PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Rivera (ranked 4528 p4p, 4023 weight class) and Edgar Kidd (ranked 0 p4p, 410 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rivera
vs
Kidd

185 cm
24
180
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
173
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Steve Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edgar Kidd!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Reed Andrews and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kidd wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Rivera lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera pushes Kidd back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rivera takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kidd misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kidd blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as Kidd controls his hands.
Kidd has had enough of the clinch but Rivera keeps him there for the moment.
Rivera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivera prevents a body shot from Kidd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera lands with a light punch inside.
Rivera softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Rivera.
Kidd is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Kidd controls the action.
Rivera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivera cracks Kidd with a nice body shot.
Rivera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera keeps control of Kidd as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivera throws a head punch that misses.
Rivera blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kidd is trying to force a seperation but Rivera has the dominant position.
Rivera lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kidd or not.
Rivera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kidd wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Rivera throws a punch but it's blocked by Kidd.
Rivera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Rivera on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera lands a body punch.
Kidd tries to circle away but Rivera has him pinned against the cage.
Rivera misses with a body punch.
Rivera lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rivera.
Kidd blocks an uppercut.
Rivera has Kidd pressed against the cage, preventing Kidd from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rivera presses Kidd against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A frustrated look appears on Kidd's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rivera scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rivera.
Kidd misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kidd tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
Rivera misses with some punches.
Kidd wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kidd is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Kidd's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kidd's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kidd tries to circle away but Rivera has him pinned against the cage.
Rivera lands with a left to the head.
Rivera throws a punch but it's blocked by Kidd.
Kidd is trying to break the clinch but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
Rivera lands with a right to the head.
Kidd is trying to break free.
Rivera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kidd backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rivera dominated that 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.

Rivera has Kidd up against the cage in a clinch.
Rivera lands a left hand.
Rivera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kidd's elbow.
Kidd tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
Rivera swings wildly with an uppercut but Kidd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivera lands a left hand.
Rivera softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera has Kidd pressed against the cage, preventing Kidd from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rivera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kidd's efforts to push away.
Rivera misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Rivera.
Rivera lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rivera lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kidd backwards.
Rivera swings wildly with an uppercut but Kidd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivera scores with a nice hook to the head.
A shot in the inside from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kidd tries a body shot but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera pushes Kidd back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with some punches.
A short body shot lands from Rivera as the two fighters clinch.
Rivera tries to work over Kidd's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kidd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rivera lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Edgar Kidd has been cut.
Nice body punch from Rivera.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rivera rushes Kidd and presses him up against the cage.
Kidd wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Rivera is stalling here.
Rivera lands a shot to the body.
Rivera swings wildly with an uppercut but Kidd uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short uppercut from Rivera.
Kidd takes a shot to the head.

Rivera manages to break the clinch.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Kidd is avoiding it.
A jab from Rivera finds it's way through Kidd's defenses.
Steve Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kidd throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rivera moves in looking to clinch but Kidd pushes him off.

Rivera has Kidd up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Rivera on the inside.
Kidd has Rivera pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidd wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kidd tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
A short right from Rivera.
Kidd wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Kidd throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kidd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A nice side step and Kidd releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rivera drops his hands momentarily and Kidd takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Edgar Kidd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
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!
Kidd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rivera is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kidd.
Nice uppercut lands for Rivera. That snapped Kidd's head back.

Rivera has managed to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rivera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Edgar Kidd's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kidd throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kidd throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rivera tries to clinch up
and Kidd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rivera thinking.
Kidd misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.

Rivera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rivera presses Kidd against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rivera.
Kidd is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera lands a right hand.
Rivera working aggressively here.
Rivera misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kidd can't break the clinch.
Rivera pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short right from Rivera on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Rivera as the two fighters clinch.
Kidd missing with knees to the body.
Rivera scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kidd has had enough of the clinch but Rivera keeps him there for the moment.
Rivera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kidd backwards.
Rivera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera tries to throw a body punch but Kidd avoids it by throwing Rivera back against the cage.
Rivera lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rivera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kidd's elbow.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Kidd controls the action.
Rivera avoiding damage.
Kidd is trying to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling him.
Kidd wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rivera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kidd can do to turn this around?
Kidd lands with a short shot to the head.
Kidd blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidd wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rivera.
Rivera lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kidd backwards.
Kidd can't break the clinch.
Rivera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve Rivera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kidd's efforts to push away.
Kidd wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
Edgar Kidd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Still in the clinch, Rivera scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kidd working hard to break the clinch.
Kidd wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Kidd tries to stall but Rivera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kidd tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kidd has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rivera has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:26
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Rivera!
A very excited looking Steve Rivera made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.