PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Scooter Dahan (ranked 2221 p4p, 3095 weight class) and Antonio Rivera (ranked 199 p4p, 253 weight class). 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.

Dahan
vs
Rivera

167 cm
26
150
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
26
150
3 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Scooter Dahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Antonio Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dahan goes for a double leg but Rivera avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivera continues to drive forward.

Dahan has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rivera is trying to keep an underhook but Dahan manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing that Dahan has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Rivera is looking for a sweep. Dahan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dahan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rivera is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera keeps trying to improve his position.
Dahan raining down hammerfists from mount.
Rivera wants to hold on but Dahan pushes him away.
Rivera is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dahan pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rivera regains half guard.
Rivera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rivera.

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

Rivera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dahan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dahan stands up over Rivera, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rivera prevents Dahan from improving his position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rivera working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Dahan is defending well.

Rivera is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dahan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rivera.
Dahan wants to improve his position but Rivera is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dahan looking for submissions off his back.
Dahan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

Rivera is looking for a kimura but Dahan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rivera to get the leverage.
Dahan on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dahan tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivera works his way into full mount!
Dahan manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rivera takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dahan is trying to get back to full guard.

Dahan looking for submissions off his back.

Rivera is trying to work for a kimura but Dahan is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dahan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Scooter Dahan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Dahan shoots in for a double leg but Rivera sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dahan.
The crowd cheers as Dahan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rivera doesn't seem phased though.
Dahan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rivera avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scooter Dahan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dahan circles away.
No luck for Dahan with that takedown attempt.
Dahan dives in for a single leg takedown but Rivera sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Dahan breaks from the clinch.

Dahan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rivera did well to prevent Dahan getting side control.
Dahan is pressing down on Rivera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rivera is holding on for now.
Rivera tries to get to full guard but Dahan has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rivera manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rivera working for a triangle but Dahan defends it easily.

Rivera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dahan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nice strikes from Dahan there.
Rivera is looking to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is staying active underneath Dahan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dahan winds up and cracks Rivera with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rivera trying to hold on to Dahan's head to control him but Dahan postures up.
Dahan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dahan seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rivera gets back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivera is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dahan is aware though and is defending well.
Rivera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dahan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dahan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dahan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dahan wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Dahan trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

Rivera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dahan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rivera has momentary wrist control but Dahan slips an elbow through the middle.

Rivera is looking for a triangle but Dahan pushes his legs off easily.
Dahan sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dahan advances to half guard.
Dahan is just content to waste time from the top position. Rivera takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Scooter Dahan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dahan misses with a takedown attempt - Rivera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And Rivera tries to counter it with a takedown but Dahan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rivera changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dahan tries to avoid it but Rivera manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dahan to the ground. Dahan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dahan tries to counter with a takedown but Rivera is quick to defend against it.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dahan drives through with a takedown into Rivera's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera is looking for a triangle but Dahan pushes his legs off easily.
Dahan working some strikes from top position.
Dahan scoring with some ground and pound.
Dahan wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Dahan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rivera looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivera, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rivera is on top in guard.

Dahan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Dahan.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Dahan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dahan looking for a guillotine here but Rivera defends easily.
Rivera pushing down on Dahan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rivera is trying to control the action in half guard but Dahan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dahan is concentrating on defense, preventing Rivera from advancing position.
Dahan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dahan.

Dahan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera passes Dahan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Dahan is trying to get back to full guard.

Rivera is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Rivera is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dahan is just riding it out for now. Rivera eventually gives up the hold.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rivera connects with a nice short shot to Dahan's temple.
Antonio Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is working for a kimura but Dahan is defending it quite comfortably.
Rivera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera working over Dahan with some ground and pound. Dahan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Rivera maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Dahan could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Rivera has cracked it and Dahan is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Rivera!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Antonio Rivera!