PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Courtney Upshaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eirik Rivfader (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Upshaw comes to the cage accompanied by Retaliation. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Upshaw
vs
Rivfader

194 cm
27
261 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

150 cm
30
260 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Courtney Upshaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Eirik Rivfader!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Upshaw throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Courtney Upshaw seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivfader staying out of range there.
Upshaw works the jab nicely.
Rivfader walks into a jab.
A big right from Rivfader misses.

Rivfader fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Upshaw, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivfader jumps guard but Upshaw stands there with Rivfader around his waist. Rivfader gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Upshaw lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rivfader backwards.
Rivfader tries to pull guard but Upshaw won't allow it.
Rivfader swings wildly with an uppercut but Upshaw uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivfader is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Courtney Upshaw has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eirik Rivfader.
Upshaw wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivfader is looking for a takedown.

Rivfader jumps guard and drags Upshaw to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Upshaw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivfader swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivfader wants to stand and escape but Upshaw is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upshaw postures up and lands a big shot to Rivfader's brow.
Rivfader utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Upshaw tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivfader is retaining full guard.
Upshaw chips away with some ground and pound.
Upshaw makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Upshaw connects with a couple of short punches.
Upshaw has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Upshaw throws a big elbow that misses.
Rivfader is looking to stand up but Upshaw isn't so interested in that idea.
Rivfader preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Upshaw with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivfader utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivfader avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivfader keeping moving, preventing Upshaw from controlling successfully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Upshaw throws a big right hand that misses.
Upshaw prevents Rivfader from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivfader looking to hit a scissor sweep but Upshaw is one step ahead there.
Upshaw throws a big right hand that misses.
Upshaw postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivfader wants to stand but Upshaw is controlling the position.
Rivfader keeping full guard, as Upshaw tries to pass.
Rivfader is looking to stand up but Upshaw isn't so interested in that idea.
Upshaw passes Rivfader's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Upshaw wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivfader keeps working.
Upshaw prevents Rivfader from standing back up.
Upshaw is trying to control the action in half guard but Rivfader is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Upshaw lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rivfader wants to control but Upshaw is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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. Upshaw connects with a nice short shot to Rivfader's temple.
Upshaw stops Rivfader from getting back to his feet.
Upshaw thows a huge punch but Rivfader dodges it nicely.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rivfader manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Upshaw trying to control but Rivfader is working from the bottom.

Rivfader has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Upshaw is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Upshaw looking to stall.
Rivfader is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Upshaw gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivfader wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rivfader goes for a takedown in the clinch but Upshaw prevents it.
Rivfader drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivfader jumps guard but Upshaw turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Upshaw lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rivfader looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivfader tries to pull guard but Upshaw forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Upshaw pressing his opponent against the cage.

Rivfader gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Upshaw blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rivfader.
Rivfader is looking to advance position but Upshaw won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Upshaw makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Upshaw.

Rivfader drops back, looking for a kneebar! Upshaw looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Upshaw looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Upshaw!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Courtney Upshaw dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rivfader tries a head kick but it misses.
Upshaw misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Upshaw wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Upshaw thows a body kick. Rivfader tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Upshaw scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Eirik Rivfader has been cut.
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!

Rivfader ducks straight into an uppercut from Upshaw and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Rivfader manages to regain guard straight away.
Rivfader utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivfader keeping moving, preventing Upshaw from controlling successfully.

Rivfader working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Upshaw doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Upshaw manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Upshaw is working Rivfader over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Upshaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rivfader is breathing heavily.
Upshaw postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rivfader manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rivfader jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Upshaw is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Upshaw and Rivfader has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Upshaw struggling a bit here.
Upshaw is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivfader can do to turn this around?
Rivfader throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Upshaw parries the strikes from Rivfader easily there. Rivfader is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Upshaw to escape.
Courtney Upshaw overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Upshaw struggling a bit here.
Rivfader with the ground and pound but Upshaw regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Rivfader not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rivfader working Upshaw over with strikes.
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!
Upshaw avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivfader.
Rivfader thows a huge punch but Upshaw dodges it nicely.
Upshaw on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivfader thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Upshaw is defending against the submission attempts here by Rivfader.
Rivfader has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Upshaw is pressing down on Rivfader's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Upshaw wants to sweep here but Rivfader controlling him for the moment.
Upshaw manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivfader manages to get himself to full guard.
Upshaw throws a strike but Rivfader rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivfader postures up and lands a big shot to Upshaw's brow.
Rivfader postures up.
Rivfader postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rivfader wants to pass the guard but Upshaw is keeping the position.
Rivfader loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivfader lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivfader looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Courtney Upshaw dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Eirik Rivfader's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivfader tries to clinch up but Upshaw circles away and keeps his distance.
Upshaw misses with a wild body shot.
Upshaw is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Upshaw ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A cross from Upshaw lands.
Rivfader takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Upshaw scores with a leg kick.
Rivfader scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivfader showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Upshaw.
Rivfader takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A chopping leg kick lands by Upshaw.
Some wild striking there from Upshaw.
Rivfader takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Upshaw slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivfader, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upshaw paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Rivfader changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Upshaw looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rivfader throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Upshaw tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Upshaw avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Rivfader.
Upshaw is looking to reverse the position.
The strikes coming from Rivfader are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Eirik Rivfader has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivfader tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rivfader has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Upshaw gets back to half guard.
Upshaw is controlling Rivfader's position as best he can from this difficult position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Upshaw blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rivfader.
Rivfader content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rivfader wants to pass to mount but Upshaw is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivfader thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rivfader throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Upshaw trying to control but Rivfader postures up.
Rivfader not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivfader is thwarting Upshaw's attempts to control the position.
Rivfader tries to pass to full mount but Upshaw defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivfader not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Rivfader is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Rivfader is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Courtney Upshaw is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivfader throws a strike but Upshaw avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rivfader throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Courtney Upshaw.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Upshaw, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Courtney Upshaw!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Courtney Upshaw made sure he mentioned Performance Enhancing Drugs, along with how happy he was to win his fight.