PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marco Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Araya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tom Araya has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivera
vs
Araya

185 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

183 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Araya!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera lands with a good body shot.
Rivera looks for a takedown but Araya sprawls well.
Araya circles away from the clinch attempt.

Araya gets a clinch.
Araya told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rivera.
Araya trying to land knees to the body.

Araya has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rivera is trying to keep an underhook but Araya manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Araya decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Araya swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Araya clinches.

Araya breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
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!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rivera enables Araya to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rivera manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Araya stops Rivera from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivera wants to stand but Araya is controlling the position.
Araya looking to pass the guard.
Araya must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Araya throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Araya wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Araya is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tom Araya.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch but Araya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivera shoots in but Araya avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on Araya's shoulder, as Araya tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Araya keeps the fight on the outside.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Araya - that will leave a mark!

Araya shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rivera's guard.
Araya throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Araya trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Araya working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Araya trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Araya lands a couple of elbows.
Araya passes Rivera's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Araya decides to return to a standing position.
Rivera misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Araya tries to keep at a distance but Rivera has taken the fight into the clinch.
Araya misses with a punch on the inside.

Rivera pulls guard effortlessly.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Araya wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

Araya decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rivera, up you get!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Araya fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rivera to the ground. Araya is now in Rivera's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Araya dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rivera has closed the distance and engaged Araya in a clinch.
Rivera content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Araya has hold of one of Rivera's legs. Rivera is fighting the takedown attempt but Araya gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Araya gets to his feet - Rivera follows without any prompting.
Rivera dodges the punch combination from Araya.
Marco Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rivera moves out of range of the body kick.

Rivera clinches with his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rivera jumps guard.
Rivera keeping full guard, as Araya tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya advances to half guard.

Rivera has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Araya is on him like a limpet, forcing Rivera back against the cage.
Rivera jumps guard but Araya turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Araya prevents Rivera from breaking the clinch.
Araya manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as Araya controls his hands.

Araya has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rivera is trying to keep an underhook but Araya manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Araya seems content to control.
Rivera is staying active underneath Araya, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rivera has one foot on Araya's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rivera breaks from the clinch.
Araya lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rivera lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Araya has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Araya and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Araya waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.

Rivera closes the distance and pushes Araya back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Araya fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rivera pulls guard successfully.
Rivera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Araya is controlling him.
Araya wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Araya stops Rivera from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tom Araya was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Araya looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rivera wants to stand up but Araya is controlling him.
Araya wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tom Araya will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rivera gets a clinch.

Araya's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Araya feints and as Rivera raises his hands in defense, Araya changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Araya stops Rivera from standing up.
Araya trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Araya keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rivera's head.
Araya pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Araya wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tom Araya.

Araya shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Araya showed some decent athleticism there.
Rivera tries to kick Araya off in order to stand up. Araya Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Araya lands a nice forearm strike.

Rivera sneaks out the side door and pushes Araya away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Araya rushes Rivera and presses him up against the cage.

Araya gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rivera regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rivera pushes Araya off and gets back to his feet.

Rivera clinches with his opponent.

Araya gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Rivera is not content to let Araya control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera pushes Araya off and gets back to his feet.
Rivera misses with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Araya gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rivera has one foot on Araya's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rivera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rivera throws a leg kick but Araya sees it coming and moves out of range.
Tom Araya is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Araya clinches up against the cage.

Rivera pulls Araya into guard.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Araya from controlling successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rivera pushes Araya off and gets back to his feet.
Marco Rivera 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.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Araya manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Araya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Araya winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Araya!