PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Oscar Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Welsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rivas might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Cypress Hill-Insane in the Membrane. Welsh has chosen Lets Have A War as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rivas
vs
Welsh

185 cm
27
196 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

190 cm
31
199 lbs
17 - 19 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Good gas tank

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 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Oscar Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, TJ Welsh!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivas swinging wildly here.
Welsh bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Welsh is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Welsh tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rivas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Welsh somewhat.
Welsh shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rivas as he avoids it easily.

Rivas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Welsh on his heels. He'll look to pass Welsh's guard now, I'm sure.
Rivas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rivas wanted to stand there but Welsh had control of the position.
Rivas throws an elbow that misses. Welsh uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rivas's guard. Nice move by Welsh!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welsh controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivas has his foot on Welsh's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Welsh works his way back into a safe position though.
Rivas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Welsh on the ground.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welsh content to stall in guard here.
Welsh trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Welsh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rivas, up you get!

Welsh shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Welsh stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Welsh looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Welsh seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rivas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Welsh is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Welsh trying to control the pace.

Rivas looking for subs from the bottom but Welsh mounts him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Welsh working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Rivas is doing well to defend. Welsh seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Rivas is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). TJ Welsh!
TJ Welsh was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.