PBP Commentary

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

Sikura
vs
Rivers

196 cm
19
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Samuri Sikura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aaron Rivers!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sikura circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sikura counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sikura.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Rivers has his foot on Sikura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sikura works his way back into a safe position though.
Sikura landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sikura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sikura connects with a couple of short punches.

Rivers escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sikura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Sikura scoring with punches to the head and body.

Rivers is looking for a triangle but Sikura pushes his legs off easily.

Rivers is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikura postures up.
Sikura controlling from the top position.
Sikura has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rivers has momentary wrist control but Sikura slips an elbow through the middle.
Rivers can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sikura controls the pace.
Sikura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rivers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sikura is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivers has wrist control.
Rivers wants to sweep but no luck.
Sikura trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sikura slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivers is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sikura is aware though and is defending well.
Sikura stands up over Rivers, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sikura lands a couple of elbows.
Sikura trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.

Rivers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sikura defends it easily.
Sikura looking to sit in guard and control but Rivers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rivers has gone for a leg lock! Sikura slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rivers's guard.
Sikura trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Sikura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivers swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rivers working for a triangle but Sikura defends it easily.
Sikura trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.

Rivers throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sikura trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Sikura sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivers working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sikura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sikura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rivers keeping moving, preventing Sikura from controlling successfully.
Sikura throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sikura accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rivers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sikura defends it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sikura working some strikes from top position.
Sikura working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rivers's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuri Sikura dominated that round.
That's time! Sikura's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sikura finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sikura misses with a looping left.
Sikura fails with the takedown.
Samuri Sikura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sikura shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rivers as he avoids it easily.
Sikura wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sikura misses with a hook. Rivers ducked under it nicely.
Sikura misses the jab.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sikura throws a head kick that misses.
Rivers throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikura misses with a hook.
Rivers tries a head kick but it misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sikura.
Sikura wants to land a leg kick but Rivers is out of range.
Rivers ducks under a wild hook from Sikura.
Sikura shoots in for a takedown but Rivers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuri Sikura. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rivers dives in and scores a takedown into Sikura's guard.
Samuri Sikura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sikura holds on and takes a little breather.
Sikura keeping full guard, as Rivers tries to pass.
Rivers stopping the sweep attempt from Sikura.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sikura keeping moving, preventing Rivers from controlling successfully.
Sikura is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
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!

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aaron Rivers was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Sikura keeps the fight on the outside.
Sikura looks to land a left hand but Rivers moved out of range nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aaron Rivers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sikura throws a hook but Rivers blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sikura stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivers. Rivers gets slowly back to his feet.
Sikura shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sikura throws a body punch but Rivers moves out of range.
Rivers stuffs the takedown attempt from Sikura. Sikura gets slowly back to his feet.
Rivers shoots in for a takedown but Sikura shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivers on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikura looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivers is just out of range.
Sikura dives in and grabs Rivers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rivers pushes down on Sikura's head and hops out.
Rivers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sikura is fending him off so far but Rivers persists. Nope, Sikura circles away and we're back to standing.
Sikura throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rivers counters with a thumping low kick.
Rivers throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Samuri Sikura is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivers fails with a takedown attempt.
Sikura stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivers. Rivers gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sikura throws a looping overhand right but Rivers ducks down to avoid it.
Sikura fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Samuri Sikura will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rivers walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sikura checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Horrible takedown by Sikura or perhaps it was just good defense by Rivers which made him look bad.
Rivers thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Sikura if he has to take too many more of those.
Sikura looks to throw the jab but Rivers is out of range.
Sikura shoots in for a takedown but Rivers shows good takedown defense.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sikura is defended easily by Rivers.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuri Sikura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sikura paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikura looks to land a combination but Rivers avoids it well.
Sikura throws a hook to the side of Rivers's head but Rivers sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Sikura closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rivers quickly recovers to half guard.
Rivers trying to control here.
Sikura trying to control from Rivers's half guard. Rivers has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Sikura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivers is keeping the position for now.
Sikura 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.
Sikura is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rivers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Rivers isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sikura stacks Rivers on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Sikura!
Rivers gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sikura in particular looking to stall.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rivers looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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. Sikura connects with a nice short shot to Rivers's temple.
Rivers keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikura prevents Rivers from improving his position.
Well, if Sikura is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rivers gets full guard.
Sikura controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sikura knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rivers on the ground.
Sikura postures up and lands a big shot to Rivers's brow.
Sikura 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.
Sikura lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rivers wants to stand up but Sikura is controlling him.

Rivers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sikura defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivers is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sikura landing some decent shots from guard.

Rivers had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sikura defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sikura forces his way into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sikura seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Aaron Rivers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sikura controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuri Sikura showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sikura has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuri Sikura!
During a confident post fight interview, Samuri Sikura thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.