PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kamren Rivera (ranked 25178 p4p, 25060 weight class) and Yao Ming (ranked 544 p4p, 535 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Rivera
vs
Ming

185 cm
19
185
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
170
0 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BANZAI NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kamren Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yao Ming!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ming misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.
Rivera loads up on a big right hand but Ming slips the punch.
Rivera lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rivera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on Ming's shoulder, as Ming tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rivera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ming counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ming misses with a straight left.
Jab from Rivera.
Ming is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ming counters with a series of strikes. Rivera will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Ming's belly button to the back.
Rivera shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ming eats them both and turns towards Rivera to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jab by Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Donk. Rivera catches Ming right on the button with a cross.
Kamren Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ming fails to land with a series of punches.
Rivera fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ming just manages to avoid it.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Ming is just out of range.
Ming ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rivera moves away.
Ming on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rivera slips a jab and a cross from Ming.
Ming connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rivera's hands.
Ming avoids a punch combination nicely.
It seemed like Ming was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rivera lands a slapping body shot.
Rivera definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ming pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ming now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Nice uppercut there from Ming.
Rivera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rivera fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ming has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rivera lands a glancing blow to the side of Ming's head.
Ming takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rivera takes a swing at Ming's ribcage but misses.
Ming dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rivera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ming.
Ming connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rivera momentarily.
Ming tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Ming.
Rivera was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Rivera throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeps Ming at a distance using the push kick.
Ming avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rivera!
A head kick misses from Rivera.
Ming dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Rivera.
Rivera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ming.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ming looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Ming is just out of range.
Rivera lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ming misses with a hook.
Rivera tries to bum rush Ming with a series of wild strikes but Ming uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera misses with a straight right.
Rivera misses with a hook
and Ming counters with a stiff right hand.
A jab from Ming finds it's way through Rivera's defenses.
Ming blocks a jab.
Ming staying out of range there.
Rivera takes a swing at Ming's ribcage but misses.
Ming is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ming takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Ming misses with a body punch
and Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ming connects with a body shot that sends Rivera's belly button to the back.
Rivera is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ming throws out the jab.
Ming has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rivera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ming counters with a right hand to the body.
Ming takes a shot to the body in his stride.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rivera cracks Ming with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rivera loads up on a big right hand but Ming slips the punch.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Ming moves out of range.
Ming swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rivera counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ming missing with a left hand there. Rivera was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rivera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ming throws an overhand right that lands on Rivera's shoulder, as Rivera tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera throws a combination that misses
and Ming counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ming jabs Rivera right on the nose. Rivera blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ming was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Rivera tries a head kick but it misses.
Ming throws a body shot but no joy.
Rivera scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ming was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Ming cracks a nice hook into Rivera's ribs.
Rivera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ming waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.
Ming throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rivera counters with a nice uppercut.
Rivera throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ming stuns Rivera with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Rivera.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ming. That did some damage!
Ming misses with an uppercut.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rivera.
Rivera cracks Ming with a good jab.
Ming looks to land a combination but Rivera avoids it well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ming's head backwards.
A right-left combo lands from Rivera.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ming was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.

Ming gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ming misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera digs a right hand underneath Ming's ribcage. Ming let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short uppercut from Ming.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ming misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Rivera has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ming misses with a straight left.
Ming takes one to the chin there.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick
and Ming cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ming waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.
Ming walks into a left hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Rivera.
Ming throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A combination from Rivera does no damage.
Rivera defending well as Ming loads up on a big left hand.
Rivera went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ming misses with a hook. Rivera ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rivera.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera throws a right hand that misses
and Ming counters with a series of strikes. Rivera will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rivera moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ming avoids the body shot from Rivera.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ming! But no joy.
Ming misses with a double jab.
A jab from Rivera finds it's way through Ming's defenses.

Ming gets a clinch.
Rivera blocks a body shot from Ming.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Kamren Rivera is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera throws a right hand that Ming ducks under and follows up with a left that Ming also avoids with ease.
Ming has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A combination from Rivera does no damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kamren Rivera dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rivera misses with an uppercut
and Ming counters with a stiff right hand.
Ming misses with a hook.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses
and Ming counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ming darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera with a jab.
Rivera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ming lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ming dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ming tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ming works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ming works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ming misses the jab.
Ming tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rivera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rivera gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rivera lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ming slips a straight right by Rivera.
Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rivera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ming momentarily.
Rivera misses with a few strikes there.
Ming looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rivera misses with a double jab.
It seemed like Ming was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Yao Ming has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ming ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.
Rivera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ming.
An attempted straight right counter from Rivera misses the target.
Rivera gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ming has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ming there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rivera takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ming throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A lazy left from Rivera finds it's target.
A head kick from Rivera lands but Ming takes it in his stride.
Rivera throws a one two combo.

Ming is rocked!
A head kick from Rivera lands but Ming takes it in his stride.
Ming is still on wobbly legs! Can Rivera finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera sends Ming crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Rivera is motioning to the referee to let Ming up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Rivera goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ming manages to avoid it.
Rivera misses with an uppercut. Ming saw that one coming.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ming.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ming moves out of range as Rivera strikes.
A jab from Ming finds it's way through Rivera's defenses.
Ming seems to have recovered his senses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera misses with a double jab
and Ming counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ming darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Ming avoids the head kick by Rivera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ming counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ming throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ming throws a lazy right hand but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Rivera misses its target.
Ming takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Ming swings for the body but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Ming avoids them all with ease.
Ming misses with an uppercut.
Ming scores with a nice right hand.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Ming.
A little jabbing left from Ming on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ming lands with a good body shot.
Ming misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kamren Rivera.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kamren Rivera!