PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Rivers (ranked 908 p4p, 113 weight class) and Gustavo Fring (ranked 797 p4p, 99 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rivers might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to start from scratch. Fring comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bamboleo by The Gypsy Kings kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rivers
vs
Fring

178 cm
29
157 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

185 cm
27
162 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Gustavo Fring!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivers darts in and clinches Fring up against the cage.
Fring struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivers controls his hands.
Fring prevents a body shot from Rivers.
We've been informed that Fring has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Fring tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fring struggles to land a body shot inside as Rivers controls his hands.
Rivers lands a hook that snaps the head of Fring backwards.
A right hand to the body from Rivers.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Fring has a couple of punches blocked by Rivers.
Fring throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Fring swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rivers prevents a body shot from Fring.
Fring misses with a body punch.
Fring lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Rivers fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fring swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivers working aggressively here.
Fring lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rivers backwards.
Rivers digs a right hand into Fring's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fring's gas tank.
Fring swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fring misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers lands a shot to the body.
Rivers lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rivers lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fring backwards.
Fring tries to work over Rivers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rivers is working for takedown but Fring is calmly controlling the position for now.
Fring misses with a punch to the body.
Fring tries to work over Rivers's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Fring.
Fring doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Fring blocking some punches.
Fring prevents a body shot from Rivers.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.
Fring misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fring.
Rivers lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fring backwards.
A short right from Fring.
A short right from Rivers on the inside.
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!
Rivers throws a punch but it's blocked by Fring.

Fring manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fring.
Sloppy strikes from Rivers. Those never looked like landing.
Rivers takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Fring lands a two punch combo.
Fring waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivers.
Rivers throws a body punch but Fring moves out of range.
Fring tries to score with a low kick but Rivers moves his leg out of the way.
Rivers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fring.
Rivers steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Fring.
A good leg kick by Fring.
Rivers doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fring throws the left hand but Rivers avoids the punch easily.
Rivers swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rivers missing with a left hand there. Fring was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fring appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fring.
Gustavo Fring seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fring throws a shot from downtown. Rivers moves away and avoids it.
Rivers throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Fring gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rivers.
Fring misses with a hook. Rivers ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws a body punch but Fring moves out of range.
Fring scores with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Fring. Rivers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivers lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rivers looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rivers dodges the punch combination from Fring.
Fring scores with a jab. Rivers acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rivers takes a swing at Fring's ribcage but misses.
Rivers lands with a cross.
Rivers fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fring throws a body shot but no joy.
Rivers tries to clinch there but Fring circles away.
Fring throws a leg kick which misses Rivers's front leg but catches the back leg as Rivers tries to avoid it.
Fring defending well as Rivers loads up on a big left hand.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by 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!
Fring thows a left - swing and a miss!
A cross from Fring lands.
Fring works Rivers's body with a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rivers misses with a leg kick.
Fring keeps the fight on the outside.
Rivers throws a body punch but Fring moves out of range.
Rivers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivers tests Fring's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rivers takes a jab right on the kisser.
Some bone on bone action there as Rivers checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Rivers seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rivers throws a shot from downtown. Fring moves away and avoids it.
Fring wants to slow Rivers down by chopping away at his legs.
Rivers swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Fring scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fring pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fring scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rivers checks the leg kick.
A low kick from Fring is predictable there

and Rivers counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rivers misses with the head strike.
Rivers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Fring dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rivers throws a nice looking combination but Fring bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fring doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Fring uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivers.
Rivers moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rivers connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Gustavo Fring has been cut.
Rivers needs to keep his hands up - Fring had a free shot at his head there.
Gustavo Fring seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fring throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Fring with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rivers has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fring finds it's way round the side to connect with Rivers's head.
Rivers missing with a left hand there. Fring was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fring throws a hook to the side of Rivers's head but Rivers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fring connects with a single shot there.
Fring moves forwards but Rivers connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fring looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivers is just out of range.
Fring connects with a nice looking jab.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Fring uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rivers has time to react.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fring cracks the inside of Rivers's front leg.
An inside leg kick lands from Fring.
Fring's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rivers under the eye.
Rivers on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rivers tries to clinch but Fring moves out of range.
Fring connects with a body shot that sends Rivers's belly button to the back.
Rivers throws a series of strikes that have Fring backpedaling.
Rivers gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rivers throws an overhand right that lands on Fring's shoulder, as Fring tries to avoid the shot.
Fring throws a low kick but Rivers avoids it.
Fring fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers walks into a jab.
A big right from Rivers misses.
Fring swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Fring tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fring throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Rivers swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rivers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rivers misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fring lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Fring scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rivers digs a right hand into Fring's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Fring's gas tank.
A nice left hand lands by Fring.
Fring has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fring tries to circle away but Rivers has him pinned against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Fring.
Fring goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rivers misses with a hook from the clinch.

Fring breaks from the clinch.
Rivers takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rivers blocks a jab.
Rivers blocks a jab.
Rivers scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A lazy left from Rivers finds it's target.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch but Fring swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivers tests Fring's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rivers jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A shot to the body from Fring misses
and Rivers cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fring scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fring takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rivers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fring.
Fring chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rivers slips a jab from Fring.
Fring missing with a left hand there. Rivers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd cheers as Rivers lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fring doesn't seem phased though.
Rivers misses with a straight left.
Rivers uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fring.
A left and a right from Fring both land. Nice combination.
Fring dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rivers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rivers lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fring circles away quickly and effectively.
Rivers misses with a low kick.
Fring lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Fring connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rivers scrambles back to his feet.
Fring throws a body shot but no joy.
Rivers takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fring. Fring obviously looking to wear him down.
Rivers moves forwards but Fring connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fring rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rivers counters with a stiff right hand.
Fring has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fring fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rivers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rivers checks a leg kick.
Fring throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Rivers was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fring connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice shot lands for Fring.
Fring cracks Rivers with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rivers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rivers misses the shot to the body.
Fring ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rivers moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivers catches Fring with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rivers moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rivers is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rivers takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Fring fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivers manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Fring showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gustavo Fring's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fring throws a low kick but Rivers moves out of range easily.
Rivers throws a body shot but no joy.
Rivers takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Fring misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivers looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Fring fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivers manages to avoid it.
Fring fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rivers.
Fring moves out of range of the leg kick from Rivers.
Rivers slips under a jab.
Rivers defending well as Fring loads up on a big left hand.
Rivers appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A leg kick checked by Rivers.
Fring misses with a head kick.
Rivers clobbers Fring with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rivers blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fring looks to land a left hand but Rivers moved out of range nicely.
Fring buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rivers misses with an uppercut.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fring swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fring is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Fring throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivers appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fring.
Fring throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Rivers counters with a stiff right hand.
Rivers throws a hook but Fring avoids it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rivers, right into the meat.
Rivers throws a body shot but no joy.
Fring fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rivers looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rivers throws a body shot but no joy.
Rivers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fring throws a hook but Rivers blocks it.
Fring throws a body shot but no joy.
Fring connects with a leg kick. Rivers looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rivers moves out of range as Fring strikes.
Rivers with a nice cross.
Rivers takes one to the side of the head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fring.
Fring misses the shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fring throws a leg kick but Rivers sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fring throws a sloppy head kick and Rivers moves out of range easily.
Rivers throws a hook but Fring blocks it.
Fring dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fring swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivers misses the target.
Fring moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Rivers throws a leg kick that misses.
Rivers misses with a hook.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.
Good work by Fring as he checks the leg kick.
Fring misses the shot to the body.
Fring misses with a series of wild punches.
A quick step to the side and Rivers tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fring avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rivers tries to score with a low kick but Fring moves his leg out of the way.
Rivers misses with a looping right.
Fring scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fring misses with a body shot.
Rivers is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throws out a loose jab but Fring uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Fring on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Fring cracks Rivers with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fring uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivers.
Fring scores with a head kick. Rivers tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rivers fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Fring on the side of the head.
Fring loads up on a big right hand but Rivers slips the punch.
Fring throws a hook but Rivers blocks it.
Fring throws a lazy right hand but Rivers sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tom Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivers doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fring throws a body shot but no joy.
Fring drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Fring fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rivers has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Fring lands with a slapping head kick.

Rivers drops Fring with a right and a left! Rivers comes rushing in but Fring regains his composure and manages to keep Rivers in guard.

Fring is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fring is still in real trouble! Can Rivers finish him?
Rivers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers trying to control but Fring is working from the bottom.
Fring seems to have recovered his senses.
Fring avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rivers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fring looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rivers scoring with some ground and pound.
Fring keeping moving, preventing Rivers from controlling successfully.
Rivers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rivers throws a big elbow that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Gustavo Fring.
I've got Fring 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Fring!
Gustavo Fring seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.