PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mui Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thai
vs
Rivera

205 cm
31
265 lbs
22 - 20 - 1

188 cm
23
235 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Springfield HW Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mui Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonio Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera shoots for a takedown but Thai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thai throws a series of punches but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rivera has a takedown stuffed.
Mui Thai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rivera.
Rivera throws a nice looking combination but Thai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rivera moves forwards but Thai connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rivera misses with a takedown
and Thai counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rivera moves out of range of the strikes.
Rivera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thai defends it nicely.
Rivera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rivera's sensitive parts.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Thai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thai stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivera. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Rivera gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thai.
Rivera fails with a takedown attempt.
Rivera fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thai throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thai on the side of the head.
Thai cracks Rivera with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera checks a leg kick.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Thai lands a jab to Rivera's midsection.

Rivera manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thai on his heels. He'll look to pass Thai's guard now, I'm sure.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rivera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai slips a nice elbow through Rivera's hands, connecting with Rivera's forehead.
Rivera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thai.
Rivera missing with punches from the bottom.
Thai is trying to control. Rivera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thai not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thai lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Rivera has hold of Thai's hands but Thai slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thai wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.
Thai is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rivera!
Rivera is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rivera is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rivera is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rivera tries to hold on but Thai postures up.
Thai will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rivera keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rivera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thai looking to finish Rivera with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rivera!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thai wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thai can't keep his opponent in guard - Rivera advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rivera thows a huge punch but Thai dodges it nicely.
Thai tries to roll over but Rivera keeps him under control.
Rivera wants to take a breather but Thai is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thai gets back to full guard.
Thai utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mui Thai dominated that round.
That's time! Thai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivera.
A telegraphed right hand from Thai misses the target.
Antonio Rivera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Thai sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thai misses with a hook.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rivera connects with a looping right hand.
Rivera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thai misses with a looping right.
Thai scores with a jab.
Rivera shoots in but Thai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mui Thai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rivera.
Rivera shoots for a takedown but Thai saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera shoots in but Thai avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rivera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivera.
Rivera throws a looping overhand right but Thai ducks down to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thai. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thai.
Thai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivera.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Thai sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thai as he jumps to the side.
Rivera looks for a takedown but Thai sprawls well.
A big right from Thai misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rivera fails with the takedown
and Thai counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a wild combination.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes from Thai. Those never looked like landing.
Thai slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rivera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thai slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivera, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thai lands the left hand.
Thai tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A left lands for Thai.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thai as he avoids it easily.
Antonio Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thai is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rivera.
Thai looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Thai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rivera!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rivera checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thai.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thai misses the jab.
Rivera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thai.
Rivera misses with a takedown
and Thai counters with a straight right hand.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Rivera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thai is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rivera fails with the takedown.
Thai jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thai defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rivera.
Rivera fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mui Thai dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A big left from Thai misses.
Thai throws a lazy right hand but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thai misses with a wild body shot.
Thai misses with a looping left.
Thai stuffs the takedown.
Thai misses with a wild combination.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thai lands with a cross.
Thai misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thai is fending him off so far but Rivera persists. Nope, Thai circles away and we're back to standing.
Mui Thai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Rivera.
Thai connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thai tried to score with a low kick but Rivera checks it.
Thai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivera with a poor takedown
enabling Thai to counter with a crisp jab.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thai avoids it really well and circles away.
Rivera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thai is fending him off so far but Rivera persists. Nope, Thai circles away and we're back to standing.
Thai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai misses with a body shot.
Thai misses with a hook. Rivera ducked under it nicely.
Rivera fails with a takedown attempt.
Thai misses with a hook.
Thai swings widly with a right hand
and Rivera counters with a one-two to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera throws a series of punches but Thai avoids them all with ease.
Thai displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.
Rivera shoots for a double leg takedown but Thai sprawls well. He's pushed Rivera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thai fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rivera is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Thai shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thai counters with a stiff right hand.
Rivera blocks a jab.
Thai misses with a right hand
and Rivera counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rivera misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thai.
Thai throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mui Thai is winning the standup battle so far.
Thai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rivera swings for the body but Thai moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thai avoids it really well and circles away.
Antonio Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thai throws a hook but Rivera avoids it easily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thai, as that shot connected.
Rivera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera with a poor takedown
letting Thai counter with a right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Rivera. Those never looked like landing.
Thai connects with a right hand. Rivera shakes it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thai slips a jab and a cross from Rivera.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Thai avoids them all with ease.
Thai throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mui Thai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thai has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mui Thai!