PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zubair Tukhugov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivas had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Rivas
vs
Tukhugov

150 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Big Bear Brazil 160Q & Laundry

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zubair Tukhugov!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tukhugov rushes Rivas and presses him up against the cage.
Rivas fails to pull guard.
Tukhugov lands a nice uppercut.

It looks like Rivas has been cut.

Tukhugov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Rivas really is a fat lump.
Rivas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tukhugov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivas stopping the sweep attempt from Tukhugov.
Tukhugov wants to stand and escape but Rivas is having none of it.
Tukhugov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rivas puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tukhugov is refusing to be controlled, as Rivas sits in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivas trying to pass the guard but Tukhugov defending well.
Tukhugov tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rivas has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tukhugov gets back to half guard.

Rivas wants to work for an arm triangle but Tukhugov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rivas prevents Tukhugov from standing back up.
Rivas prevents Tukhugov from improving his position.

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.
Rivas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Rivas wants to work for an arm triangle but Tukhugov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rivas is trying to work for a kimura but Tukhugov is defending well.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tukhugov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rivas jumps into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tukhugov is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Tukhugov is looking for a sweep.
Rivas controls the position from side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rivas avoids the head kick by Tukhugov.
Rivas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good leg kick by Rivas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Tukhugov drives through and clinches with Rivas against the cage.

Tukhugov manages to pull guard.
Tukhugov controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tukhugov wants to sweep here but Rivas controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tukhugov wants to stand and escape but Rivas is having none of it.
Tukhugov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tukhugov wants to sweep here but Rivas controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zubair Tukhugov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rivas's cut.
That's time! Rivas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tukhugov tries to clinch but Rivas moves away
and Rivas counters with a stiff right hand.
Tukhugov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivas.
Tukhugov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Zubair Tukhugov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tukhugov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rivas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tukhugov smiles and moves away.

Tukhugov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rivas tries to kick Tukhugov off but Tukhugov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rivas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tukhugov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivas manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Tukhugov gets a clinch.

Tukhugov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Tukhugov trying to control from half guard but Rivas is working away.
Rivas is trying to escape back to his feet but Tukhugov uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivas defending against the ground and pound.
Rivas sneaks back into half guard.
Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tukhugov is pressing down on Rivas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rivas is holding on for now.
Rivas wants to get back to his feet.
Tukhugov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivas wants to control but Tukhugov is keeping busy.
Tukhugov lands strikes from half guard.
Tukhugov is just content to waste time from the top position. Rivas takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Tukhugov stopping the sweep attempt from Rivas.

Tukhugov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Tukhugov closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tukhugov pulls guard effortlessly.
Tukhugov keeping moving, preventing Rivas from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas postures up.
Tukhugov trying to control the position here.
Rivas trying to control the position from guard on top but Tukhugov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rivas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tukhugov tries to clinch but Rivas moves out of range.

Rivas tries to sprawl but Tukhugov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rivas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rivas regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tukhugov trying to control but Rivas is working from the bottom.

Rivas manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zubair Tukhugov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rivas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tukhugov rushes Rivas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Tukhugov breaks the clinch.
Tukhugov wants to clinch but Rivas slips to the side
and Rivas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tukhugov.
Tukhugov blocks a jab.

Tukhugov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rivas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Tukhugov trying to control the position but Rivas is working away.
Rivas can't do much from the bottom here.
Rivas manages to get back to half guard.
Tukhugov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tukhugov is trying to control the action in half guard but Rivas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tukhugov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Rivas has one foot on Tukhugov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rivas tries to clinch there but Tukhugov circles away.

Tukhugov forces Rivas back against the cage and clinches.
Tukhugov stops a takedown attempt from Rivas.
Tukhugov scores with a nice hook to the head.

Tukhugov drags the fight down to the ground.
Tukhugov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivas is one step ahead there.
Tukhugov is trying to control the position but Rivas postures up.
Tukhugov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tukhugov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Tukhugov being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas lands with a right hand.

Tukhugov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Zubair Tukhugov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rivas pulls guard successfully.
Tukhugov prevents Rivas from getting back to his feet.
Tukhugov stands and throws Rivas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tukhugov trying to control the action but Rivas is working from the bottom.
Tukhugov lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivas is trying to get back to his feet.
Tukhugov taking a breather here.
Rivas is looking for a sweep.
Tukhugov slows the pace down.
Tukhugov trying to control the position but Rivas is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rivas throws Tukhugov to one side and escapes!

And that's the end of the fight!
Zubair Tukhugov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tukhugov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zubair Tukhugov!