PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aegor Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marty Micheals (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aegor Rivers has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rivers
vs
Micheals

186 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

165 cm
20
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Untouchable Fight Gear
Global Empire MMA Gear

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aegor Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marty Micheals!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Micheals is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rivers sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Micheals fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rivers, pushing him back against the cage.

Micheals's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivers.

Micheals instigates a clinch.

Micheals pulls guard effortlessly.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rivers throws a big right hand that misses.
Micheals keeping full guard, as Rivers tries to pass.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Micheals is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivers wants to pass the guard but Micheals is keeping the position.
Rivers throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers trying to control but Micheals is working from the bottom.
Micheals wants to get back to his feet but Rivers is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivers trying to control but Micheals is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Aegor Rivers just wasn't active enough.

Rivers drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rivers is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rivers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Micheals is keeping the position for now.
Rivers has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivers has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Aegor Rivers wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A combination from Micheals does no damage.
Rivers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Micheals.
Micheals wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.

Micheals instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Micheals jumps into guard, dragging Rivers to the mat.
Micheals working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rivers.
Rivers wants to pass the guard but Micheals is keeping the position.
Rivers throws a big right hand that misses.
Micheals is looking to stand up but Rivers isn't so interested in that idea.
Rivers trying to control the position from guard on top but Micheals is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rivers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rivers preventing the sweep.
Micheals looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers trying to control but Micheals is working from the bottom.
Rivers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Micheals is keeping the position for now.
Rivers is stalling in the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rivers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Micheals swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivers postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aegor Rivers dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Micheals has managed to clinch.

Micheals breaks from the clinch.
Rivers tries for a takedown but Micheals sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivers is defended easily by Micheals.
Micheals wants to clinch up but Rivers keeps it at a distance.

Micheals closes the distance and clinches.
Rivers is trying to drag Micheals to the mat but Micheals just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aegor Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Micheals lands a takedown into guard.
Rivers controlling Micheals's posture.
Rivers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aegor Rivers wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Micheals rushes Rivers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Micheals breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt.
Micheals tries to clinch but Rivers moves out of range.
Micheals tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt.
Micheals tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivers swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rivers tries to sprawl but Micheals drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rivers holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Aegor Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivers works his way to full guard. Good work.
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!
Micheals working some strikes from top position.
Rivers pulls Micheals in close to prevent any damage.

Rivers has his foot on Micheals's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Micheals works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Micheals trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rivers's guard.
Micheals must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rivers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Micheals is one step ahead there.
Micheals is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivers has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers pulls Micheals in close to his closed guard and prevents Micheals from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rivers wants to sweep here but Micheals controlling him for the moment.
Micheals postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Micheals trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Micheals throws a big right hand that misses.
Rivers is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Micheals doesn't manage to clinch there - Rivers circles away.
Micheals keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers shoots for a takedown but Micheals saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Micheals fails in his attempt to clinch.

Micheals gets a clinch.

Micheals turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Rivers can't do much from the bottom here.
Micheals lands a decent elbow from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivers struggling a bit here.
Micheals is working Rivers over with some ground and pound from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Micheals is looking to take a break and control but Rivers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rivers struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marty Micheals showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Micheals misses with a double jab.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Micheals but Micheals pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Micheals tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rivers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Micheals throws a nice looking combination but Rivers bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Micheals tries to clinch up but Rivers circles away and keeps his distance.
Micheals tries to clinch but Rivers is having none of it.

Micheals closes the distance and pushes Rivers back into the cage.
Micheals creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rivers is looking to take this one to the mat.

Micheals lands a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Micheals throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rivers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rivers pulls Micheals in close to prevent any damage.
Micheals with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rivers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rivers will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rivers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Micheals gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Micheals wanted to stand there but Rivers had control of the position.
Micheals postures up.
Micheals landing some decent shots from guard.
Micheals stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers is looking for a triangle but Micheals pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
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!
Micheals wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.
Rivers controlling Micheals's posture.

Rivers looking for a guillotine here but Micheals defends easily.
Micheals throwing strikes from guard but Rivers blocks nicely.
Rivers seems keen to control Micheals's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Micheals stopping the sweep attempt from Rivers.
Rivers pulls Micheals in close to prevent any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rivers avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Micheals stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aegor Rivers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Micheals closes the distance and clinches.

Micheals gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rivers trying to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Micheals wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.

Rivers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Micheals lands a couple of elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivers utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Micheals landing with the ground and pound.
Micheals stopping the sweep attempt from Rivers.
Rivers managing to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Micheals drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Micheals jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marty Micheals comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Micheals 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marty Micheals!