PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rivers (ranked 677 p4p, 2457 weight class) and Steven Petersen (ranked 89 p4p, 298 weight class). Tom Rivers could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Steven Petersen's chin.

Rivers
vs
Petersen

178 cm
38
157
27 - 16 - 0

177 cm
39
165
17 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

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 27 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steven Petersen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers throws a lazy uppercut
and Petersen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rivers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Petersen to score with a decent uppercut.
Rivers misses with the combination.
Petersen is looking to clinch.

Petersen clinches with his opponent.
Petersen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Petersen misses with a body punch.
Petersen stalling against the cage.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Petersen forces Rivers back against the cage and clinches.

Rivers breaks from the clinch.
Petersen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rivers is out of range and Petersen settles back down.
Rivers misses with a body kick.
Petersen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Jab from Rivers.
Rivers looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Petersen tries to clinch but Rivers moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Petersen misses with a low kick as Rivers jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen scores with a jab to the body.
Rivers gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Petersen counters with a nice uppercut.
Petersen looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivers is just out of range.
A head kick misses from Petersen.
Rivers scores with a shot to the body.
Rivers takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Petersen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Petersen with a nice calf kick.
Petersen slips a jab from Rivers.

Petersen clinches up against the cage.
Petersen trying to stall but Rivers improves his position.
Rivers swings wildly with an uppercut but Petersen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Petersen lands a hook that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Petersen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers working aggressively here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short body shot lands from Petersen as the two fighters clinch.
Petersen lands a right hand.
Rivers tries to break the clinch but Petersen is controlling the position.
Petersen slows down the pace here.
Petersen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rivers is keeping busy.
Petersen struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivers controls his hands.
Petersen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rivers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Petersen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Petersen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petersen is looking to score with low kicks.
Rivers tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Petersen is able to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers lands a leg kick that knocks Petersen off balance momentarily.
Petersen throws an off balance right hand
and Rivers counters with a nice uppercut.
Petersen checks a leg kick.
Petersen misses with a wild body shot.
Petersen defending well as Rivers loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Petersen misses.

Petersen clinches with his opponent.
Petersen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Petersen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rivers up against the cage.
Petersen has Rivers pushed against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rivers.
Petersen misses with a punch to the body.
Rivers misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Petersen.
A short body shot lands from Rivers as the two fighters clinch.
Rivers is trying to push Petersen away but Petersen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Petersen scores with a shoulder strike.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Petersen has Rivers pressed against the cage, preventing Rivers from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Petersen misses with a knee strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Petersen.
Rivers dodges the punch combination from Petersen.
Good work by Rivers as he checks the leg kick.
A shot to the body from Petersen misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Petersen misses with a looping right.
Petersen wants to clinch.
Rivers is looking to counter with a body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Petersen dominated that round.
That's time! Rivers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivers misses with a leg kick
and Petersen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivers thumps Petersen with a low kick.
Rivers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Petersen to score with a decent uppercut.
Rivers fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Petersen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A good leg kick by Rivers.
Petersen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Petersen throws a head kick that misses
and Rivers counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rivers swings for the body but Petersen moves out of range.
Rivers avoids the body shot from Petersen.
Rivers connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rivers throws out a loose jab but Petersen uses good head movement to avoid it.
That kick from Petersen tenderised Rivers's leg. Rivers is trying to keep his angry face on.
Petersen tries a head kick but it misses.
Petersen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Rivers misses.
Nice defenses there by Petersen.
Petersen misses with a two punch combination.
Petersen throws a nice looking combination but Rivers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Petersen misses with a double jab
and Rivers counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen tries to clinch but Rivers moves away
and Rivers counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rivers throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Petersen misses with an uppercut. Rivers saw that one coming.
Petersen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Petersen throws a head kick that misses.
Petersen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivers sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Petersen throws a head kick but Rivers moves out of range.
Petersen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivers.
Petersen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivers.
Petersen moves away from the strike by Rivers.
Petersen wants to land a leg kick but Rivers is out of range.
Rivers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Petersen.
Rivers thows a left - swing and a miss!
Petersen tries a head kick but it misses.
Rivers was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Petersen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers jabs at Petersen's body.
Petersen misses with a leg kick.
Tom Rivers is winning the standup battle so far.
Petersen loads up on a big right hand but Rivers slips the punch.
Rivers walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Petersen slips under a jab from Rivers.
Rivers connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A big right from Petersen misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rivers wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rivers scores with a shoulder strike.
Petersen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Rivers fails to land.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petersen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rivers misses the shot to the body.
Petersen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers scores with a body shot.
Petersen lands a jab to Rivers's midsection.
Petersen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Rivers.
Rivers throws a low kick but Petersen avoids it.
Petersen swings for the body but Rivers moves out of range.
Petersen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rivers tries to land a front kick but Petersen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Petersen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivers.
Petersen connects with the punch.
Petersen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A head kick misses from Petersen.
Rivers throwing a counter right hand but Petersen manages to avoid it.
Petersen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivers scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Petersen doesn't seem bothered though.

Petersen clinches.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
Rivers uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Petersen has time to react.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petersen. Rivers does a little dance to reset his feet.

Petersen gets a clinch.
Rivers lands with a left to the head.
Rivers blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Petersen misses.
Petersen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Petersen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Petersen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Petersen throws a head punch that misses.
Petersen looking to stall.
Rivers misses with some punches.
Petersen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Petersen trying to control the position but instead, Rivers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Petersen into the cage.
Rivers makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
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 Tom Rivers will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rivers scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rivers lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A slow jab from Petersen misses its intended target.
Petersen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Petersen blocks a head kick by Rivers.
Petersen tries to clinch but Rivers is having none of it.
Petersen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Petersen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.
Rivers connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Petersen tries to clinch up but Rivers circles away and keeps his distance.
Petersen takes a swing at Rivers's ribcage but misses.
Rivers with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers connects with a crisp jab.
Petersen ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Petersen scores with a decent looking hook.
Petersen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Petersen jabs at Rivers's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Petersen misses with an uppercut. Rivers saw that one coming.
Petersen cracks a nice hook into Rivers's ribs.
Rivers has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Petersen.
Petersen misses the shot to the body.
Petersen tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivers throws a body punch but Petersen moves out of range.
Petersen scores with a jab to the body.
Petersen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rivers thuds a left hand into Petersen's body.
Rivers thows a body kick. Petersen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Petersen tries to clinch but Rivers moves out of range.
Rivers tried to counter with a leg kick but Petersen avoided it.
Petersen throws a right hand that Rivers ducks under and follows up with a left that Rivers also avoids with ease.
Rivers ducks under a wild hook from Petersen.
Steven Petersen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petersen misses with a looping right.
Petersen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Petersen shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good leg kick by Petersen.
Rivers avoids the body shot from Petersen.
Petersen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Rivers goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A jab from Petersen misses.
Rivers gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Petersen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rivers checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Petersen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rivers manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Petersen slips under a jab from Rivers.
Petersen tries to clinch but Rivers moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Rivers. That snapped Petersen's head back.
Petersen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivers throws a wild body kick that Petersen sees coming a mile off.
Petersen throws a sloppy body shot
and Rivers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Petersen tries to clinch there but Rivers circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen throws a body shot but no joy.
Petersen moves in looking to clinch but Rivers pushes him off.
Rivers scores with a body shot.
Petersen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivers was well out of range. Poor timing from Petersen.
Rivers slips under a jab from Petersen.
Rivers lands a really nice looking cross but Petersen seems unphased.
Petersen takes a jab right on the kisser.
A solid leg kick lands there for Petersen.
Petersen jabs at Rivers's body.
Petersen misses with a leg kick
and Rivers counters with a stiff right hand.
Rivers looks to score with a jab to the body but Petersen is just out of range.
Petersen throws a head kick but Rivers moves out of range.
Petersen throws a jab when Rivers was well out of range.
Petersen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Petersen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Petersen on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivers misses with a body shot.
Petersen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Petersen scores with a shot to the body.
Petersen connects with a looping right hand.
Rivers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivers with a nice calf kick.
That kick from Rivers tenderised Petersen's leg. Petersen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Petersen misses with a leg kick
and Rivers counters with a nice leg kick.
Petersen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Petersen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rivers throws a quick inside leg kick.
Petersen throws a sloppy head kick
and Rivers counters with a good low kick that Petersen was not able to check.
Rivers connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Petersen misses with a straight left.
Petersen misses the jab.
A little feinted left hand from Rivers on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Petersen tries a head kick but it misses.
Petersen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tom Rivers.
I think Rivers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Rivers!
In his post fight interview, Tom Rivers started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.