PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Parker Kirsten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Parker Kirsten has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivers
vs
Kirsten

212 cm
20
193 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

188 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid 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 Montreal, Gary Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Parker Kirsten!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kirsten.
Kirsten tries a head kick but it misses.

Kirsten rushes Rivers and presses him up against the cage.
Kirsten blocks an elbow strike.

Kirsten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice body punch from Kirsten.
Rivers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kirsten tries a head kick but it misses.

Kirsten clinches up with Rivers and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirsten tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rivers throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kirstens head.
A left hand lands to the body for Kirsten.
Kirsten lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
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!
Kirsten lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kirsten.

Kirsten has Rivers pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kirsten pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rivers tumbling to the mat - Kirsten dives into Rivers's guard.
Kirsten engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kirsten wants to pass the guard but Rivers is keeping the position.
Kirsten looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Kirsten controlling him for the moment.
Kirsten wants to stand and escape but instead Rivers has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Kirsten wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kirsten is continuing to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirsten wants to get back to his feet but Rivers is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kirsten is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivers is controlling him.
Rivers chips away with some ground and pound.
Kirsten preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rivers throws a big elbow that misses.
Rivers wants to control from the top but Kirsten keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kirsten dodges the punch combination from Rivers.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kirsten stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kirsten wants it to stay on the feet.
Kirsten unleashes a big counter combination but Rivers bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Rivers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kirsten tries to avoid it but Rivers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kirsten to the ground. Kirsten escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kirsten rushes Rivers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rivers letting Kirsten take a breather here.
Kirsten throws a punch but it's blocked by Rivers.
Rivers lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kirsten lands with a short shot to the head.
Rivers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kirsten prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kirsten throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kirsten lands with a short punch from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Parker Kirsten dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kirsten lands a left and a right that sends Rivers crashing to the canvas! Kirsten dives into mount looking to finish!

Rivers is still looking wobbly from the end of the last round!

It looks like Gary Rivers has been cut.
Kirsten looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oh Rivers is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivers is looking to improve his position but Kirsten isn't that keen on the idea.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirsten controlling from mount.
Rivers really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The adventures of Kirsten the control monster continue. Boring.
Rivers really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kirsten sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rivers seems to have got his legs back now.
Rivers is squirming around, avoiding Kirsten's attempts to control the action.
Rivers regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirsten slows the pace down in half guard.
Rivers is looking to get back to is feet but Kirsten passes into side control.
Kirsten wants to control but Rivers is keeping him busy.
Rivers gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Rivers tries to roll over but Kirsten keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kirsten wants to control but Rivers is keeping him busy.
Rivers wants to get back to full guard.
Rivers is looking to get back to full guard here but Kirsten has managed to pass to side control instead.
Rivers manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kirsten's best efforts.
Kirsten controlling the action here.
Kirsten thows a huge punch but Rivers dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirsten is looking to take a break and control but Rivers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kirsten throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kirsten wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivers keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rivers moves into full guard.
Rivers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kirsten manages to get himself to full guard.

Rivers postures up in Kirsten's guard and throws a big left but Kirsten blocks it.
Kirsten has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirsten keeping moving, preventing Rivers from controlling successfully.
Rivers prevents Kirsten from getting back to his feet.
Rivers working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kirsten's head.
Rivers stopping the sweep attempt from Kirsten.
Parker Kirsten has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kirsten is trying to keep Rivers in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kirsten moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short uppercut from Kirsten.
Rivers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kirsten prevents it.
Kirsten is trying to break the clinch but Rivers has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Parker Kirsten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gary Rivers's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kirsten moves to clinch but Rivers breaks away
and Rivers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kirsten misses with a body punch.
Kirsten just leaning against Rivers, taking a breather.
Kirsten blocks the elbow strike.

Rivers has picked Kirsten up - he's going for a ride! Rivers dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Rivers is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirsten trying to hold on to Rivers's head to control him but Rivers postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kirsten does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Rivers is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kirsten is just riding it out for now. Rivers eventually gives up the hold.
Rivers takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kirsten wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kirsten pushes Rivers off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kirsten walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rivers checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Rivers throws a head kick but Kirsten moves out of range.
Rivers misses with a wild body shot.
Rivers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivers looks to score with a jab to the body but Kirsten is just out of range.

Kirsten closes the distance and clinches.

Kirsten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Decent striking displayed by Kirsten there.
Rivers tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kirsten misses with a wild combination.
Rivers walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirsten misses with a two punch combination.
Rivers takes a swing at Kirsten's ribcage but misses.
Kirsten appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Rivers tries to clinch but Kirsten is having none of it.
Kirsten throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Parker Kirsten seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kirsten throws a right hand that Rivers ducks under and follows up with a left that Rivers also avoids with ease.
It looked like Rivers was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kirsten takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kirsten throws an off balance right hand
and Rivers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kirsten slips a jab and a cross from Rivers.
Kirsten tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick misses from Kirsten.
Rivers is looking to counter punch.
Kirsten gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Rivers counters with a three punch combo that has Kirsten backing up. Kirsten nods at Rivers to acknowledge the strikes.
Kirsten scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rivers darts in looking for a takedown but Kirsten gets double underhooks and turns Rivers into the cage.

Kirsten darts in and clinches Rivers up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kirsten breaks from the clinch.
Kirsten swings widly with a right hand
and Rivers counters with a nice uppercut.
Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt.

Kirsten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kirsten with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gary Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Parker Kirsten is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kirsten avoids the elbow strike from Rivers, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Parker Kirsten comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kirsten has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Parker Kirsten!