PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Rivera (ranked 2961 p4p, 3627 weight class) and Bengt Strom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Rivera is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Rivera
vs
Strom

225 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
160
1 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bengt Strom!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Bruno Hogan and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strom gets a takedown into half guard.
Rivera tries to get to full guard but Strom has control of the leg.
Strom not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Strom is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Strom trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Strom is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strom with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Strom is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rivera is just riding it out for now. Strom eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera trying to control but Strom postures up.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Strom sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rivera defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rivera pushes Strom off looking to stand but Strom dives back in and keeps control.
Rivera tries to get to full guard but Strom has control of the leg.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Strom seems to be looking for submissions.
Nice strikes from Strom there.
Rivera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Strom seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rivera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strom working some strikes from top position.
Rivera tries to strike from the bottom.
Strom must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Strom controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Strom scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rivera is trying to improve his position.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Rivera is letting Strom control him for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rivera is being controlled here.
Let's hope that Strom has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strom works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bengt Strom dominated that round.
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.

Strom shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rivera manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Strom slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Rivera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Strom with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strom got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rivera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Strom has managed to get both his arms back between Rivera's legs - danger averted.
Strom won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strom stays in close to Rivera's body and controls the position.
Strom is working Rivera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Strom is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Strom content to stall in guard here.
Strom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rivera trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivera being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivera misses with a head kick.

Strom shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rivera's guard.
Strom wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Strom slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rivera being controlled for a moment.

Strom has hold of Rivera's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Rivera tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Strom cranks the arm and Rivera screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Rivera, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Bengt Strom!