PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Hotts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hotts has chosen "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley as his entrance music. Pablo Rivera could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Paul Hotts's chin.

Rivera
vs
Hotts

160 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
20
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Demonic Drugs
Demonic Drugs

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pablo Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Hotts!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera blocks a low kick nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hotts.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivera scores with a hook to the body. Hotts takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hotts moves away.
Paul Hotts seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hotts shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hotts throws the left hand but Rivera avoids the punch easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Rivera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hotts tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Hotts.
Hotts misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.
Hotts punishes Rivera's body with a nice straight punch.

Rivera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rivera lands in his opponent's guard.
Rivera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hotts wants to get back to his feet but Rivera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hotts keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rivera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rivera won't allow Hotts to get back to his feet.
Rivera advances to half guard.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Hotts is defending well.
Hotts is looking to escape.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Hotts is defending well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hotts can do anything to dispel that myth.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A slow jab from Rivera misses its intended target.

Rivera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rivera lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control but Hotts is working from the bottom.
Rivera thows a big elbow that misses.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Hotts is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hotts swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotts utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivera trying to control but Hotts is working from the bottom.
Hotts keeping full guard, as Rivera tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Rivera looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hotts!
Rivera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hotts is looking to escape.
Hotts avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rivera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hotts can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rivera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rivera looking to ground and pound but Hotts is blocking nicely.
Rivera wants to control the action but instead Hotts gets a body lock and reverses into Rivera's guard! Nice work!

Hotts avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Hotts tries to stand but Rivera is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hotts lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hotts lands a nice looking body shot.
Rivera misses with a hook to the body
and Hotts counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hotts punishes Rivera's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Rivera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hotts throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hotts tests Rivera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hotts shoots in but Rivera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hotts buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivera blocks the body kick.
Hotts throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hotts throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hotts.
Rivera blocks a jab.
Paul Hotts seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hotts gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hotts connects with a jab.
Hotts scores with a nice body kick.
Hotts throws the left hand but Rivera avoids the punch easily.
Hotts looks to land a left hand but Rivera moved out of range nicely.
Hotts lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Nice sprawl there from Rivera as Hotts shoots in.
Pablo Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Hotts.
Rivera checks a low kick from Hotts.
Hotts takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Hotts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera jabs at Hotts's body.
Hotts is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivera.
Hotts throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hotts throws a hook to the side of Rivera's head but Rivera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hotts wants to land a leg kick but Rivera is out of range.
Rivera is looking to wear down Hotts with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Hotts fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rivera manages to avoid it.
Rivera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hotts misses with a low kick.
Rivera misses with a hook. Hotts ducked under it nicely.
Hotts misses with a low kick.
Hotts is looking to land body kicks.
Hotts takes one to the side of the head.
Rivera throws a hook to the side of Hotts's head but Hotts sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera cracks Hotts with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rivera moves away from the strike by Hotts.
Hotts avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Rivera throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hotts counters with a left and a right that stings Rivera.
Hotts lands a nice looking body shot.
Hotts scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rivera looks to land a left hand but Hotts moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotts blocks a jab.
Rivera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rivera swings for the body but Hotts moves out of range.
Hotts misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivera misses with a wild combination.
Rivera looks to land a combination but Hotts avoids it well.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hotts avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Hotts misses with a few strikes there.
Hotts misses with a low kick.
Rivera throws a right hand that Hotts ducks under and follows up with a left that Hotts also avoids with ease.
Rivera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hotts scores with a shot to the body.
Hotts will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hotts swinging wilding here.
Hotts throws a good cross that connects.
Rivera checks a low kick from Hotts.
Rivera misses with a series of wild punches.
Hotts scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rivera doesn't seem bothered though.
Hotts paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Some wild striking there from Hotts.
Good exchange - Hotts coming out on top.
Hotts tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Hotts.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hotts misses with a straight left.
Hotts is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hotts.
Rivera tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Hotts showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Hotts is just out of range.
Hotts jabs Rivera right on the nose. Rivera blinks but takes it well.
Hotts throws out a loose jab but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hotts connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Rivera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hotts sprawls well initially but Rivera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hotts avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivera.
Hotts avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivera.
Rivera 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.
Rivera is trying to control the action in half guard but Hotts is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hotts tries to kick Rivera off but Rivera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Rivera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hotts defends it well.
Rivera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera stops Hotts from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hotts avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hotts scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Rivera stuffs the takedown.
Hotts misses with an uppercut. Rivera saw that one coming.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera takes a swing at Hotts's ribcage but misses.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Hotts sprawls well.
Rivera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hotts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hotts tries a low kick but Rivera avoids it.
Hotts throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivera takes a swing at Hotts's ribcage but misses.
Hotts connects with the punch.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hotts avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rivera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hotts misses with a body shot.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Hotts moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hotts connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A jab from Hotts misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hotts gets caught flat footed, as Rivera shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rivera looking to pass the guard.
Hotts really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hotts utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Rivera drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hotts manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rivera has Hotts in his guard.
Rivera is looking to sweep but instead, Hotts has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hotts stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rivera to get to his feet.
Rivera on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hotts throws the left hand but Rivera avoids the punch easily.
Hotts scores with a jab to the head.
Hotts looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rivera takes one to the chin there.
Hotts lands with a kick to the temple. Rivera shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown. Hotts tries to sprawl out of it but Rivera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hotts manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hotts misses with a straight left.
Hotts takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Hotts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hotts has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Hotts!