PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Junior Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavio Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera's entrance music is Push it to the Limit - Rick Ross. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rivera
vs
Sandoval

183 cm
35
179 lbs
28 - 8 - 0

182 cm
29
178 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Untouchable Fight Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Junior Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Flavio Sandoval!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rivera looks to land a right hand but Sandoval moved out of range.
Rivera throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sandoval.
Sandoval throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sandoval.
Rivera throws a lazy uppercut
and Sandoval counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sandoval is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rivera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Good standup being displayed there by Rivera as he connects with a hook.
Rivera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sandoval.
Rivera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sandoval.
Rivera throws a low kick but Sandoval avoids it.
Sandoval throws a right hand that misses
and Rivera counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Sandoval sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sandoval thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval lands the left hand.
Sandoval fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rivera is out of range.
A big left from Rivera misses.
Rivera misses with a hook.
Sandoval looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rivera keeps Sandoval at a distance using the push kick.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Sandoval blocks with his arms.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sandoval blocks it with crossed arms.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Sandoval's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sandoval looks to land a combination but Rivera avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a leg kick which misses Sandoval's front leg but catches the back leg as Sandoval tries to avoid it.
Sandoval uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rivera.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera blocks a jab.
Sandoval throws a leg kick but Rivera checks it.
Sandoval misses with a series of wild punches.
A shot to the liver by Rivera. Beautiful body shot.
Sandoval fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rivera has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rivera throws a head kick but Sandoval moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rivera.
Horrible takedown by Rivera or perhaps it was just good defense by Sandoval which made him look bad.
Sandoval throws the left hand but Rivera avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera slips a jab and a cross from Sandoval.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rivera.
Sandoval moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Rivera.
Rivera is looking to chop away at Sandoval's legs.
Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sandoval throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Flavio Sandoval seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sandoval tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Sandoval.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sandoval feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivera's calf.
Sandoval moves forwards but Rivera connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sandoval throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Rivera.
Sandoval wants to slow Rivera down by chopping away at his legs.
Sandoval missing with a left hand there. Rivera was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera tries to clinch but Sandoval is having none of it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivera.
Sandoval scores with a jab.
Rivera lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Rivera has Sandoval up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Junior Rivera will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sandoval doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rivera defending well as Sandoval loads up on a big left hand.
Junior Rivera is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera connects with a solid leg kick.
Rivera's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sandoval connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rivera scrambles back to his feet.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sandoval.
Rivera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sandoval uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A big right from Sandoval misses.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Rivera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sandoval.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Sandoval is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivera moves in looking to clinch but Sandoval pushes him off.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sandoval shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sandoval looks to land a left hand but Rivera moved out of range nicely.
Rivera slips a straight right by Sandoval.
Sandoval throws out a loose jab but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sandoval has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Rivera.
Sandoval showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivera.
A big left from Sandoval misses.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a low kick but Sandoval moves out of range easily.
Sandoval throws out a powerful jab.

Sandoval looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Sandoval trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sandoval wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sandoval is pushing down on Rivera's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rivera is fighting to maintain full guard but Sandoval has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rivera looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivera is adopting a defensive guard.
Sandoval controlling from the top position.
Sandoval throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval stopping the sweep attempt from Rivera.
Sandoval trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sandoval stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sandoval lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sandoval clobbers Rivera with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Sandoval fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivera manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Flavio Sandoval showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Sandoval works Rivera's body with a nice hook.
Sandoval lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rivera at a distance.
Rivera digs a good body shot into Sandoval's ribs.
Sandoval takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sandoval displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.
Sandoval moves out of range of the leg kick from Rivera.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rivera.
Jab, jab by Sandoval - just one landing.
Rivera swings for the body but Sandoval moves out of range.
Rivera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sandoval misses with a hook to the body
and Rivera counters with a head kick. That will keep Sandoval thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Sandoval is just out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sandoval throws a good cross that connects.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sandoval moves away.
Rivera punishes Sandoval's body with a nice straight punch.
Sandoval misses with a straight left.
Rivera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sandoval doesn't seem bothered though.
A punch combination from Rivera misses.
Sandoval moves out of range of the body kick.
Rivera checks a leg kick.
Sandoval throws a body punch but Rivera moves out of range.
Sandoval attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sandoval feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rivera's calf.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sandoval. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sandoval connects with a leg kick. Rivera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera walks into a left hand.
Sandoval works Rivera's body with a nice hook.
Sandoval checks a leg kick nicely.
Rivera misses with a hook. Sandoval ducked under it nicely.
Rivera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sandoval.
Rivera lands with a straight right. Sandoval didn't see that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sandoval swings for the body but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sandoval darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sandoval throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rivera swings for the body but Sandoval moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Rivera.
Rivera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sandoval's calf.
Sandoval misses with a wild combination.
Sandoval blocks a jab.
Sandoval sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sandoval fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivera manages to avoid it.
Sandoval is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivera.
Sandoval avoids the head kick by Rivera.
Sandoval scores with a jab to the head.
Sandoval lands the left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sandoval throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sandoval dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sandoval misses with a left hand
enabling Rivera to counter with a crisp jab.
Sandoval checks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Rivera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sandoval lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sandoval throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sandoval misses with a straight right.
Sandoval lands with a nice body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Flavio Sandoval comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sandoval 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Flavio Sandoval!
Flavio Sandoval very nearly forgot to thank Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.