PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lelik Eremia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Eremia
vs
Rivera

178 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
18
235 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lelik Eremia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera fails to land the takedown.
Eremia tries to clinch up.
Rivera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Eremia clinches up with Rivera and pushes him back against the cage.
Eremia scores with a knee to the head.
Eremia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Eremia drags the fight down to the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rivera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Eremia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rivera on the ground.

Rivera drops back, looking for a kneebar! Eremia looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Eremia looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Eremia!
Rivera is looking to reverse the position.
Rivera sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.
Rivera moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to control the position but Eremia postures up.
Eremia throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Eremia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rivera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eremia has managed to get both his arms back between Rivera's legs - danger averted.
Eremia postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rivera working for a triangle but Eremia defends it easily.

Rivera looking for a guillotine here but Eremia defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eremia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Eremia working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Eremia throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.

Eremia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eremia tries to stand but Rivera is controlling from the bottom.
Rivera controlling the position.

Rivera pushes a forearm under Eremia's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Eremia is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Antonio Rivera!