PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bernhard River (ranked 379 p4p, 400 weight class) and Gervais Lavigne (ranked 21 p4p, 22 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think River might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica: Enter Sandman. 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
Lavigne

170 cm
29
135
15 - 8 - 0

169 cm
28
144
16 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Conviction

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gervais Lavigne!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavigne keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
River misses the jab.
Lavigne doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
River tries to move into range but Lavigne moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lavigne throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
River tries to clinch but Lavigne moves out of range.
River misses with a low kick as Lavigne jumps back.
River scores with a shot to the body.
River swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice cross by Lavigne.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lavigne scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A slow jab from Lavigne misses its intended target.
River dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lavigne. That did some damage!

River pushes Lavigne up against the cage in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lavigne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
Lavigne lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Still in the clinch, Lavigne scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short uppercut from Lavigne.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Lavigne misses with a short punch on the inside.
River is trying to maintain a safe position but Lavigne gets an underhook and turns River into the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Lavigne.
Lavigne creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Lavigne digs a right hand underneath River's ribcage. River let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lavigne lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lavigne lands a body shot in the clinch.
River tries to work over Lavigne's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lavigne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
River avoids the elbow strike from Lavigne, against the cage.
River is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lavigne is keeping busy.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Lavigne uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lavigne pushes off an throws an elbow but River leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lavigne has a couple of punches blocked by River.
Lavigne pushes off an throws an elbow but River leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River blocks an elbow strike.
Lavigne dodges an elbow strike from River.
Lavigne tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Lavigne back against the cage.
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!
A left hand lands to the body for Lavigne.
Lavigne goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Lavigne.
A hook to the body from Lavigne.
River is breathing heavily.
Lavigne lands an elbow inside.
Lavigne lands a right hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
Lavigne looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lavigne lands a shot to the body.
Lavigne working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lavigne lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lavigne lands on the inside with an uppercut.
River blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lavigne misses with the head strike.
Lavigne throws an elbow but it misses.
River lands an elbow just above Lavigne 's eye.
Lavigne misses with the head strike.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Lavigne controls the action.
Lavigne throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lavigne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lavigne throws an elbow but it misses.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lavigne's elbow.
Lavigne creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through River's defenses.
Lavigne blocks a body shot from River.
River misses with some punches.
Lavigne lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Good body shot from River.
Lavigne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River tries to throw a body punch but Lavigne avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
Lavigne lands a right hand.
Lavigne scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, River scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lavigne prevents a body shot from River.
Lavigne softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
River lands a body punch in the clinch.
River tries a body shot but Lavigne blocks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lavigne swings wildly with an uppercut but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lavigne can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River throws an elbow that misses.
Lavigne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lavigne goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, River scores with a nice short uppercut.
River working Lavigne over with knees to the body.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Lavigne controls his hands.
Lavigne misses with the head strike.
River throws a head punch that misses.

River jumps into guard, dragging Lavigne to the mat.
Lavigne stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. River swivels though and keeps the full guard.

River is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
River trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gervais Lavigne dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

River checks a leg kick.
Lavigne misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
River tries to counter with a takedown but Lavigne is quick to defend against it.
Lavigne blocks a leg kick.
River explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
River takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lavigne throws a low kick, looking for River's leg but River calmly moves out of range.
River throws a head kick but Lavigne moves out of range.
Lavigne only half commits to the counter leg kick.

River pushes Lavigne up against the cage in a clinch.
Lavigne misses with the head strike.
River works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Lavigne blocks a body shot from River.
Gervais Lavigne seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lavigne lands a nice elbow.
River takes a shot to the head.
River lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lavigne or not.
Lavigne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lavigne gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
River is trying to pull guard but Lavigne has him pressed against the cage.
Lavigne lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavigne pushes River back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lavigne lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lavigne presses River against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
River lands a right hand.
River creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

River is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Lavigne can't fight it off and eventually River manages to take the fight to the floor. Lavigne looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lavigne working a defensive guard but River passes into half guard.
Lavigne is looking for a sweep. River is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
River keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
River is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lavigne manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
River scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lavigne lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lavigne stays in close to River's body and controls the position.
Lavigne wants to control from the top but River keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

River working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lavigne doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lavigne manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lavigne trying to control but River is working from the bottom.
Lavigne pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. River is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
River looking to control.
Lavigne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lavigne wants to pass the guard but River is keeping the position.

River is looking for a triangle but Lavigne pushes his legs off easily.

River is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lavigne is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

River pushes a forearm under Lavigne's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Lavigne is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bernhard River!
After winning the bout, Bernhard River thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.