to score with a low kick but McCain checks it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
River dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McCain wants to slow River down by chopping away at his legs.
River scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
River swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McCain.
Both fighters circling a little - River finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
McCain on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McCain swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by River.
McCain throws a jab when River was well out of range.
A big left from McCain misses.
River lands a jab to McCain's midsection.
McCain tries to move into range but River moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
River stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McCain throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from River! But no joy.
McCain fakes high and swings low for a body shot but River manages to avoid it.
McCain buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
McCain takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
River tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
River looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McCain!
River swings around for an armbar but McCain sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into River's guard.
McCain trying to control the position from guard on top but River is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
River throws his legs up looking for a submission but McCain uses it to pass to side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
River parries the strikes from McCain easily there. McCain is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable River to escape.
River tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCain wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McCain tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McCain has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McCain swings around for an armbar but River sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McCain's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCain isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. River stacks McCain 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!
River wants to control but McCain is keeping him busy.
And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well River has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard River!
An out of breath Bernhard River thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
54% |
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