PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rob Thunder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brynden Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Thunder has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thunder
vs
Rivers

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
199 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Tends to cut

Untouchable Fight Nutrition
Global Empire MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rob Thunder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brynden Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thunder tries for a takedown but Rivers circles away easily

and Rivers counters by moving into the clinch.

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivers closes the distance looking to clinch

and Thunder counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thunder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thunder throwing strikes but missing.
Thunder advances to half guard.
Rivers looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rivers is looking to control Thunder's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rivers avoid being mounted?
Rivers is concentrating on defense, preventing Thunder from advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thunder thows a huge punch but Rivers dodges it nicely.
Thunder thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rivers's head.
Thunder looks to land a strike but Rivers avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thunder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thunder won't allow Rivers to get back to his feet.
Thunder throws a strike but Rivers rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Thunder knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rivers on the ground.
Thunder wants to stand and escape but Rivers is having none of it.

Rivers stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Rivers leaves Thunder with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rivers fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thunder swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rivers shoots in and bounces Thunder off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivers controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thunder is looking to stand back up but Rivers counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Thunder.

Rivers decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers closes the distance but Thunder moves to the side

and Thunder counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rivers's guard now.
Rivers doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rivers looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Thunder tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivers is retaining full guard.
Rivers has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rivers looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rivers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rivers looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is trying to stand up here but Rivers is controlling him well.
Rivers trying to mount his opponent but Thunder defends it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thunder makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
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 - Thunder circles away.
Thunder tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rivers swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brynden Rivers will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Thunder.

Rivers closes the distance and pushes Thunder back into the cage.
Rivers lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Rob Thunder has been cut.

Rivers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers lands a body shot.
Thunder shoots in and drives through. Rivers sprawls well.
Rivers lands with a right hand.
Thunder swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivers stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers tries to clinch up but Thunder circles away and keeps his distance.
Rivers tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thunder manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thunder circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rivers clinches with his opponent.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rivers lands a damaging elbow.
A short body shot lands from Rivers as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers tries to clinch up

and Thunder counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thunder.

Rivers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thunder is aware though and is defending well.
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 had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thunder defends it easily.
Thunder looking to pass the guard.
Rivers striking from the bottom here.
Rivers throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thunder accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder pushes down on Rivers's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rivers wants to control but Thunder is keeping busy.
Rob Thunder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thunder thows a huge punch but Rivers dodges it nicely.
Thunder missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thunder connects with a nice short shot to Rivers's temple.

Rivers actively working from the bottom here.
Thunder looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thunder throwing shots but Rivers is blocking nicely.
Thunder thows a huge punch but Rivers dodges it nicely.
Rivers looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivers works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivers swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thunder trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thunder postures up.
Rivers manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rivers working for a submission but Thunder is keeping him at bay.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thunder is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brynden Rivers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rob Thunder's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thunder tries for a takedown but Rivers sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rivers.

Rivers has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Brynden Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rivers clinches.
Rivers manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thunder wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivers manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivers gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Thunder manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Rivers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rivers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thunder is not content to let Rivers control the position.

Thunder sneaks out the side door and pushes Rivers away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rivers is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Thunder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thunder gets caught napping as Rivers dives in and scores a takedown. Thunder manages to retain guard.
Thunder is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Rivers stands up and waves to Thunder to follow him.
Thunder misses with a takedown attempt

and Rivers counters by moving into the clinch.
Rivers lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Rivers manages to break the clinch.
Rivers doesn't manage to clinch there - Thunder circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers moves in looking to clinch but Thunder pushes him off.
Rivers fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rivers moves into the clinch.
Thunder looking for a takedown.
Rivers is stalling here.
Rivers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thunder's defenses.
Thunder is working for takedown but Rivers is calmly controlling the position for now.
Brynden Rivers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rivers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thunder in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rivers working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thunder can't get the takedown.

Rivers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivers moves to clinch but Thunder breaks away

so Thunder counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivers bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thunder's guard.
Rivers working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rivers controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rob Thunder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivers trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.

Thunder looking for subs off his back but Rivers has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brynden Rivers comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brynden Rivers!
A very excited looking Brynden Rivers made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.