PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Luke Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivers kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Eye Of The Tiger. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rivers
vs
Lee

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
24
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Henry Lee!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Lee has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lee slows down the pace here.
Rivers drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lee gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from Rivers.

Lee lands a big head kick that sends Rivers tumbling to the mat! Lee takes a step backwards and waves Rivers back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Rivers is rocked!

It looks like Luke Rivers has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivers shoots in and drives through. Lee sprawls well.
Oh Rivers is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lee has managed to clinch.
Lee pushes Rivers back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Lee decides to pull guard.
Lee should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lee seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Rivers trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Rivers seems to have got his legs back now.
Rivers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivers scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lee looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lee has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rivers can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rivers throws and elbow that misses. Lee uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rivers's guard. Nice move by Lee!
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Luke Rivers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rivers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lee clinches up with Rivers and pushes him back against the cage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Lee has eaten all the pies!
Rivers is looking to control Lee's arms but Lee gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rivers has his back to the cage.

Lee jumps guard.
Rivers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lee doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rivers looking to sit in guard and control but Lee gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lee 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivers is working an open guard so Lee takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lee tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rivers swivels and escapes.

Lee clinches.

Lee breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henry Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivers scores with a one two! Lee had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rivers is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Lee dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luke 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.

Lee closes the distance and clinches.
Rivers wants to get back to striking at distance but Lee won't allow it.

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivers stuffs the takedown.

Lee moves into the clinch.
Lee goes for a takedown attempt but Rivers pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rivers has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lee.
Lee jabs Rivers to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lee throws a nice head kick!
Luke Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rivers tries to keep at a distance but Lee has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lee pulls guard.
Rivers throws a big right hand that misses.
Lee is looking to stand up but Rivers isn't so interested in that idea.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lee is on top in guard.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lee pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivers is keeping the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Henry Lee.
Lee scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Lee lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Lee lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rivers wants it to stay on the feet.
Luke Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Lee.

Rivers rushes Lee and presses him up against the cage.
Rivers is trying to stall.
Rivers jumps guard but Lee stands there with Rivers around his waist. Rivers gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rivers has Lee pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lee manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rivers prevents the takedown attempt.

Lee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lee scores with a jab. Rivers acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt.
Lee pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lee works Rivers's body with a nice hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Lee closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rivers circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Lee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luke Rivers's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lee throws a head kick but Rivers moves out of range.

Lee clinches with his opponent.
Rivers can't break the clinch.
Rivers stops a takedown attempt from Lee.
Rivers stalling in the clinch but Lee improves position.
Lee drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rivers blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rivers stops a takedown attempt from Lee.
Luke Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Lee.
Lee takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lee tries to score a body lock takedown but Rivers shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is trying to break free.
Rivers is trying to maintain a safe position but Lee gets an underhook and turns Rivers into the cage.
Lee tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rivers just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rivers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rivers tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rivers manages to break the clinch.
Lee throws a head kick but Rivers moves out of range.

Rivers feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rivers is looking to work some ground and pound but Lee has wrist control.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivers scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers distracts Lee with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rivers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lee is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rivers defends well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee is trying to keep Rivers in close.
Lee might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rivers kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Henry Lee has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers wants to control from the top but Lee keeps moving.
Lee is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rivers with a flurry of punches that miss.
Luke Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

We're going to have a standup here because Luke Rivers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Lee moves into the clinch.
Rivers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lee is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lee jumps guard.
Rivers trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
Rivers passes easily into side control. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Lee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rivers sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lee is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An elbow from Rivers crashes against the mat.
Lee sneaks back into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lee has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Lee!