PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between luis rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Troy Zabler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

rivera
vs
Zabler

194 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, luis rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Troy Zabler!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
rivera tries to clinch but Zabler is having none of it.

rivera closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zabler to the mat! Zabler manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
rivera wants to control from the top but Zabler keeps moving.
rivera looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Zabler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zabler is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

rivera breaks the clinch.
rivera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
rivera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zabler stuffs the takedown attempt from rivera. rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
rivera is looking to clinch but Zabler is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zabler as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for luis rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
rivera is breathing heavily.
Zabler misses with a double jab.
rivera slips a jab and a cross from Zabler.
rivera misses with a takedown attempt - Zabler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

rivera bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
rivera wants to control but Zabler is keeping him busy.
Zabler tries to escape but rivera is in control.

Zabler sneaks out the side door and pushes rivera away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Zabler.
Zabler falls off balance throwing a combination

and rivera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
rivera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zabler keeping moving, preventing rivera from controlling successfully.
rivera wanted to stand there but Zabler had control of the position.
rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Zabler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
rivera looking to pass the guard.
Zabler wants to stand but rivera is controlling the position.
Zabler keeping moving, preventing rivera from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

luis 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 fails to land the takedown.
rivera dodges the punch combination from Zabler.
rivera has a takedown stuffed.
Zabler misses with a few strikes there.
rivera throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zabler's waist but Zabler gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing rivera off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for luis rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabler rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but rivera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zabler misses with the combination.
Zabler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zabler misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabler throws a nice looking combination but rivera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zabler throws a right and a left that rivera avoids nicely.
rivera lands a nice shot to the body.
rivera fails to land the takedown.
Zabler lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as rivera backs up against the cage.
Zabler scores with a three punch combo!
Zabler tries to bum rush rivera with a series of wild strikes but rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zabler throws a right hand that rivera ducks under and follows up with a left that rivera also avoids with ease.
No joy there for Zabler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zabler lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zabler looks to land a combination but rivera avoids it well.
rivera fails with a takedown attempt.
Zabler misses with a series of wild punches.
Zabler misses with a combination

and rivera counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Zabler!
rivera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
rivera misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rivera dominating with strikes here.

rivera get's back to his feet.
Zabler throws a series of punches but rivera moves out of range.
Zabler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
rivera shoots for a double leg takedown but Zabler sprawls well. He's pushed rivera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
rivera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
No joy there for rivera, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Zabler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
rivera swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zabler counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
rivera with a poor takedown
and Zabler counters with a left and a right that stings rivera.
Zabler misses with a double jab.
rivera slips a jab and a cross from Zabler.
Zabler misses with a series of wild punches.
Zabler misses with a two punch combination.
luis rivera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zabler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
rivera shoots in but no luck this time.
Zabler throws a left and a right that both miss

so rivera counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

luis rivera dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

rivera tries for a takedown but Zabler circles away easily
and Zabler counters with a one-two to the body.
rivera thows a leg kick but Zabler checks it
and Zabler counters with a one-two to the body.
rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.

rivera shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than rivera was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
rivera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
rivera tries to control but Zabler wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zabler is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
rivera trying to control but Zabler is having none of it.
rivera thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
rivera trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zabler is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

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.
Zabler is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Zabler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
rivera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zabler is looking to escape.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zabler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Poor strikes thrown by rivera there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Troy Zabler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
rivera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zabler is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Troy Zabler.
I think rivera 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... luis rivera!