PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Warner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stephen Warner will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rivera
vs
Warner

161 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

177 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dwayne Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Warner!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Warner clinches.
Rivera is trying to break free.
Rivera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Warner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Warner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rivera was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Warner clinches up against the cage.

Warner breaks the clinch.
Warner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Warner throws a head kick that half lands.
Warner misses with a double jab.

Warner moves into the clinch successfully.
Rivera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Warner has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Stephen Warner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Warner moves into range and clinches up with Rivera.
Warner tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.

Warner works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Warner stands up from Rivera's guard - Warner perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera shoots for a takedown but Warner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivera checks a low kick from Warner.
Rivera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Warner circles away.

Rivera gets tackled into the cage by Warner. Warner maintains the clinch.
Rivera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Warner just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera wants a takedown.
Rivera avoiding damage.

Warner drags the fight down to the ground.

Warner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rivera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Warner looking for a sweep. Not yet Warner, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rivera trying to control but Warner is working from the bottom.
Warner trying to keep a closed guard but Rivera is proving a slippery customer.
Warner wants to stand and escape but Rivera is having none of it.
Warner tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera cracks Warner with a solid left hand.

Warner has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rivera is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Warner.
Rivera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Warner keeps working.
Warner trying to control but Rivera flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Rivera is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Warner trying to control the position but Rivera manages to sink in the hooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeps control of the position as Warner tries to break free.
Warner is trying to get back to his feet but Rivera has full control of the position and if anything, Warner has just worked his way into a worse spot.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Warner is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Warner dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Warner looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rivera could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Warner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Warner lands with a nice body kick.

Rivera gets tackled into the cage by Warner. Warner maintains the clinch.
Rivera is trying to break the clinch but Warner has him pressed against the cage.

Rivera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Warner pushes Rivera up against the cage in a clinch.

Warner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warner misses with a few strikes there.
Stephen Warner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Warner pinned against the cage. Warner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Warner unleashes a big counter combination but Rivera bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Warner pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Warner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Warner rushes Rivera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Warner lands an elbow that stopped Rivera in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Dwayne Rivera has been cut.
Rivera is trying to pull guard but Warner has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Warner with a knee to the head.
Rivera jumps guard but Warner stands there with Rivera around his waist. Rivera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rivera working hard to break the clinch.

Rivera works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Rivera is standing up over Warner. Warner looks to escape but Rivera dives into side control.

Warner is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera gets to mount! Warner was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Warner taking shots to the head.
Warner is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Warner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Warner throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rivera. What's that going to do exactly?
Warner sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Warner wants to improve his position but Rivera is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Warner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Warner tries to roll over but Rivera keeps him under control.
Rivera working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Warner manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rivera got a little sloppy there for a moment and Warner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rivera has managed to get both his arms back between Warner's legs - danger averted.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Warner.
Rivera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rivera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Warner throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rivera escapes and throws Warner's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Warner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dwayne Rivera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Warner stuffs the takedown.
Warner throws a head kick that misses.
Warner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A little feinted left hand from Rivera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Rivera drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rivera has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Warner wants to get back to his feet but Rivera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Warner is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera trying to control but Warner is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Warner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Warner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rivera defends well.
Warner is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Warner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivera tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Warner defends well and Rivera ends up having to push Warner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Rivera tries to keep at a distance but Warner has taken the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Rivera's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Warner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Warner turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Warner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rivera has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rivera wants to control but Warner postures up.

Warner has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Warner connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warner throws a sloppy head kick and Rivera moves out of range easily.
Warner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Warner has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rivera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Warner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera dives in for a single leg takedown but Warner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Warner sprawls well.
Warner throws a head kick that misses

and Rivera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Warner missing with knees to the body.
Rivera is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Warner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivera is trying to break the clinch but Warner is controlling him.
Rivera is trying to pull guard but Warner turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rivera tries to stall but Warner uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera working hard to break the clinch.
Warner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Warner lands an elbow inside.
Warner connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rivera's face.
Warner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.

Warner breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Warner moves into the clinch.

Warner lands a takedown into guard.
Rivera trying to control the position here.
Warner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dwayne Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stephen Warner is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rivera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Warner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Warner 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Warner!