PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between George Steve (ranked 2916 p4p, 259 weight class) and Tom Rivers (ranked 2718 p4p, 246 weight class). Steve's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Justin Bieber ft. Ariana Grande - Let Me Think Bout You. Rivers has chosen start from scratch as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Steve
vs
Rivers

170 cm
22
150 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

178 cm
22
157 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, George Steve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tom Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers throws a hook to the side of Steve's head but Steve sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steve throws a big counter combination but Rivers scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Steve lands the left hand.

Steve pushes Rivers up against the cage in a clinch.
Steve lands a left hand.
Steve definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Steve wants to stall.
Rivers working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rivers misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rivers fails to land.
Rivers working aggressively here.
Steve is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rivers to keep the fight standing.
Steve is stalling here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steve.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivers.
A short uppercut from Rivers.
Rivers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Rivers lands with a right hand.

It looks like George Steve has been cut.
Rivers takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

It looks like Tom Rivers has been cut.
Rivers throws a hook but Steve blocks it.
Rivers missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivers circles away quickly and effectively.
Steve throws a looping overhand right but Rivers ducks down to avoid it.
Steve ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve is looking to counter punch.
Rivers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Steve to score with a decent uppercut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Steve.

Steve instigates a clinch.
Rivers misses with a punch to the body.
Rivers swings wildly with an uppercut but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.

Steve escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Steve waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.
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!

Steve moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Steve takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Steve escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Steve throws a combination that misses
and Rivers counters with a nice uppercut.
Steve tries to clinch but Rivers moves out of range.
Steve swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rivers lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Steve throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Steve blocks a jab.
Steve misses with a looping right.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Steve closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rivers lands a hook that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
Rivers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivers misses with some punches.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries to clinch but Rivers is having none of it.
Rivers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Steve moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rivers walks into a straight right hand from Steve.
Rivers staying out of range there.
Rivers lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Steve closes the distance and clinches.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
Rivers blocking some punches.
Steve throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivers blocks it with crossed arms.
Steve holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve blocking some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Steve throws an elbow but misses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steve.

Steve pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Steve throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers misses with a looping left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A decent looking cross lands there for Steve.
Steve lands the left hand.
Steve scores with a hook.
Steve displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivers throws out the jab.
Steve wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.

Steve has managed to clinch.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steve lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rivers lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steve backwards.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that George Steve will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Steve's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steve thuds a left hand into Rivers's body.
Tom Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivers keeps the fight on the outside.
Rivers takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Steve lands with an uppercut that bounces Rivers off the cage and back into range.
Steve is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivers.
Rivers moves out of range as Steve strikes.
Rivers takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rivers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Steve throws a nice looking combination but Rivers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rivers let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Rivers scores with the left hand. Steve knows he should have avoided that one.

Steve has taken the fight to the clinch.
Steve blocking some punches.
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!
Steve lands a body shot in the clinch.
Steve throws an elbow that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Steve throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivers blocks it with crossed arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers gets through Steve's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steve.
A short uppercut from Rivers.
Steve pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short right from Steve.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivers working aggressively here.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
Rivers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Rivers.
Steve working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Steve scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Steve throws a poor cross that misses
and Rivers connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivers throws the left hand but Steve avoids the punch easily.
Steve wants to clinch but Rivers slips to the side
and Rivers counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rivers misses with a wild combination.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivers throws a jab but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.
Rivers throws out a powerful jab.
Rivers might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Steve is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Steve thumps Rivers with a low kick.
Steve misses with a wild body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Steve looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steve throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws a shot from downtown. Steve moves away and avoids it.
Rivers throws a hook to the side of Steve's head but Steve sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steve tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve throws a leg kick that misses.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steve moves out of range as Rivers strikes.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rivers.
Steve fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rivers on the side of the head.
Steve ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Steve pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rivers is out of range and Steve settles back down.
Rivers swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rivers takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rivers lands with a nice combination. Steve backs away looking to recover.
Steve defending well as Rivers loads up on a big left hand.
Rivers missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve misses with a hook
and Rivers counters with a stiff right hand.
Rivers scores with a crisp jab that stopped Steve in his tracks.

Steve is rocked!

Steve has closed the distance and engaged Rivers in a clinch.
Rivers lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Steve.
Rivers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rivers lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Rivers.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rivers.
Oh Steve is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Steve lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.
Steve throws a head punch that misses.
Rivers swings wildly with an uppercut but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tom Rivers seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rivers misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Rivers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Steve ducks under a wild hook from Rivers.
Steve seems to have got his legs back now.
Rivers misses with a hook.

Rivers sends Steve crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Rivers is motioning to the referee to let Steve up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivers. Steve does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rivers misses with a series of wild punches.
Steve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivers.
Steve scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rivers circles away from the clinch attempt.

Steve forces Rivers back against the cage and clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rivers.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.
Steve misses with a knee strike.
Steve misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Steve.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steve blocking some punches.
Rivers working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Steve tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivers controls his hands.
Steve tries to land a knee to the head but Rivers blocks with his arms.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Steve throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivers blocks it with crossed arms.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Steve.
Rivers working aggressively here.
Rivers working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivers.
Steve is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rivers is keeping busy.
Rivers misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rivers lands with a light punch inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivers lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rivers up against the cage.
Steve is trying to maintain a safe position but Rivers gets an underhook and turns Steve into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Rivers.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Steve.
Steve lands with a light punch inside.
Steve doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve just leaning against Rivers, taking a breather.
Rivers blocking some punches.
Rivers throws a head punch that misses.
Rivers lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rivers misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rivers lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
Rivers misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Steve is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rivers.
Steve tries to work over Rivers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivers misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Riverss head.
Steve blocking some punches.
Steve tries to stall but Rivers uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Steve lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rivers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to throw a body punch but Steve avoids it by throwing Rivers back against the cage.
Rivers tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve blocking some punches.
Rivers is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rivers blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Rivers misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steve.

Rivers is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Rivers trying to control the position but instead, Steve has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rivers into the cage.
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Rivers cracks Steve with a nice body shot.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rivers cracks Steve with a nice body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tom Rivers.
Well Rivers 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Rivers!
An out of breath Tom Rivers thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.