PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ibrahim Amrani (ranked 1278 p4p, 1324 weight class) and Charlie River (ranked 124 p4p, 127 weight class). River has chosen Waylon Jennings - I've Always Been Crazy 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.

Amrani
vs
River

155 cm
32
144
17 - 10 - 2

170 cm
35
145
36 - 25 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $48
Wrestler Wayfare

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 17 - 10 - 2, fighting out of London, Ibrahim Amrani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 25 - 1, fighting out of New York, Charlie River!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

River gets caught napping as Amrani dives in and scores a takedown. River manages to retain guard.
Amrani throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Amrani working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of River's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Amrani accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Amrani loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Amrani throws a big elbow that misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if River can do anything to dispel that myth.
Amrani working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Amrani is looking to work some ground and pound but River has wrist control.
River avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Amrani decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on River, up you get!
River throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Amrani misses with a takedown attempt - River sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
River keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
River avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Amrani.
River looks like he's trying to stand up.
Amrani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Amrani thows a huge punch but River dodges it nicely.
River is looking to escape.
Amrani is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
River tries to kick Amrani off but Amrani keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two 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 is defending against the submission attempts here by Amrani.
Amrani is controlling the pace.
Amrani takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Amrani throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Amrani seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Amrani there.
Amrani is looking to take a break and control but River is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

River manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Amrani fails with the takedown
and River makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from River.
A big right from River misses.
River misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Amrani.
River fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Amrani shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Amrani showed some decent athleticism there.

River pushes Amrani off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
River punishes Amrani's body with a nice straight punch.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Amrani moves away.
A big right from River misses.
Amrani misses with a wild body shot.
River scores with a punch to the head.
Amrani looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Amrani tries to close the distance and clinch up but River swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Amrani closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

River kicks Amrani off and gets back to his feet.
River lands a glancing blow to the side of Amrani's head.

Amrani drives through with a takedown into River's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Amrani postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Amrani trying to control the position from guard on top but River is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charlie River will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Amrani fails with an attempt to clinch.
River throws a hook to the side of Amrani's head but Amrani sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Amrani goes for a double leg but River avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as River continues to drive forward.
Amrani has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. River is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
River misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Amrani.
Amrani avoiding damage as River throws knees to the body.
Amrani blocks a body shot from River.
River tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Amrani avoids it.
Amrani is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Amrani drags the fight down to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Amrani wants to sweep but no luck.

Amrani throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Amrani looking for submissions from the bottom but instead River passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

River stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A decent looking body kick lands there for River.
A good leg kick by River.

Amrani moves into the clinch.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Amrani jumps guard but River turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ibrahim Amrani. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Amrani escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River cracks Amrani with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
River throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Amrani moves away.
Amrani moves out of range as River strikes.
River slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
River scores with a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Amrani is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in River's half guard.
River pushes Amrani off looking to stand but Amrani dives back in and keeps control.
River really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Amrani. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Amrani is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Amrani wants to lay and pray for a moment but River keeps working.

Amrani is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and River defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amrani not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Amrani throwing shots but River is blocking nicely.
Amrani wants to free his trapped foot but River is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Amrani not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Amrani 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.
Amrani prevents River from standing back up.

Amrani stands up out of the half guard.
River is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Amrani fails with the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from River. No joy for Amrani on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amrani shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as River sprawls well. River wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Amrani gets slowly back to his feet.
Amrani takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
River fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Amrani is out of range.
River throws a sloppy head kick and Amrani moves out of range easily.
Charlie River is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
River with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Amrani takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
River connects with a crisp jab.
Nice defenses there by Amrani.
River pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Amrani misses with a takedown attempt - River sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And River responds with a good body kick, but Amrani manages to step out the way in time.
River loads up on a big right hand but Amrani slips the punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charlie River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Amrani fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
River lands a nice shot that snaps Amrani's head back.
Amrani fails with the takedown.
Amrani slips a jab from River.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
Amrani displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as River throws out the jab.
Amrani tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but River defends well and Amrani ends up having to push River into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
River let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ibrahim Amrani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for River.
Amrani wants to get back to striking at distance but River won't allow it.
Amrani blocking some punches.
Amrani drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River misses with a body punch.
River stalling against the cage.
Amrani avoids the elbow strike from River, against the cage.
River lands a body shot.
Amrani can't get the takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by River.
River slowing the pace effectively.
River taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
River looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Amrani avoids the elbow strike from River, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River taking a breather.
Amrani blocks a punch to the side of the head.
River lands a nice uppercut.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Amrani backwards.
Amrani drops to a knee looking for a takedown but River gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The referee calls for River to work.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Amrani controls his hands.
River scores with a shoulder strike.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Amrani is pushing River up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River breaks the clinch.
River takes a swing at Amrani's ribcage but misses.
Amrani avoids a kick to the body.
River cracks Amrani with a right hand to the side of the head.

Amrani closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ibrahim Amrani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River taking a breather.
River tries to work over Amrani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Amrani fails to pull guard.
Still in the clinch, Amrani scores with a nice short uppercut.
River has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Amrani looking for a takedown.
River lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Amrani backwards.
River misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amrani drops to a knee looking for a takedown but River gets the underhooks and prevents it.
River tries a knee to the head but Amrani blocks it.
River tries to work over Amrani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

River's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Amrani forces River back against the cage and clinches.
River misses with a body punch.
River tries a body shot but Amrani blocks it.

Amrani gets control of River's arms and successfully pulls guard. Amrani will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Amrani might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
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!
Amrani wants to sweep here but River controlling him for the moment.
Ibrahim Amrani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Amrani looking for a guillotine here but River defends easily.
Amrani throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie River comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got River winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charlie River!
A relieved looking Charlie River thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.