PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Furioto (ranked 94 p4p, 167 weight class) and Guy River (ranked 18 p4p, 31 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Furioto might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 韻踏合組合 - . River comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Gabon National Anthem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Guy River enters the cage!

Furioto
vs
River

170 cm
38
155
26 - 12 - 0

182 cm
31
156
20 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maximus Furioto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Guy River!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Furioto moves away from the strike by River.
Furioto checks a leg kick nicely.
Furioto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Furioto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before River can pounce on him.
River throws a leg kick but Furioto moved away.
Furioto fails with the takedown.
Furioto fails with a takedown attempt.
Furioto shoots in for a takedown but River shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maximus Furioto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Furioto throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. River tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Furioto is in River's guard.
Furioto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. River swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River wants to get back to his feet but Furioto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Furioto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Furioto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as River works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Furioto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. River is keeping the position for now.
Furioto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
River utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
River really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Furioto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Furioto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. River swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Furioto trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Furioto drops back, looking for a kneebar! River looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. River looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from River!

Furioto looking for a sweep but River has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furioto is in all sorts of trouble here.

River stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Furioto is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Furioto fails with a takedown attempt.
River only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Furioto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from River.
Furioto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
River looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A swing and a miss from River.
River looks to land a right hand but Furioto moved out of range.
Furioto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says River as he avoids it easily.
River's jab looks to have found its range, popping Furioto under the eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Furioto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. River is trying to defend but Furioto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Furioto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Furioto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but River sees it coming and defends easily.
River keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Furioto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and River defends it well.
River blocking the ground and pound attempt from Furioto.

River is defending against the submission attempts here by Furioto.
Furioto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Furioto seems to be working for a kimura but River defends the submission attempt.
River blocking the ground and pound attempt from Furioto.

River kicks off Furioto and gets to his feet.
Furioto fails to land the takedown.
River scores with a leg kick.
River shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Furioto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Guy River dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Furioto moves out of range of the body kick.
River darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Maximus Furioto has been cut.
River looks to score with a jab to the body but Furioto is just out of range.

Furioto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. River did well to prevent Furioto getting side control.

Furioto is working for a kimura but River is defending it quite comfortably.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Furioto looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks River with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Furioto is working for a kimura but River is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Furioto 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. Furioto eventually gives up the hold.

River has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Furioto is on him like a limpet, forcing River back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River taking a breather.
Furioto prevents a body shot from River.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Furioto is looking for a takedown.
River displaying some good clinch control by pressing Furioto up against the cage.
River is pressed up against the cage. Furioto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag River down to the mat. River avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
River lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Furioto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Furioto takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Guy River seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd cheers as River lands an impressive looking overhand right. Furioto doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Furioto tries to close the distance and clinch up but River swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Furioto feints and as River raises his hands in defense, Furioto changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Furioto is looking to work some ground and pound but River has wrist control.
Furioto throws a big right hand that misses.
Furioto postures up in River's guard and throws a big left but River blocks it.

Furioto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Furioto passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Furioto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by River, who protects the arm well.
River is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Furioto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. River knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Furioto in side control, throwing shots but River defends.

Furioto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, River has escaped the position, nice work there.
River defending against the ground and pound.

Furioto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Furioto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Furioto creates some space and throws a big elbow, but River sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

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

Furioto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. River gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Furioto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Furioto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

River stands up from Furioto's guard - River perhaps looking for a knockout.
Guy River is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
River misses with a low kick.
Nice straight punches there by River. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of River.
River has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Furioto closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Furioto lands in his opponent's guard.

Furioto 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 Furioto, into his guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Guy River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Maximus Furioto's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Furioto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and River counters with a straight right hand.
Furioto moves away from the strike by River.
Furioto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says River as he avoids it easily.
Furioto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from River.
A nice leg kick from River, right into the meat of the thigh.

Furioto scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Furioto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, River has escaped the position, nice work there.

Furioto has worked his way into a potential kimura here. River is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Furioto yanks on the arm and River is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Furioto.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Maximus Furioto!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Maximus Furioto made sure he mentioned Shadow Realm Apparel, along with how happy he was to win his fight.