PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Irving (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sanius Viver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Irving comes to the cage accompanied by Thunder. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Irving
vs
Viver

175 cm
22
148 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
130 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ari Irving!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sanius Viver!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, John Mangel and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irving on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Viver gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Irving counters with a left to the body.
A big left from Viver misses.
Viver shoots for a double leg takedown but Irving sprawls well. He's pushed Viver's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Viver checks a low kick from Irving.

Viver scores a takedown into full mount!
Irving wants to get back to his feet.
Irving tries to hold on but Viver postures up.
Irving is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Viver is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irving is trying to escape the mount.
You get the feeling that Irving really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Viver landing shots from mount.

Irving bucks up and throws Viver to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Viver has his takedown stuffed
and Irving counters with a two punch combo.
Ari Irving has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sanius Viver.
A head kick from Viver lands but Irving takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viver showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Irving.
Irving lands a nice hook to Viver's body. Viver takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Irving thows a leg kick but Viver checks it

and Viver counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Viver looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Irving wants to get back to his feet.
Irving is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Irving is trying to stand.
Viver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Irving does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Viver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Irving is looking to improve his position.
Irving keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Irving lands with an overhand left.
Viver shoots in for a double leg but Irving sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Viver misses with a takedown

and Irving counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Viver keeping moving, preventing Irving from controlling successfully.
Viver preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Viver keeping moving, preventing Irving from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ari Irving will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Irving thuds a left hand into Viver's body.
Irving just misses with a punch to the body.
Irving doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Irving fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Viver sprawls well initially but Irving persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Irving is trying to control the action in half guard but Viver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Irving working over Viver with some ground and pound. Viver looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Irving throwing shots but Viver is blocking nicely.
Irving thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Viver pushes Irving off looking to stand but Irving dives back in and keeps control.
Viver on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Viver is breathing heavily.
Irving throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Viver blocking the ground and pound attempt from Irving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viver keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Irving works his foot free and advances to mount.
Irving sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Irving throwing strikes here but Viver is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Irving lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Irving looking to finish with strikes here!
Viver really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Irving. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Irving in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irving lands a big shot there that rocks Viver but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Irving thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Irving throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Irving takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Viver is squirming around, avoiding Irving's attempts to control the action.
Viver is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Irving is stalling here but it's allowed Viver to get half guard.
Irving throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Irving has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Irving misses with a head shot. Viver uses the momentum to regain guard.
Irving in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Irving is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Viver has momentary wrist control but Irving slips an elbow through the middle.
Irving postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Viver can do anything to dispel that myth.

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.
Irving loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Viver is controlling Irving's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Irving accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Irving trying to control but Viver is working from the bottom.
Irving scoring with some ground and pound.
Viver preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ari Irving overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Irving throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Irving makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Irving pushing down on Viver's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Irving dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Irving enables Viver to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Irving manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Irving looking for a sweep. Not yet Irving, not yet.

Irving is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Irving can't find room to land a body shot as Viver controls the action.
Irving is working for takedown but Viver is calmly controlling the position for now.
Irving tries to circle away but Viver has him pinned against the cage.
Viver has Irving pressed against the cage, preventing Irving from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Viver manages to break the clinch.
Ari Irving seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A punch combination from Irving misses.
Irving throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Viver sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Irving shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Viver eats them both and turns towards Irving to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Ari Irving is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Viver closes the distance and clinches up with Irving, looking for a takedown. Viver pushes Irving against the cage but Irving circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Viver. Irving does a little dance to reset his feet.
Irving moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Viver lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Viver scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Irving dodges the ground and pound from Viver.
Irving is trying to get back to half guard.
Irving managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Viver.
Viver postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viver is looking to take a break and control but Irving is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Irving sneaks back into half guard.
Viver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Irving does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irving is looking to improve his position.
Irving is trying is best to control the position here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Viver trying to control the action but Irving is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sanius Viver wasn't active enough on the ground.
Irving throws a combination that misses
and Viver counters with a body kick that stops Irving in his tracks momentarily.

Viver shoots in and gets a takedown into Irving's guard.
Viver preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irving has his hands on Viver's head, controlling the position.
Sanius Viver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Irving preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Viver is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Irving wants to stand but Viver is controlling the position.
Ari Irving is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Viver throwing strikes from guard but Irving blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sanius Viver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Irving has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Irving!