PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mama Tosen (ranked 1052 p4p, 457 weight class) and Bert River (ranked 131 p4p, 58 weight class). River is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company. Bert River is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Tosen
vs
River

177 cm
32
150
14 - 9 - 0

170 cm
30
145
13 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
SynCity Fightwear

Conviction
SynCity Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mama Tosen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bert River!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as River checks a leg kick.
River wants to counter with a clinch but Tosen pushes him away.
River misses the shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Tosen.
Tosen throws a leg kick but River sees it coming and checks it nicely.
River misses with a two punch combination.
Tosen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck River on the side of the head.
River misses with a leg kick.
Tosen scores with a hook.

River pushes Tosen up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from River.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
River's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tosen's elbow.
River stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tosen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and River avoids it.
River prevents a body shot from Tosen.
Tosen tries to land a knee to the head but River blocks with his arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tosen working aggressively here.
Tosen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables River to keep the fight standing.
River digs a right hand into Tosen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tosen's gas tank.
River misses with a punch to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
A shot in the inside from Tosen.
A short right from Tosen on the inside.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Tosen.
River comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tosen.
Tosen misses with some punches.
River trying to control the position but instead, Tosen has worked for underhooks and has pushed River into the cage.
Tosen misses with some punches.
Tosen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tosen misses with the head strike.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Tosen controls his hands.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
River tries to work over Tosen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River avoiding damage as Tosen throws knees to the body.
River lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tosen.
River is trying to maintain a safe position but Tosen gets an underhook and turns River into the cage.
Tosen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
River lands with a short shot to the head.
Tosen misses with a hook to the ribs.
River lands a body punch.
Tosen working aggressively here.
River misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for River.
Tosen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
River pushes Tosen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tosen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tosen misses with a hook to the ribs.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, Tosen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tosen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tosen swings wildly with an uppercut but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from River.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tosen jumps guard but River stands there with Tosen around his waist. Tosen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
River effectively controlling the action here.
Tosen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tosen tries to pull guard but River holds him up against the cage and eventually Tosen drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mama Tosen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A hook to the body from Tosen.
Tosen blocks the elbow strike.
Tosen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tosen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tosen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. River is defending well for now.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tosen's elbow.
River pushes Tosen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tosen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A right hand to the body from River.
Tosen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Tosen tries to land a knee to the head but River blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tosen can't break the clinch.
River blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Tosen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tosen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
River scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
River cracks Tosen with a solid left hand.
River throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tosen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Tosen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. River doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. River manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tosen throws his legs up looking for a submission but River uses it to pass to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River lands an elbow.
River throws a strike aimed at the side of Tosen's head but Tosen avoids it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bert River will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tosen.
Tosen throws a quick inside leg kick.
River throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tosen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
River with a nice calf kick.
A swing and a miss from River.
River fails to land with a series of punches.
River looks to land a right hand but Tosen moved out of range.
Tosen scores with a jab to the head.
Tosen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
River steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tosen. That one must have hurt.

Tosen instigates a clinch.
Tosen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tosen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of River backwards.
River taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tosen blocks an uppercut.
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!
River blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A right hook to the body lands for Tosen.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tosen.
Tosen tries to work over River's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River tries to throw a body punch but Tosen avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Tosen.
River tries to throw a body punch but Tosen avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Tosen misses with a knee to the head.
Tosen scores with a nice hook to the head.

It looks like Bert River has been cut.
River taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tosen.
A short uppercut from Tosen.
River blocks an uppercut.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from River fails to land.
River scores with a shoulder strike.
Tosen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tosen misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tosen lands a nice uppercut.
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!
River lands a left hand.
Tosen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as River walks away with a smile on his face. Tosen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Tosen. No joy for River on that attempt.
Mama Tosen is winning the standup battle so far.
River connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tosen throws a looping overhand right but River ducks down to avoid it.
Tosen misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
River throws a poor cross that misses
and Tosen counters with a low kick, right behind River 's knee.
A slapping leg kick lands for River.
Tosen misses with an uppercut. River saw that one coming.
River looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

River gets a takedown into half guard.
Tosen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tosen regains full guard. Nicely done.
River trying to control the position from guard on top but Tosen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
River lands a couple of digs.
River advances to half guard.

Tosen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
River wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tosen keeps working.
Tosen regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tosen looking to hit a scissor sweep but River is one step ahead there.

Tosen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead River passes into half guard.
River looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
River not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Tosen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
River is looking to take a break and control but Tosen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
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 Mama Tosen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bert River's cut.
That's time! Tosen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

River paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The fighters circle momentarily. River darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
River cracks Tosen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
River on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Tosen moves into range and clinches up with River.
Tosen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tosen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
River blocks a body shot from Tosen.
River lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
River is pushing Tosen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tosen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tosen misses with a punch to the body.
River blocks an uppercut.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from River fails to land.
Tosen misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
River prevents a body shot from Tosen.
River tries to work over Tosen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
River lands with a short head shot on the inside.
River creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tosen's defenses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, River creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
River blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
River will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tosen up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from River as the two fighters clinch.
Tosen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tosen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tosen misses with the head strike.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.

River pulls guard successfully.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tosen looking to pass the guard.
Bert River has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tosen trying to control the position from guard on top but River is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tosen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tosen looking to pass the guard.
Tosen stands and throws River's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River is looking for a sweep.
River can't do much from the bottom here.
Tosen laying and praying for a moment but River takes advantage and regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

River looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tosen trying to control the action but River is working from the bottom.
River is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tosen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tosen's back!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tosen is in bad spot here.
River not allowing Tosen to control his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bert River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think River 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bert River!
An out of breath Bert River thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.