PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Niko Alzate (ranked 1826 p4p, 560 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 107 p4p, 33 weight class). River has chosen Metallica: Enter Sandman as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Alzate
vs
River

168 cm
32
135
13 - 10 - 0

170 cm
30
135
17 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Niko Alzate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Alzate wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
River moves out of range of the strikes.
River throws a body punch but Alzate moves out of range.
Alzate was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
River tries to clinch up.
River throws a leg kick which misses Alzate's front leg but catches the back leg as Alzate tries to avoid it.
River wants to slow Alzate down by chopping away at his legs.
Alzate throws a quick counter kick to the body but River avoids it.
River tried to score with a low kick but Alzate checks it.
River lands with a right hand.
River tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alzate was well out of range. Poor timing from River.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

River moves into the clinch.
Alzate avoiding damage as River throws knees to the body.
River lands a left hand.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from River on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alzate.
River lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from River.
A nice right hand lands inside from River.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
River lands a shoulder strike.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Alzate.
River tries to work over Alzate's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Alzate is keeping busy.
River prevents a body shot from Alzate.
Alzate tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Alzate back against the cage.
Alzate blocks a body shot from River.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Alzate.
River lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alzate backwards.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.

River has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Alzate uses from the top position.
River working a defensive guard here.
Alzate passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River wants to get back to full guard.
Alzate tries to stand and escape but River is controlling the position.
Alzate moves into full mount! River won't be happy about that!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River wants to hold on but Alzate pushes him away.
Alzate takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Good control from Alzate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzate is hanging on to River's back as he tries to escape.
River trying to control the hands but Alzate won't let him.
River is trying to break free.
Alzate doesn't have the hooks in and River manages to turn into his guard.
River working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
River with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River stopping the sweep attempt from Alzate.
River is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
River is in close to Alzate's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Alzate wants to sweep here but River controlling him for the moment.
River tries to free his leg and advance position but Alzate is retaining full guard.
River wants to control from the top but Alzate keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

River feints and then cracks Alzate's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Alzate down.
Alzate misses with a wild body shot.
River throws out a powerful jab.

River looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Alzate!
Alzate struggling a bit here.
Alzate is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on River's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River is keen to just control but Alzate is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
River seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alzate does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
River is stalling here. Alzate is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! River seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Alzate has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
River gets back to half guard.
Alzate is looking to advance position but River won't allow it.
Alzate is trying to control the action in half guard but River is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alzate wants to free his trapped foot but River is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

River looking for submissions off his back.
Alzate works his way into full mount!
Alzate controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alzate trying to control but River is having none of it.
River wants to control but Alzate is having none of it.

Alzate stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
River misses with a body shot
and Alzate counters with a leg kick.

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 displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alzate throws out the jab.
A left lands for River.
Some wild striking there from River.
River shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Alzate counters with a straight right hand.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alzate swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Alzate swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Alzate has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from River.
River takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Alzate walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as River checks a leg kick.
Nice body kick from River.
A looping hook to the body misses from River. Alzate does a little dance to reset his feet.
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 Niko Alzate will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

River throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alzate displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
Alzate avoids the body shot from River.
Alzate cracks River with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
River throws a head kick that Alzate semi-blocks.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alzate moves away.
Alzate jabs River right on the nose. River blinks but takes it well.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
Alzate looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Alzate misses the jab.
Alzate scores with a jab.

River is rocked!
Alzate chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before River can pounce on him.
River throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River just misses with a punch to the body.
River tries to close the distance and clinch up but Alzate swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Left hook, right uppercut from River.
Bernhard River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
River connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Alzate throws an uppercut from half a mile away. River sees it coming and avoids it easily.
River scores with a sloppy right hand. Alzate should have avoided that one.
River tries to land a front kick but Alzate steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Alzate connects with a jab.

River moves into range and clinches up with Alzate.
Alzate struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
Alzate swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alzate misses with some punches.
Alzate misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alzate lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Alzate misses with a punch to the body.
Alzate lands a body shot in the clinch.
Alzate stops a takedown attempt from River.
Alzate swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alzate can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
A right hook to the body lands for River.
Alzate lands a hook that snaps the head of River backwards.
River has a couple of punches blocked by Alzate.
A nice left hand lands by Alzate.
River lands a body shot in the clinch.
River blocks a punch to the side of the head.
River misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Alzate.
Alzate doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Alzate uses good head movement to avoid it.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alzate.
Alzate tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River tries to work over Alzate's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alzate working aggressively here.
Alzate throws a head punch that misses.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
River blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Alzate takes a shot to the head.
River lands with a left to the head.
Alzate lands a hook that snaps the head of River backwards.
Alzate lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
River looking to slow down the pace here.
A short left from River.
Alzate misses with some punches.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by River.
River pushes Alzate back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bernhard River seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Alzate can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River wants to stall.
River misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
Alzate letting River take a breather here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alzate misses with the head strike.
Alzate misses with a body punch.
Alzate blocks a body shot from River.
A short right from River.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Alzate goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Alzate lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Alzate.
Alzate avoiding damage as River throws knees to the body.
River blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Alzate fails to land.
Alzate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
Alzate tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
River tries to work over Alzate's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Alzate avoiding damage as River throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bernhard River.
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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!