PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jenerick Montgomery (ranked 1673 p4p, 2409 weight class) and Phil Rivers (ranked 240 p4p, 339 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Montgomery
vs
Rivers

190 cm
20
179
6 - 1 - 0

177 cm
20
170
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jenerick Montgomery !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Phil Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Alyssa Summers and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Rivers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rivers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Montgomery .

Rivers gets caught napping as Montgomery dives in and scores a takedown. Rivers manages to retain guard.
Montgomery tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivers is retaining full guard.
Montgomery pushes down on Rivers's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rivers manages to get to full guard.
Montgomery working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rivers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rivers pulls Montgomery in close to his closed guard and prevents Montgomery from doing any damage or advancing position.
Montgomery trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers controlling the position.
Rivers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivers pulls Montgomery in close to his closed guard and prevents Montgomery from doing any damage or advancing position.
Montgomery working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Montgomery is fighting to break Rivers's control of his arms but Rivers is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Montgomery wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Montgomery controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rivers is on top in guard.

Rivers passes into half guard.
Montgomery is looking to improve his position.
Rivers works his way into full mount!
Rivers punching from mount but Montgomery doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Montgomery is now in Rivers's guard. A big mistake from Rivers there, giving up the dominant position!
Montgomery preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Montgomery drops back looking for a leg! Rivers is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rivers manages to kick Montgomery off! Montgomery jumps back into Rivers's guard.
Montgomery will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rivers pulls Montgomery in close to prevent any damage.
Rivers keeping full guard, as Montgomery tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Montgomery trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Montgomery forces his way into half guard.
Rivers is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
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 Jenerick Montgomery will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Montgomery closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rivers circles away.
Montgomery cracks Rivers with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rivers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Montgomery .
Rivers fails to land with a series of punches.
Montgomery fails with an attempt to clinch.
Montgomery avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Rivers misses.
Rivers misses with a wild body shot.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Montgomery .
Montgomery is looking to clinch.
Rivers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Montgomery .
Rivers scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Montgomery jabs Rivers to the body, keeping him at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montgomery takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Montgomery takes one to the chin there.
Rivers connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Montgomery uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivers.
Montgomery missing with a left hand there. Rivers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A cross from Rivers lands.
Montgomery moves out of range as Rivers strikes.
Montgomery changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montgomery takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Montgomery waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.
Phil Rivers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Montgomery shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rivers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Montgomery .
Montgomery connects with a crisp jab.
Rivers throws a hook but Montgomery avoids it easily.
Montgomery half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Montgomery uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rivers.
Rivers misses with a looping right.
Rivers's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rivers duly obliges.

Montgomery is rocked!
Rivers avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rivers has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A slow jab from Rivers misses its intended target.
Rivers throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Montgomery shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rivers sprawls well. Rivers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Montgomery gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jenerick Montgomery . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivers lands with a hook. Montgomery tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Montgomery ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Montgomery .
Rivers takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Montgomery looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Montgomery is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rivers throws a jab when Montgomery was well out of range.
Montgomery ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Montgomery moves out of range as Rivers strikes.
Rivers misses with a two punch combination.
Rivers misses with a lunging right hand

and Montgomery counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Montgomery controlling him for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Montgomery postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivers keeping moving, preventing Montgomery from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Rivers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rivers throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Montgomery .
Montgomery swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Montgomery misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivers.
Rivers cracks Montgomery with an open hand slap.
Rivers misses with an uppercut.
Montgomery fails to land with a series of punches.
Montgomery looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Montgomery moves away from the strike by Rivers.
Montgomery changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Montgomery takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rivers walks into a left hand.
Montgomery is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Montgomery tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivers throws a hook but Montgomery avoids it easily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Montgomery checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers throws a right and a left that Montgomery avoids nicely.
Montgomery connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rivers momentarily.
Rivers throws out a loose jab but Montgomery uses good head movement to avoid it.
Montgomery tries to counter with a takedown but Rivers is quick to defend against it.
Montgomery is looking to clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers misses with a straight right.
Rivers scores with a hook to the body. Montgomery takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montgomery fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivers throws a series of strikes that have Montgomery backpedaling.
A big right from Rivers misses.
Montgomery goes for a double leg but Rivers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivers continues to drive forward.
Montgomery tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivers smiles and moves away.
Montgomery cracks Rivers with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rivers throws a poor cross that misses

so Montgomery counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rivers is on top in guard.

Montgomery can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivers controls the pace.
Jenerick Montgomery overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivers looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Montgomery is looking for a triangle but Rivers pushes his legs off easily.
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!

Montgomery is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rivers is stalling in the full guard.
Rivers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Montgomery looking for a guillotine here but Rivers defends easily.
Montgomery keeping moving, preventing Rivers from controlling successfully.
Rivers really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Montgomery . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Montgomery is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rivers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Rivers really dominated that round.
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.

Rivers scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rivers lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rivers throws a series of punches but Montgomery moves out of range.
Rivers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Montgomery .
Montgomery changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rivers tries to avoid it but Montgomery manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rivers to the ground. Rivers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Montgomery throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivers might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The fight stays on the outside here - Montgomery looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Montgomery fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Montgomery blocks a jab.
Montgomery throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivers loads up on a big right hand but Montgomery slips the punch.
Montgomery changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rivers throws a shot from downtown. Montgomery moves away and avoids it.
Rivers misses the jab.
Montgomery with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rivers to score with a decent uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A right-left combo lands from Rivers.
Oh Montgomery is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rivers dodges the punch combination from Montgomery .
Montgomery seems to have got his legs back now.
Phil Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers scores with a sloppy right hand. Montgomery should have avoided that one.
Montgomery shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Montgomery 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jenerick Montgomery . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivers connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Montgomery punishes Rivers's body with a nice straight punch.
Rivers waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Montgomery .
Nice body punch from Montgomery .
Montgomery slips under a jab from Rivers.
Montgomery ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Montgomery half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rivers connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Montgomery ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Montgomery looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Montgomery staying out of range there.
Montgomery drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rivers sprawls and moves away.
Montgomery throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivers connects with a nice looking jab.
Montgomery lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Montgomery .
Montgomery works the jab nicely.
The crowd cheers as Rivers lands an impressive looking overhand right. Montgomery doesn't seem phased though.
Rivers misses with a looping right.
Rivers throws a looping overhand right but Montgomery ducks down to avoid it.
Montgomery appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rivers cracks Montgomery with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rivers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Montgomery has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rivers finds it's way round the side to connect with Montgomery 's head.
Montgomery connects with a looping right hand.
Montgomery walks into a straight right hand from Rivers.
Rivers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Montgomery sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rivers throws a leg kick

and Montgomery counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rivers has his hands on Montgomery 's head, controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivers keeping moving, preventing Montgomery from controlling successfully.
Montgomery loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Rivers dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rivers swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Montgomery drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rivers sprawls and moves away.
Phil Rivers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rivers jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rivers looks to land a right hand but Montgomery moved out of range.
Montgomery showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivers.
Montgomery shoots in but Rivers avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Montgomery uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivers.
Rivers misses with a straight right.
Rivers loads up on a big right hand but Montgomery slips the punch.
Rivers throws a leg kick that is checked

and Montgomery counters with a single leg into guard. Rivers didn't expect that.
Rivers is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Montgomery stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivers looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montgomery wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.
Rivers is controlling Montgomery 's posture.
Rivers's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Montgomery is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Montgomery wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Montgomery throws a body shot but no joy.
Jenerick Montgomery has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Montgomery looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Montgomery ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circle momentarily. Montgomery darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Montgomery defending well as Rivers loads up on a big left hand.
Montgomery tries to clinch but Rivers moves out of range.
Montgomery takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rivers throws a combination that misses

and Montgomery decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rivers's guard.
Rivers is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rivers wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivers has Montgomery pulled in close to control his posture.
Montgomery is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivers has wrist control.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Montgomery controlling him for the moment.
Montgomery tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivers is retaining full guard.
Montgomery throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Montgomery accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Phil Rivers.
I think Rivers 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 47:49
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 47:49
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Rivers!
Phil Rivers is the new welterweight champion!