PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Geraldo Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rivera
vs
Gracie

190 cm
22
215 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
223 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

[TNS] 160!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Geraldo Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Junior Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.
Rivera swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gracie, as that shot connected.
Gracie keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on Gracie's shoulder, as Gracie tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Rivera is looking to wear down Gracie with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice body punch from Rivera.
Rivera throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Rivera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gracie manages to avoid it.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera throws a body punch but Gracie moves out of range.
Rivera with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nice defenses there by Rivera.
Rivera missing with a left hand there. Gracie was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Geraldo Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera throws the left hand but Gracie avoids the punch easily.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Gracie does a little dance to reset his feet.

Gracie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rivera was covering up waiting for the punch and Gracie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rivera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Rivera decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracie, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gracie fails to land with a series of punches.
A big right from Rivera misses.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gracie swings for the body but Rivera moves out of range.
Geraldo Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera lands with a cross.

It looks like Junior Gracie has been cut.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geraldo Rivera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Junior Gracie's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gracie cracks Rivera with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rivera misses with a hook to the body
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivera lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rivera misses with a looping left.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivera swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rivera lands a nice looking body shot.
Rivera swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Rivera misses with a body shot

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown. Rivera fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Rivera is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gracie is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Rivera stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Rivera connects with a body shot.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Rivera.
Rivera misses with an uppercut. Gracie saw that one coming.
Rivera throws a shot from downtown. Gracie moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a big shot that misses.
Rivera cracks a nice hook into Gracie's ribs.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivera loads up on a big right hand but Gracie slips the punch.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Rivera throws a jab when Gracie was well out of range.
Rivera takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivera misses with a body shot
and Gracie counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera swings for the body but Gracie moves out of range.
Rivera misses the jab.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Rivera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivera dodges the punch combination from Gracie.
Rivera throws a hook to the side of Gracie's head but Gracie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera cracks Gracie with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gracie moves out of range of the strikes.
Rivera takes one to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rivera thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivera misses the target.
Rivera misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Rivera jabs Gracie right on the nose. Gracie blinks but takes it well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera thuds a left hand into Gracie's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Geraldo Rivera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Junior Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Rivera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rivera misses with a looping right.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rivera misses the jab.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Gracie defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gracie moves away.
Rivera looks to land a left hand but Gracie moved out of range nicely.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch but Gracie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivera throws a sloppy body shot

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rivera kicks off Gracie and gets to his feet.
Rivera misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gracie counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gracie uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivera.
Rivera throws a sloppy body shot
and Gracie counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivera darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A big right from Rivera misses.
Rivera's corner calls for a 1-2. Rivera obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Gracie counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gracie counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rivera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rivera is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Junior Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie cracks a nice hook into Rivera's ribs.
Geraldo Rivera is winning the standup battle so far.
Jab from Gracie.
Rivera throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A shot to the body from Rivera misses
and Gracie connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivera lands with a nice body punch.
Geraldo Rivera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jab, jab by Rivera - just one landing.
Gracie throws a hook but Rivera avoids it easily.
Gracie avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rivera throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Rivera fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera misses with a shot to the body
and Gracie counters with a straight right hand.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Geraldo Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Geraldo Rivera!