PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Patrick River (ranked 1028 p4p, 1615 weight class) and Romulus Gerber (ranked 145 p4p, 221 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Pantera - Walk. Romulus Gerber told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

River
vs
Gerber

188 cm
31
171
16 - 14 - 1

179 cm
33
182
19 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 16 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Patrick River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romulus Gerber!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River lands the left hand.
A head kick by River misses
and Gerber counters with an outside leg kick.
River waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gerber.
Gerber throws out a counter right but River avoids it with no problem.
River takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gerber avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gerber looks to score with a jab to the body but River is just out of range.
Gerber throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.

River is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gerber's half guard.
River not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gerber keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gerber is refusing to be controlled, as River sits in half guard.

River is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gerber defending well though.
River wants to control but Gerber is keeping him busy.
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. River connects with a nice short shot to Gerber's temple.

River seems to be looking for submissions.

River is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gerber is trying is best to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

River seems to be looking for submissions.
Gerber blocking the ground and pound attempt from River.
Gerber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gerber is trying to maintain the position but River is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
River tries to pass to full mount but Gerber defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber lands a glancing blow to the side of River's head.
Gerber bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gerber has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from River.
River swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Gerber.
Gerber lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gerber misses with a low kick.
River throws a head kick that Gerber semi-blocks.
River misses with a left hand
and Gerber counters with a solid body kick.
Gerber throws a body shot but no joy.
River bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A good leg kick by River.
Patrick River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

River drives through and clinches with Gerber against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gerber is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but River is keeping busy.
River lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River goes for a takedown attempt but Gerber pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
River goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Horrible takedown attempt by River or perhaps it was just good defense by Gerber, which made it look bad.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gerber! But no joy.
Gerber scores with a nice head shot.

River clinches with his opponent.
Gerber is trying to force a seperation but River has the dominant position.
Gerber tries to break the clinch but River is controlling the position.
Gerber lands an elbow that stopped River in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Patrick River has been cut.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gerber scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Gerber takes an elbow to the temple.
Gerber is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. River is defending well for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick River dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Patrick River's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gerber throws an uppercut from half a mile away. River sees it coming and avoids it easily.
River connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A solid body kick from Gerber.
River shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gerber misses with a low kick as River jumps back.
Gerber scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
River lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Gerber uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from River.
River avoids the head kick by Gerber.
River stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gerber.
Gerber lands a nice shot to the body.
River is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
River throws a shot from downtown. Gerber moves away and avoids it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from River.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River throws a looping overhand right but Gerber ducks down to avoid it.
Gerber has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from River.

Gerber gets tackled into the cage by River. River maintains the clinch.
A short left from Gerber.
I was talking to River's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Gerber misses with a punch on the inside.
River throws a head punch that misses.
River softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

River gets a trip takedown into half guard.
River throwing shots but Gerber is blocking nicely.
Gerber tries to get to full guard but River has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gerber is doing well to control the position and prevent River from advancing to side control.
River keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerber is not content to let River control the position.

River is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Gerber still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Gerber has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gerber throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
River gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Gerber is stalling here. River is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gerber seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and River has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
River is looking to take a break and control but Gerber is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gerber keeps River under control for a moment.
Gerber struggling a bit here.

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.
Gerber is looking to regain half guard here but River keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Gerber's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gerber is not content to let River control the position.
Gerber tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but River wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Patrick River will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Patrick River's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gerber swings for the body but River moves out of range.
River has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gerber.
River throws out a leg kick but Gerber moves out of range and River only half commits.
River lands an overhand right.
River closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gerber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gerber throws a body punch but River moves out of range.
River misses with a double jab.

Gerber tries to sprawl but River drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Gerber is looking to get back to is feet but River passes into side control.
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!

River thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
River sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gerber is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gerber is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
River taking a break here but Gerber is having none of it and regains half guard.
River wants to free his trapped foot but Gerber is holding on for dear life with his legs.

River maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Gerber could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but River has cracked it and Gerber is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by River!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Patrick River!
After winning the bout, Patrick River thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.