PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nuckin Futz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River has chosen A Country Boy Can Survive 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.

Futz
vs
River

177 cm
25
158 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
154 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Machina Clothing
BioPharm Nutrition [ACME]

Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nuckin Futz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris River!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Reed Andrews and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by River.
Futz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Futz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
River misses with a wild body shot.
Futz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Futz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nuckin Futz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch lands to the side of River 's head but he takes it in his stride.
River avoids the body shot from Futz.
Futz tests River's chin there with a solid looking shot.
River keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
River fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Futz misses with a hook. River ducked under it nicely.
Futz swats away the attempt to clinch by River.
Futz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Futz throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Futz throws a lazy right hand but River sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
River throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Futz takes a swing at River's ribcage but misses.
Futz avoids the head kick by River.
Futz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
River throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Futz.
River lands a nice leg kick that just misses Futz's sensitive parts.
Futz throws a right and a left that both miss.
River shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Futz with a hook.

Futz shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Futz is breathing heavily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

River is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Futz tries to free his leg and advance position but River is retaining full guard.

River looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Futz passes into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
River sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Futz there.
Futz is taking a breather. River says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Futz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
River wants to get back to full guard.

Futz is looking for a kimura here.
River is looking for a sweep. Futz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

River looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Futz wants to pass to mount but River is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A shot to the body from Futz misses
and River counters with a nice low kick that buckles Futz's knee momentarily.
A telegraphed right hand from Futz misses the target.
Futz throws a sloppy body shot
and River counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A telegraphed right hand from Futz misses the target.
A big right from Futz misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
River listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
River tries to land a front kick but Futz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A telegraphed right hand from Futz misses the target.
Futz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Chris River is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Futz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by River.
Futz slips a straight right by River.
River misses with a combination
and Futz counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
River blocks a jab.
River blocks a head kick by Futz.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Futz.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An inside leg kick lands from River.
River throws out a loose jab but Futz uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nuckin Futz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Futz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Futz avoids a punch combination nicely.
River ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by River.
Futz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping River at a distance.
River throws a head kick that misses
and Futz counters with a stiff right hand.
River lets loose with a powerful body kick. Futz will feel that in the morning.
A thudding body kick lands there by River!
River misses with a few strikes there.
A cross from River lands.
River misses with an attempted mid kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Futz misses the target.
River tries to clinch but Futz moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Futz tries to clinch but River moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Futz misses
and River counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Futz tried to score with a low kick but River checks it.
River connects with a good right hand that stumbles Futz. Futz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
River dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Futz. That did some damage!
River lands a head shot.
River pushes Futz away with a front kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for River.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Futz moves out of range of the body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
River blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Futz uses good head movement to avoid it.
River misses with a knee strike.
Futz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for River.
Futz takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Futz prevents a body shot from River.
River throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Futz blocks it with crossed arms.
Futz lands a shot to the body.
River with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice glancing elbow lands by River.
Futz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
River connects with a nasty looking knee right to Futz's face.
River using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Futz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A hook to the body from River.
River connects with a nasty looking knee right to Futz's face.
River misses with some punches.
Futz lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
Futz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from River.
Futz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
River lands an elbow that stopped Futz in his tracks for a moment.
River is looking to control Futz's arms but Futz gets an underhook and turns him. Now River has his back to the cage.
Futz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of River backwards.
River has had enough of the clinch but Futz keeps him there for the moment.
River tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Futz just stands there and leans against the cage.
River throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Futz blocks it with crossed arms.

River breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good work by River as he checks the leg kick.
Futz circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
River throws a looping overhand right but Futz ducks down to avoid it.
Futz misses with a wild combination.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
River throws a front kick aimed at Futz's knee but Futz avoids it well.
Futz throws out a loose jab but River uses good head movement to avoid it.
Futz swings for the body but River moves out of range.
Futz is looking to clinch.
River misses with a low kick.
River steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Futz.
River moves in looking to clinch but Futz pushes him off.
River tries to land a front kick but Futz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Futz misses with an uppercut. River saw that one coming.
Futz throws a lazy head kick
and River counters with a three punch combo that has Futz backing up. Futz nods at River to acknowledge the strikes.
River goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
River tries to land a leg kick but Futz saw it coming and moves away.
The fighters circling - Futz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Futz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
River fakes the leg kick and cracks Futz in the body.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Futz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from River. That one must have hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
River throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Good leg kick by River there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from River. Futz shrugs it off though.
Futz misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris River showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Futz throws a body punch but River moves out of range.
Futz thows a leg kick but River checks it
letting River counter with a right hand.
River tries to land a leg kick but Futz saw it coming and moves away.
River swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Futz darts in trying to clinch
and River counters with a nice leg kick.
Chris River seems to be getting the better of the standup.
River uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Futz.
Futz takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
River misses with a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - River looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
River looks to land a left hand but Futz moved out of range nicely.
Futz fakes a jab and throws a low kick but River checks it well.
Chris River is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River tries a head kick but it misses.
River tries a head kick but it misses.
A cross from Futz lands.
Futz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from River.
A jab lands there for Futz.
Futz throws a hook to the side of River's head but River sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A low kick from River misses
and Futz counters with a nice leg kick.
Futz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A nice inside leg kick there by River. That's going to slow Futz down.
River throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Futz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
River wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A left lands for River.
Futz drops his hands momentarily and River takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Futz tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
River throws a head kick that misses.
River scores with a leg kick.
River lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
River lands a nice leg kick that just misses Futz's sensitive parts.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
A thudding body kick lands there by River!
River connects with a solid leg kick.
River thumps Futz with a low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for River.
Futz misses with a body kick.
River lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Futz blocks a head kick by River.
Futz misses with a kick to the body
and River counters with a low kick, right behind Futz 's knee.
River tries to clinch up.
River thows a body shot but no joy.
Futz looking to land some kicks to the body here.
River slips a jab and a cross from Futz.
Some bone on bone action there as Futz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
River tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Futz avoids the head kick by River.

Futz drives through with a takedown into guard.

River looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Futz is defending well. River quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Futz has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! River celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chris River!