PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Hinton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hinton
vs
Rio

181 cm
23
184 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Hinton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dave Rio!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Hinton misses.

Rio fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hinton to the ground. Rio is now in Hinton's guard.
Rio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hinton trying to keep a closed guard but Rio is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Hinton.

Rio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hinton's half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hinton defends it well.
Hinton looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rio wants to work for an arm triangle but Hinton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rio prevents Hinton from standing back up.
Rio is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Dave Rio has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Rio moves into the clinch successfully.
Hinton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rio has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hinton uses from the top position.
Rio is adopting a defensive guard.
Hinton wants to stand but Rio has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hinton trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Hinton being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dave Rio.
Rio slaps away a takedown attempt from Hinton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rio throws a low kick but Hinton avoids it.
Hinton looks to score with a jab to the body but Rio is just out of range.
Michael Hinton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rio gets a takedown into half guard.
Rio is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Rio dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rio has a takedown stuffed.
Hinton swats away the attempt to clinch by Rio.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rio is defended easily by Hinton.
Rio avoids the head kick by Hinton.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hinton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rio defends it nicely.
Rio swats away the attempt to clinch by Hinton.

Rio drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rio controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dave Rio was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hinton was covering up waiting for the punch and Rio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hinton is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Hinton wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hinton was covering up waiting for the punch and Rio finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio looking to sit in guard and control but Hinton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rio trying to control the position here.
Hinton throws an elbow that misses. Rio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hinton's guard. Nice move by Rio!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hinton is keeping the position for now.
Hinton is looking to stand up but Rio isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rio's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Michael Hinton has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rio fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hinton sprawls well initially but Rio persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hinton wants to get back to his feet.
Rio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dave Rio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hinton lands a high kick!

It looks like Dave Rio has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hinton moves to clinch but Rio breaks away

and Rio counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hinton defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Rio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dave Rio's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hinton gets caught napping as Rio dives in and scores a takedown. Hinton manages to retain guard.
Hinton keeping moving, preventing Rio from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dave Rio wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rio blocks the body kick.
Rio has a takedown stuffed.

Rio feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rio stops Hinton from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hinton throws a knee to the head but misses.

Rio has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hinton clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Dave Rio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hinton looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rio.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Rio is looking for the choke from the back position but Hinton is controlling his hands well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hinton is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Rio biding his time, controlling Hinton.
Michael Hinton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Dave Rio has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A head kick misses from Hinton.
Rio fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hinton avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hinton clinches with his opponent.
Rio prevents Hinton from breaking the clinch.
Hinton is trying to push Rio away but Rio has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Hinton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hinton was covering up waiting for the punch and Rio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rio sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Rio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rio winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Rio!