PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brayden Point (ranked 287 p4p, 650 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 35 p4p, 78 weight class). Point comes to the cage accompanied by Roots Reggae Music. River has chosen Metallica: Enter Sandman as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Point
vs
River

168 cm
36
137
31 - 9 - 0

170 cm
31
135
19 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
SynCity Fightwear

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 31 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brayden Point!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Point. No joy for River on that attempt.
Point looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
River with a jab.
River fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Point manages to avoid it.
Point lands with a straight right. River didn't see that one coming.
Point lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

River instigates a clinch.
Point lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of River backwards.
A shot in the inside from Point.
A nice right hand lands inside from River.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Point's elbow.
River tries to throw a body punch but Point avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for River.
River misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Point blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Point trying to stall but River improves his position.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Point with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Point blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Point controls his hands.
Point swings wildly with an uppercut but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Point tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Point back against the cage.
River tries to throw a body punch but Point avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
Point working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Point throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but River blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as River takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Point tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and River avoids it.
A knee to the head by Point.
Point throws a knee to the head but misses.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Point swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Point tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
River tries to work over Point's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River takes a shot to the head.
Point being controlled against the cage.
Point lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River avoiding damage.
River lands a body punch.
A short right from River on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Point lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short uppercut from River.
River tries a body shot but Point blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for River.
River throws a head punch that misses.
Point is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Point tries a body shot but River blocks it.
Point working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
River misses with a hook from the clinch.
Point wants to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Point.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Point using the Thai plumb to throw knees but River has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
River being controlled against the cage.
Point lands on the inside with an uppercut.

River pulls Point into guard.

River is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Point pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. River is keeping the position for now.
River keeping moving, preventing Point from controlling successfully.

Point got a little sloppy there for a moment and River has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Point has managed to get both his arms back between River's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Point trying to control the position from guard on top but River is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Point wants to stand but River is controlling his posture from full guard.
Point trying to control but River is working from the bottom.

River has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Point is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for River.

Point looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brayden Point dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Point throws a jab when River was well out of range.
River is trying to counter with his kicks.
A chopping leg kick lands by River.
River pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Point throws a shot from downtown. River moves away and avoids it.
A solid body kick from River.
River throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
River connects with a right hand. Point shakes it off.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Point has managed to clinch.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
River'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.
River is leaning against Point and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Brayden Point has scored more points in the clinch so far.
River lands with a light punch inside.
River jumps guard but Point turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
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 head punch blocked on the inside by Point.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
River tries a body shot but Point blocks it.
Point stalling.
Point lands an uppercut.
Point tries to pull guard but River forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
River throws a head punch that misses.
Point jumps guard but River stands there with Point around his waist. Point gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
River misses with a punch to the body.
River working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Point dodges an elbow strike from River.
Point throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but River blocks it with crossed arms.
Point throws a punch but it's blocked by River.
Point is trying to pull guard but River has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brayden Point. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Point fails to pull the fight into his guard.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River pressing his opponent against the cage.
Point trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Point is stalling here.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Point is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables River to keep the fight standing.
River scores with a nice hook to the head.
Point misses with a knee to the head.
Point is looking to control River's arms but River gets an underhook and turns him. Now Point has his back to the cage.
Point taking a breather.
Maybe Point would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
River tries a body shot but Point blocks it.
Point lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
River misses with a body punch.
Point is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Point tries to pull guard but River holds him up against the cage and eventually Point drops back down to his feet.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Point with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
River lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Point or not.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River working aggressively here.
Point blocks an uppercut.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Still in the clinch, River scores with a nice short uppercut.
Point trying to land knees to the body.
River tries to throw a body punch but Point avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
Point makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
River is trying to maintain a safe position but Point gets an underhook and turns River into the cage.
Point tries to work over River's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Point.
Point scores with a shot to the side of River's head.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Point swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Point controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Point.
Point tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. River smiles and moves away.
A shot to the liver by Point. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Point ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Point 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River throws a lazy right hand but Point sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
River lands with a nice combination. Point backs away looking to recover.
Point takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
River connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Point momentarily.
Point doesn't manage to clinch there - River circles away.
Point cracks River with an open hand slap.
Point wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
River fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Point has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
River throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bernhard River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Point throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
River tries to work over Point's front leg with a kick but Point checks it.
River lands with a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bernhard River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Point moves out of range of the body kick from River.
River lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Point takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
River keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice takedown defense from Point. No joy for River on that attempt.
River throws a head kick that Point semi-blocks.
River misses with a takedown attempt
and Point counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
River throws the left hand but Point avoids the punch easily.
River fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Point looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
River moves out of range of the strikes.
River pivots, looking for a leg kick but Point is out of range and River settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Point misses with a hook.
Point swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by River.
River ducks under a wild hook from Point.
Point fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. River looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick misses from River.
Point appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Point on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Point uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by River.
River scores with a nice body kick.
Point tries to clinch up.
Point fakes high and swings low for a body shot but River manages to avoid it.
Point blocks a head kick by River.

River gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Point is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Point missing with knees to the body.
River misses with a punch to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, River just misses with a elbow thrown towards Point's brow.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from River.
Point lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of River backwards.
Point managing to block the knees to the body from River.
Point connects with a knee to the head.

Point manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Point working a defensive guard here.

Point is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. River is aware though and is defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Point wants to hit a sweep here but River passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Point there!
River landing strikes from the mount and Point is in trouble!
Point is in all sorts of trouble here.
Point in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Point is in a horrible position here. River smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Point tries to reverse the position but River maintains control.
River landing punches.
River landing strikes, looking to finish!
Point tries to reverse the position but River maintains control.
BOOM! River connects with a massive shot to the dome!
River tries to control but Point wriggling away.
Point is bucking up trying to escape but River cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Point looks a forlorn figure.
Point is trying desperately to improve position.
River can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Point is looking to escape.
Point takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Point tries to hold on but River pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernhard 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernhard River!
Bernhard River thanked the fans post fight for their support.