PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dru Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Ass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Rivers
vs
Ass

188 cm
29
195 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

180 cm
26
196 lbs
13 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 160Q/159Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dru Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Ass!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers blocks a jab.
Ass throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Ass throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ass throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ass missing with a left hand there. Rivers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Rivers gets tackled into the cage by Ass. Ass maintains the clinch.
Ass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rivers lands with a short shot to the head.
Rivers struggles to land a body shot inside as Ass controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ass creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rivers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivers's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ass lands with a light punch inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rivers.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ass scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rivers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rivers lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ass trying to control the position but instead, Rivers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ass into the cage.
Rivers swings wildly with an uppercut but Ass uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rivers swings wildly with an uppercut but Ass uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers being controlled against the cage.
Rivers tries a body shot but Ass blocks it.
Ass lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Good body shot from Rivers.
Ass misses with a body punch.
Ass just leaning against Rivers, taking a breather.
Ass swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers misses with a punch to the body.
Ass pushes Rivers back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ass is trying to stall.
Rivers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ass tries to throw a body punch but Rivers avoids it by throwing Ass back against the cage.
Rivers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ass's elbow.
A bit of stalling here from Ass.
Rivers misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ass lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Ass lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ass.
Ass lands a body shot.
Rivers struggles to land a body shot inside as Ass controls his hands.
Rivers misses with a body punch.
Ass digs a right hand into Rivers's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rivers's gas tank.
Ass just leaning against Rivers, taking a breather.
Ass working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ass pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ass shoots in and gets a takedown into Rivers's guard.
Ass trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ass sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ass trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jack Ass was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rivers is looking to clinch but Ass is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ass.
Rivers slips under a jab from Ass.
Ass lands with a right hand.
Ass throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rivers.
Rivers wants to clinch up but Ass keeps it at a distance.
Rivers throws a low kick, looking for Ass's leg but Ass calmly moves out of range.
Ass throws a nice looking combination but Rivers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rivers swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rivers is looking to chop away at Ass's legs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ass is looking to score with low kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ass closes the distance and clinches up with Rivers, looking for a takedown. Ass pushes Rivers against the cage but Rivers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ass fails with a takedown attempt.
Ass has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Ass dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ass takes a swing at Rivers's ribcage but misses.

Ass drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ass tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivers is retaining full guard.
Ass showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rivers looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivers, not yet.
Ass being controlled here momentarily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dru Rivers.
Rivers tries a low kick but Ass avoids it.
Dru Rivers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers walks into a jab.
Rivers throws out a loose jab but Ass uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ass fails with a takedown attempt.
Ass tries for a takedown but Rivers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rivers throws a nice head kick!
Rivers moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Rivers throws a nice inside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ass checks a leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rivers.
A bone on bone clash there as Rivers blocks the leg kick.
Ass lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivers circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ass tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivers was well out of range. Poor timing from Ass.
Ass avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ass.
Dru Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Ass.
Ass rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rivers moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rivers scores with a push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rivers gets tackled into the cage by Ass. Ass maintains the clinch.
Rivers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivers tries to work over Ass's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ass blocks a body shot from Rivers.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ass.
Rivers tries a body shot but Ass blocks it.
Rivers lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short right from Rivers.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivers.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers can't find room to land a body shot as Ass controls the action.
A short body shot lands from Ass as the two fighters clinch.
Rivers tries a body shot but Ass blocks it.
Ass has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.
Ass digs a right hand underneath Rivers's ribcage. Rivers let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivers.
Rivers misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Rivers on the inside.
Ass scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ass tries a body shot but Rivers blocks it.
Ass is trying to break the clinch but Rivers is controlling him.
Ass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ass is looking to control Rivers's arms but Rivers gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ass has his back to the cage.
Rivers working aggressively here.
Rivers blocks a body shot from Ass.
Ass takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Ass tries to break the clinch but Rivers is controlling the position.
Rivers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivers misses with a punch to the body.
Rivers lands an uppercut.
Rivers tries to throw a body punch but Ass avoids it by throwing Rivers back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ass.
Ass swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Ass.
Ass is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ass has Rivers pressed against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rivers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ass's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dru Rivers dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ass lands with a shot to the body.
Jack Ass seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rivers lands a head shot.
Ass ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
No luck for Ass with that takedown attempt.

Ass clinches.
Ass blocking some punches.
Ass swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Rivers.
Ass blocks a body shot from Rivers.
Rivers misses with a punch to the body.
Ass blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ass leaning against his opponent.
Ass lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Rivers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ass lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ass tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rivers's elbow.
Rivers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ass's elbow.
Ass takes a shot to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Rivers fails to land.
Ass softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rivers lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivers misses with a body punch.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Jack Ass seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hand to the body from Ass.
Ass stalling in the clinch but Rivers improves position.
Rivers misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ass dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ass stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rivers lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ass tries to throw a body punch but Rivers avoids it by throwing Ass back against the cage.
Rivers misses with a punch to the body.
Ass prevents a body shot from Rivers.
Rivers tries to work over Ass's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivers can't find room to land a body shot as Ass controls the action.
Rivers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivers lands an uppercut.
Rivers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ass trying to control the position but instead, Rivers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ass into the cage.
A short uppercut from Rivers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Ass.
Rivers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rivers lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ass backwards.
Rivers softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rivers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Ass doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivers tries to work over Ass's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ass gets through Rivers's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ass tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ass makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rivers misses with a punch to the body.
Rivers blocks a body shot from Ass.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers blocking some punches.
Ass prevents a body shot from Rivers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivers tries to work over Ass's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Ass fails to land.
Rivers blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivers lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ass or not.
Rivers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ass just leaning against Rivers, taking a breather.
Rivers tries a body shot but Ass blocks it.
Ass displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rivers up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ass lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rivers misses with a body punch.

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 Dru Rivers.
I think Rivers has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dru Rivers!