PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viva Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rivas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rivas
vs
Marquez

150 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Viva Marquez!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rivas gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rivas controlling the pace.
Marquez moves into full guard.
Rivas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Marquez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rivas's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Marquez pushes down on Rivas's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rivas wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas won't allow Marquez to pass to mount.
Nice strikes from Marquez there.
Marquez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rivas won't allow Marquez to pass to mount.
Marquez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rivas!
Marquez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rivas really is a fat lump.
Marquez working the ground and pound effectively.
Rivas is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Marquez might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Rivas tries to hold on but Marquez pushes him away.
Rivas sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Marquez is thwarting Rivas's attempts to control the position.
Marquez is taking a breather. Rivas 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.
Marquez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rivas!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rivas working to try and regain half guard.
Marquez controlling the pace for now.
Marquez is continuing to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rivas can't escape the position.
Rivas slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rivas is looking for a sweep. Marquez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivas looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marquez slows the pace down in half guard.
Let's hope that Marquez has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marquez prevents Rivas from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viva Marquez 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.

Rivas shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Marquez changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rivas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marquez tries to score with some ground and pound. Rivas controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rivas gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Marquez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marquez landing punches.
Marquez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rivas looks a forlorn figure.
Rivas wants to get back to his feet.
Marquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Marquez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Marquez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marquez won't let Rivas get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rivas takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Marquez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Marquez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rivas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Marquez controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez lands a big shot there that rocks Rivas but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Marquez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Marquez landing shots from mount.
Rivas is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Marquez won't let Rivas get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rivas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Marquez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rivas looks a forlorn figure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Marquez controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Rivas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Marquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Marquez won't let Rivas get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Marquez controlling from mount.
The adventures of Marquez the control monster continue. Boring.
Rivas tries to hold on but Marquez pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rivas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Marquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Marquez is landing with some decent strikes but Rivas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Marquez controlling from mount.
Viva Marquez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Marquez raining down shots from the mount!
Marquez lands a big elbow.
Marquez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marquez with shots to the head and body - Rivas looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rivas is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viva Marquez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marquez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rivas was covering up waiting for the punch and Marquez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Marquez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rivas wants to get back to his feet but Marquez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marquez cracks Rivas with a solid left hand.
Rivas can't keep his opponent in guard - Marquez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rivas is trying to stand up here but Marquez is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Marquez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Well, if Marquez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Marquez prevents Rivas from standing back up.
Marquez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Viva Marquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Marquez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marquez has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Marquez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Marquez breaks from Rivas's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rivas tries to lock up and control but Marquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Marquez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rivas swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Marquez controlling from mount.
Marquez scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rivas is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Marquez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rivas?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Marquez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rivas looks a forlorn figure.
You get the feeling that Rivas really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Marquez landing strikes from the mount.

Rivas is rocked!
Rivas tries to lock up and control but Marquez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oh Rivas is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Marquez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rivas is in a horrible position here. Marquez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez controlling from mount.
Marquez landing strikes from the mount.
Marquez content just to control the position here.
Marquez lands a big elbow - Rivas is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Rivas is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Viva Marquez!