PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hoban Washburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominick Rivaldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washburn comes into the arena with Magic Carpet Ride blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rivaldi's choice of entrance music: Joker's Wild. Hoban Washburn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Washburn
vs
Rivaldi

180 cm
29
177 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

180 cm
35
178 lbs
24 - 11 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hoban Washburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dominick Rivaldi!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivaldi connects with a high kick.

It looks like Hoban Washburn has been cut.
Rivaldi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rivaldi misses with a kick to the body.
Washburn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivaldi.

Washburn throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rivaldi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Washburn is in Rivaldi's guard.
Washburn throws a big elbow that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Washburn trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivaldi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivaldi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Washburn throws a big right hand that misses.
Washburn 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.
Washburn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rivaldi trying to keep a closed guard but Washburn is proving a slippery customer.
Washburn with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washburn throwing strikes but missing.
Washburn won't allow Rivaldi to sweep him here.
Rivaldi is trying to keep Washburn in close.
Rivaldi wants to sweep here but Washburn controlling him for the moment.
Washburn advances position into side control!
An elbow from Washburn crashes against the mat.
Rivaldi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Washburn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Washburn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Rivaldi manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A combination from Rivaldi does no damage.
A shot to the body from Rivaldi misses

and Washburn counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Washburn.
Washburn prevents a body shot from Rivaldi.

Washburn has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rivaldi clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
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!
Washburn trying to control momentarily.
Washburn throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi is trying to get back to his feet but Washburn has full control of the position and if anything, Rivaldi has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Washburn is not going to allow Rivaldi to sit and survive in this position.
Rivaldi controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Washburn gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Rivaldi trying to control the hands but Washburn won't let him.
Washburn missing with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Washburn punches the canvas rather than the man.
Rivaldi has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Washburn biding his time, controlling Rivaldi.
Rivaldi holding both Washburn 's hands and preventing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Washburn's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
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 Hoban Washburn will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Hoban Washburn's cut.
That's time! Washburn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivaldi misses with an uppercut
and Washburn counters with a nice uppercut.
Washburn tries for a takedown but Rivaldi circles away easily
and Rivaldi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Washburn is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rivaldi leaves Washburn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rivaldi misses with a body kick.
Rivaldi slaps away a takedown attempt from Washburn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hoban Washburn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivaldi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Washburn stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Washburn closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rivaldi counters with an inside leg kick.
Rivaldi throws a leg kick but Washburn moved away.
Dominick Rivaldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivaldi scores with a nice head shot.
Washburn checks a low kick from Rivaldi.
Washburn shoots in looking for a takedown. Rivaldi tries to sprawl out of it but Washburn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rivaldi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Washburn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rivaldi's guard.
Rivaldi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rivaldi keeping full guard, as Washburn tries to pass.
Washburn scoring with some ground and pound.
Rivaldi controls Washburn momentarily but Washburn frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Washburn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburn stopping the sweep attempt from Rivaldi.
Washburn looking to pass the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Washburn postures up.
Rivaldi pulls Washburn in to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominick Rivaldi wasn't active enough on the ground.
Washburn throws a front kick aimed at Rivaldi's knee but Rivaldi avoids it well.
Washburn misses with a takedown
and Rivaldi counters with a solid body kick.
Rivaldi swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washburn misses with a takedown attempt - Rivaldi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hoban Washburn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Washburn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Washburn instigates a clinch.
Rivaldi tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.
Washburn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rivaldi is defending well.
Rivaldi tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.
Rivaldi misses with a punch to the body.
Washburn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rivaldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rivaldi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rivaldi working hard to break the clinch.
Washburn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rivaldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rivaldi tries a body shot but Washburn blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Washburn stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rivaldi has had enough of the clinch but Washburn keeps him there for the moment.
Rivaldi lands with a short shot to the head.
Rivaldi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Washburn.
Rivaldi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Washburn.
Rivaldi struggles to land a body shot inside as Washburn controls his hands.
Washburn goes for a takedown attempt but Rivaldi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivaldi 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.
Rivaldi loads up on a big right hand but Washburn slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominick Rivaldi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hoban Washburn's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivaldi motions for Washburn to come forward. Rivaldi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivaldi throws a wild body kick that Washburn sees coming a mile off.
Washburn slips a jab from Rivaldi.

Washburn has Rivaldi up against the cage in a clinch.
Washburn is trying to drag Rivaldi to the mat but Rivaldi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Rivaldi manages to break the clinch.
Washburn with a poor takedown
and Rivaldi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivaldi looks to throw the jab but Washburn is out of range.
Rivaldi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivaldi throws a body kick that misses.
A low kick from Rivaldi misses
and Washburn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivaldi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivaldi keeping moving, preventing Washburn from controlling successfully.
Washburn scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rivaldi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Washburn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivaldi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Washburn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Washburn pushes down on Rivaldi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rivaldi is pressing down on Washburn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washburn is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivaldi has wrist control.
Washburn wants to control from the top but Rivaldi keeps moving.
Rivaldi looking to control.
Washburn with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Washburn won't allow Rivaldi to get back to his feet.
Washburn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivaldi is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivaldi is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Washburn dives into side control.
Washburn tries to score with some ground and pound. Rivaldi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Washburn throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Washburn in side control, throwing shots but Rivaldi defends.
Rivaldi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hoban Washburn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Washburn is working Rivaldi over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rivaldi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Rivaldi tries to escape but Washburn is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Washburn working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Washburn throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Washburn throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Rivaldi works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Washburn slips a nice elbow through Rivaldi's hands, connecting with Rivaldi's forehead.
Washburn stalling away here and it's allowed Rivaldi to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Washburn won't allow Rivaldi to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivaldi keeping full guard, as Washburn tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hoban Washburn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Washburn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!