PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charlie River (ranked 1388 p4p, 708 weight class) and Gauthier Delisle (ranked 85 p4p, 43 weight class). River's entrance music is Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy. A fine choice. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

River
vs
Delisle

170 cm
25
143
14 - 7 - 0

165 cm
31
144
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

MADNESS Apparel
Conquer

Conquer

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Charlie River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gauthier Delisle!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
River throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've been told by River's head coaches at Rivers Edge Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
River scores with a nice body kick.
Delisle dodges the punch combination from River.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Delisle misses.
Delisle lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A slow jab from River misses its intended target.
Delisle is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
River jabs Delisle to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Delisle takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Gauthier Delisle has been cut.
Delisle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Delisle shoots for a takedown but River saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River lands a nice looking body kick.
River throws a hook but Delisle blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Delisle looks for a takedown but River sprawls well.
Delisle tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but River swivels and escapes.
Charlie River has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gauthier Delisle.
Delisle slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Delisle closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
River knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Delisle on the ground.

Delisle goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, River rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Delisle's guard! Nice work there by River!

River decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A nice leg kick lands there from River.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River is looking to chop away at Delisle's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Delisle throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
River swings for the body but Delisle moves out of range.

Delisle scores with a takedown into River's guard.

River is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

River escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
River misses with a wild body shot.
River with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Delisle.
Delisle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Delisle throws a leg kick which misses River's front leg but catches the back leg as River tries to avoid it.
Delisle has a takedown stuffed.
Delisle has a takedown stuffed.
A jab from River misses.
A jab from River finds it's way through Delisle's defenses.

Delisle shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Delisle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Delisle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and River defends it well.

Delisle is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so River is just riding it out for now. Delisle eventually gives up the hold.
Delisle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Delisle is looking for a kimura but River is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Delisle to get the leverage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie River dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gauthier Delisle's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Delisle fails with a takedown attempt.
Delisle throws a jab but it's blocked by River.
A little feinted left hand from River on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
River throws a looping overhand right but Delisle ducks down to avoid it.
River tries to score with a low kick but Delisle moves his leg out of the way.
And Delisle tries to counter it with a takedown but River pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Delisle lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Delisle scores with a nice head shot.
Charlie River is winning the standup battle so far.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Delisle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from River.
Delisle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? River is fending him off so far but Delisle persists. Nope, River circles away and we're back to standing.
River looks to throw a body kick

and Delisle counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Delisle tries to score with some ground and pound. River controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Delisle's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Delisle working the ground and pound but River is defending the strikes.
Delisle trying to control the position but River is working away.
Delisle tries to advance to mount but River denies him.
River pushes Delisle away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Delisle gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Gauthier Delisle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Delisle in side control lands a decent elbow.
River is not content to let Delisle control the position.

Delisle goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, River rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Delisle's guard! Nice work there by River!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delisle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Delisle 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.

Delisle looking for submissions from the bottom but instead River passes into side control.
Delisle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delisle looks to move to half guard but instead River has passed into mount! Damn!
Delisle is looking to get to half guard.
Delisle wants to hold on but River pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Delisle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
River is looking to stand but Delisle has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Delisle slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Delisle is trying to get back to full guard.
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 Charlie River will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gauthier Delisle's cut.
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 throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Delisle throws a solid leg kick but River takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Delisle.
River takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Delisle throws a nice outside leg kick.
Delisle feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rivers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
River misses with a wild body shot.
Delisle cracks River with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
River tries to clinch but Delisle is having none of it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for River.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River slaps away a takedown attempt from Delisle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
River lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Delisle with a poor takedown
and River connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Delisle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as River sprawls well. River wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Delisle gets slowly back to his feet.
Charlie River has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gauthier Delisle.
River throws a combination that misses

so Delisle counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
River is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Delisle is controlling him.
Delisle postures up in River's guard and throws a big left but River blocks it.
Delisle throwing strikes from guard but River blocks nicely.
My spies in New York Training Academy inform me that Delisle has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Delisle tries to free his leg and advance position but River is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Delisle postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! River is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Delisle, into his guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Delisle is on top in guard.

River keeping moving, preventing Delisle from controlling successfully.

River pushes Delisle off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by River.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Delisle drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
River displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Delisle.
River is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Delisle can do to turn this around?
A shot to the liver by Delisle. Beautiful body shot.

Delisle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Delisle lands in his opponent's guard.
River keeping full guard, as Delisle tries to pass.
Delisle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Delisle wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.
River wants to stand and escape but Delisle is having none of it.
Gauthier Delisle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Delisle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of River's head.
Delisle trying to control but River is working from the bottom.
River avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gauthier Delisle.
I think River 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Charlie River!
A very excited looking Charlie River made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.