PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Larry Newman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alessio Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Newman
vs
Rivera

179 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

S.W.A.T.

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larry Newman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alessio Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newman wants to clinch up but Rivera keeps it at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Rivera. No joy for Newman on that attempt.
Rivera tries to clinch there but Newman circles away.
Newman misses with a takedown attempt - Rivera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rivera keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Newman shoots in but no luck this time.
Newman darts in trying to clinch

so Rivera counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Newman.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Newman is keeping the position.

Newman is looking for a triangle but Rivera pushes his legs off easily.
Rivera tries to free his leg and advance position but Newman is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera preventing the sweep.

Newman isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rivera stacks Newman on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rivera!
Newman is breathing heavily.
Newman can't do much from the bottom here.
Rivera taking a breather here.
Rivera looks up at the clock and then as Newman takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rivera smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Newman is trying to control Rivera's posture but Rivera avoids it.
Newman being controlled for a moment.

Rivera stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Newman circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rivera changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Newman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rivera stands up.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.

Rivera manages to break the clinch.

Rivera shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rivera showed some decent athleticism there.
Rivera is taking a breather. Newman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rivera manages to pass to mount!
Rivera content just to control the position here.
Newman gets back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Newman trying to control here.
Newman is looking to improve his position.
Newman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Newman is looking for a triangle here but Rivera uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Newman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rivera's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Newman wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy.
Newman moves into full guard.

Newman has an active guard here but Rivera has managed to pass into half guard.
Rivera keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Newman is trying to maintain the position but Rivera is very close to passing his half guard.
Rivera passes to side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera controlling from side mount.
Rivera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Newman keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Rivera dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Newman has his takedown stuffed

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch.
Rivera prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Newman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Newman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rivera gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Larry Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera has Newman pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Newman manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Newman goes for a takedown attempt but Rivera pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rivera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Newman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rivera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Larry Newman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rivera darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivera tries to pass the half guard into mount. Newman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newman wants to get back to his feet.
Newman tries to roll over but Rivera keeps him under control.
Newman wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy.
Newman tries to roll over but Rivera keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rivera fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Newman misses with a takedown attempt

and Rivera counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rivera.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Newman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Newman is looking for a triangle but Rivera pushes his legs off easily.
Newman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivera manages to get himself to full guard.
Newman wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.

Rivera working for a triangle but Newman defends it easily.
Rivera is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivera, not yet.
Newmanis looking to pass into half guard but Rivera pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rivera is in guard.
Rivera advances position into side control!
Newman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rivera's best efforts.
Newman trying to control but Rivera postures up.

Newman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Newman manages to get to full guard.
Newman is trying to keep Rivera in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivera controls the pace.
Rivera pushes down on Newman's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rivera sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Newman defending well though.
Newman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Newman.
Newman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rivera's guard.
Newman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Newman wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

Rivera had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Newman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rivera Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Newman's back instead.
Newman rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Newman stuffs the takedown.
Rivera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Newman circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rivera.
Newman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rivera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Newman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
Rivera avoiding damage.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Larry Newman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alessio Rivera.
Newman has Rivera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rivera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Newman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rivera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Newman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Newman misses with a takedown

and Rivera counters by clinching up.

Rivera breaks from the clinch.

Newman clinches.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Newman is keeping busy.

Newman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rivera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rivera tries to break the clinch but Newman is controlling the position.
Newman prevents Rivera from breaking the clinch.
Newman is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rivera gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Newman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rivera smiles and moves away.
Newman fails with the takedown
and Rivera counters with a slapping leg kick.
Newman closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch.
Newman can't get the takedown.

Rivera breaks from the clinch.
A head kick misses from Newman.
Newman with a poor takedown

and Rivera counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rivera.
Rivera trying to control but Newman is working from the bottom.

Rivera stands and steps away. Newman gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Newman trying to control here.
Newman regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alessio Rivera has got the better of the ground game so far.

Newman is looking for a triangle but Rivera pushes his legs off easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Newman is on top in guard.
Newman wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Newman advances to half guard.
Rivera is refusing to be controlled, as Newman sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman is stalling here. Rivera is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Newman seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Rivera has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Newman is looking to regain half guard here but Rivera keeps moving and retains side control.
Newman trying to control but Rivera flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Newman is trying to break free.
Rivera is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Rivera lands a shot to the body.
Newman looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Newman trying to control the hands but Rivera won't let him.
Rivera doesn't have the hooks in and Newman manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Newman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Newman tries to advance to mount but can't.
Newman is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Newman in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Newman has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Newman looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rivera tries to hold on but Newman pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Newman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rivera gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alessio Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rivera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alessio Rivera!