PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damen Mayer (ranked 1541 p4p, 192 weight class) and Tom Rivers (ranked 1577 p4p, 197 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Rivers's choice of entrance music: start from scratch. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mayer
vs
Rivers

170 cm
33
150 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

178 cm
30
157 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Damen Mayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Rivers!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers slaps away a takedown attempt from Mayer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rivers takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Mayer lands a jab to the head.
Mayer wants to clinch.
Rivers throws out a counter right but Mayer avoids it with no problem.
Mayer throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rivers counters with a series of strikes. Mayer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mayer shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rivers sprawls well. Rivers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mayer gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers slaps away a takedown attempt from Mayer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damen Mayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivers.
Mayer scores with a jab to the jaw.
Mayer goes for a double leg but Rivers avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rivers continues to drive forward.
Rivers only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Mayer scores with a sloppy right hand. Rivers should have avoided that one.
Mayer wants to clinch but Rivers slips to the side
letting Rivers counter with a right hand.
Mayer lands a nice hook to Rivers's body. Rivers takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rivers fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mayer manages to avoid it.

Mayer closes the distance and pushes Rivers back into the cage.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mayer moves out of range as Rivers strikes.
Mayer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mayer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Mayer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rivers on his heels. He'll look to pass Rivers's guard now, I'm sure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mayer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivers is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayer trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mayer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivers trying to control the position.
Rivers looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mayer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rivers wants to control but Mayer is keeping busy.
Mayer is keen to just control but Rivers is a slippery customer.
Mayer wants to pass to mount but Rivers is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayer wants to take a breather but Rivers is having none of it.
Rivers is looking to improve his position.
Rivers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mayer is working away from the top position though.

Rivers is defending against the submission attempts here by Mayer.
Mayer is thwarting Rivers's attempts to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Rivers looks to land a left hand but Mayer moved out of range nicely.
Rivers loads up on a big right hand but Mayer slips the punch.

Mayer shoots in and bounces Rivers off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rivers is looking to stand back up but Mayer counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rivers.

Mayer moves into full mount! Rivers won't be happy about that!
Mayer is looking to work his way around to Rivers's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Rivers tries to lock up and control but Mayer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damen Mayer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mayer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rivers throws a hook but Mayer avoids it easily.
Donk. Mayer catches Rivers right on the button with a cross.
Damen Mayer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mayer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rivers's waist but Rivers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mayer off to one side.
Rivers swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rivers takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A big right from Mayer misses.
Mayer dives in and grabs Rivers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rivers pushes down on Mayer's head and hops out.
Rivers defending well as Mayer loads up on a big left hand.
Rivers looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rivers lands the left hand.
Mayer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivers can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mayer shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rivers manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mayer wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.
Damen Mayer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivers controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayer is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rivers is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rivers has escaped and now he's on top!

Rivers postures up.
Rivers content to stall in guard here.
Rivers's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Rivers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mayer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mayer wants to sweep here but Rivers controlling him for the moment.

Mayer is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rivers is aware though and is defending well.
Rivers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mayer controlling Rivers's posture.

Mayer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rivers gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers stands and throws Mayer's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mayer is not content to let Rivers control the position.
Mayer regains half guard there - taking advantage of Rivers's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Rivers wants to control but Mayer is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rivers throwing shots but Mayer is blocking nicely.
Mayer is staying active underneath Rivers, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rivers is controlling the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A big right from Rivers misses.
Rivers avoids the body shot from Mayer.
Rivers lands an overhand right.
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.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mayer throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rivers on the side of the head.
Rivers swings widly with a right hand

and Mayer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rivers's guard.
Mayer wants to pass the guard but Rivers is keeping the position.
Rivers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rivers pulls Mayer in close to prevent any damage.
Rivers wants to improve his position but instead Mayer has moved into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivers trying to hold on to Mayer's head to control him but Mayer postures up.
Mayer prevents Rivers from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mayer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rivers doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mayer.

Rivers is defending against the submission attempts here by Mayer.
Rivers is staying active underneath Mayer, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two 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.
Rivers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mayer is working away from the top position though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mayer is trying for a kimura here. Rivers looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Mayer wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Damen Mayer!