PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Rosa Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jally Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Joseph's choice of entrance music: SEX U UP. 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.

Rosa Rivera
vs
Joseph

150 cm
26
130 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

159 cm
22
141 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Pablo Rosa Rivera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jally Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph cracks Rivera with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rivera throws a leg kick but Joseph sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Joseph throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rivera was covering up waiting for the punch and Joseph finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Joseph got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rivera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Joseph has managed to get both his arms back between Rivera's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph chips away with some ground and pound.
Rivera wants to sweep here but Joseph controlling him for the moment.
Joseph scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Joseph showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Joseph won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Joseph is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Joseph!
Joseph really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera has hold of Joseph's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Joseph manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Joseph is controlling an arm, preventing Rivera from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Joseph wants to get back to his feet.

Rivera is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Joseph is surviving well by controlling Rivera's body position as best he can.
Joseph is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Joseph is looking to get to half guard.
Joseph prevents Rivera from taking his back.
Joseph gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera prevents Joseph from standing back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivera works his way into full mount!
Joseph is desperately trying to improve his position but Rivera has a good base and remains in mount.

Rivera working for a submission but Joseph is keeping him at bay.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
You get the feeling that Joseph really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Rivera is working for a guillotine from mount but Joseph frees his head quite easily.

Rivera swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Joseph is now in Rivera's guard. A big mistake from Rivera there, giving up the dominant position!
Rivera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joseph is one step ahead there.

Joseph is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rivera looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivera, not yet.
Joseph landing with the ground and pound.
Rivera 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.
Joseph content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Joseph wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Joseph is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Joseph must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rivera can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Joseph controls the pace.

That's four 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.
Joseph won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Joseph scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rivera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Joseph's guard.
Rivera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Joseph swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Joseph has his feet on Rivera's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A jab from Joseph misses.
Rivera looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rivera is looking to slow Joseph down with leg kicks.
Joseph checks the leg kick nicely there.
A punch combination from Rivera misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jally Joseph will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Joseph scores with a jab to the head.
A punch combination from Joseph misses.
Joseph walks into a stiff left hand from Rivera.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Joseph, as that shot connected.
Jally Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Joseph.
Rivera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joseph.
Joseph misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Joseph counters with a straight right hand.
Joseph jabs Rivera to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Joseph rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rivera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pablo Rosa Rivera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera motions for Joseph to come forward. Rivera throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rivera takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rivera motions for Joseph to come forward. Rivera throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice combination there by Joseph.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rivera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joseph.
Rivera slips under a jab from Joseph.
The fighters circle momentarily. Joseph darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rivera throws a quick inside leg kick.
Joseph checks a leg kick.
Joseph has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
An inside leg kick lands from Rivera.
Rivera thumps Joseph with a low kick.
Rivera slips a jab from Joseph.
Joseph throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Joseph scores with a jab to the body.
Joseph smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Joseph uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
Joseph throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivera tried to score with a low kick but Joseph checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Rivera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rivera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Joseph misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Joseph throws an off balance right hand
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Rivera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Good work by Rivera as he checks the leg kick.
Joseph throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rivera tries to land a leg kick but Joseph saw it coming and moves away.
Rivera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joseph fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rivera looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Joseph swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to work over Joseph's front leg with a kick but Joseph checks it.
Rivera tried to score with a low kick but Joseph checks it.
Joseph swings widly with a right hand
and Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Joseph lands a jab to the nose.
Joseph throws out a loose jab but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joseph works Rivera's body with a nice hook.
Rivera blocks a jab.
Joseph displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Joseph does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joseph scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Some bone on bone action there as Joseph checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Joseph uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
Joseph looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Joseph connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Joseph tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera throws a leg kick
and Joseph counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Joseph looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Joseph stays in close to Rivera's body and controls the position.
Rivera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Joseph wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera wants to pass to mount but Joseph is defending the position.
Joseph is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joseph trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jally Joseph will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rivera misses with a low kick.
Joseph checks a low kick from Rivera.
Rivera throws an off balance right hand
and Rivera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joseph dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joseph lands a two punch combo.
Rivera misses with the combination.
Rivera fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Joseph has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rivera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rivera swings widly with a right hand
and Joseph counters with a stiff right hand.
Joseph looks to land a left hand but Rivera moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Joseph misses.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from Joseph.
Joseph throws a leg kick but Rivera checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph lands a head shot.
Rivera wants to land a leg kick but Joseph is out of range.
A jab lands there for Joseph.
Joseph throws a leg kick that is checked
and Rivera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rivera lands a jab-cross combination.
Joseph falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Jally Joseph seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Joseph throws a nice looking combination but Rivera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Joseph misses with a looping left.
A punch lands to the side of Rivera 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Joseph's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Joseph stuns Rivera with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Joseph avoids them all with ease.
Joseph dodges the punch combination from Rivera.
Rivera feints and then cracks Joseph's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Joseph down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A left and a right from Rivera both land. Nice combination.
Joseph swings widly with a right hand
and Rivera cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joseph misses with a hook
and Rivera counters with a straight right hand.
Rivera slips a jab and a cross from Joseph.
Joseph throws a front kick aimed at Rivera's knee but Rivera avoids it well.
Rivera misses with a two punch combination.
Rivera tries to bum rush Joseph with a series of wild strikes but Joseph uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Joseph's head backwards.
Joseph is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivera.
Joseph throws a jab but it's blocked by Rivera.
An inside leg kick from Rivera misses.
A low kick from Rivera misses

and Joseph counters with a shoot takedown. Rivera fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands a couple of elbows.
Joseph makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Joseph makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rivera has momentary wrist control but Joseph slips an elbow through the middle.
Joseph controlling from the top position.

Rivera is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Joseph slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Joseph chips away with some ground and pound.
Joseph won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rivera wants to sweep but no luck.
Joseph sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rivera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Joseph's guard.

Joseph kicks Rivera off and gets to his feet.
Rivera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rivera throws a low kick but it's checked well by Joseph.
Joseph scores with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Joseph throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice body punch from Joseph.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joseph looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.
Joseph throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Joseph throws a one two combo.
Rivera looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rivera misses with a lunging right hand
and Joseph connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jally Joseph really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Joseph misses with a hook to the body
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Joseph lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A jab from Joseph misses.
Joseph looks to land a right hand but Rivera moved out of range.
Joseph dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joseph misses with a two punch combination.
Joseph uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Joseph punishes Rivera's body with a nice straight punch.
Joseph lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Joseph misses with an uppercut.
Rivera fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Joseph checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Joseph scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rivera in his tracks.
Joseph lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Joseph. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Joseph.
Rivera checks a leg kick.
Joseph checks a leg kick.
Joseph throws a big shot that misses.
Rivera takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Joseph displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rivera staying out of range there.
Rivera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Joseph.
A punch combination from Joseph misses.
Joseph looks to land a right hand but Rivera moved out of range.
Rivera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Joseph throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivera swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rivera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a low kick.
Joseph changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rivera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivera fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rivera throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Joseph sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rivera fails to land with a series of punches.
Joseph keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera scoring well with a low kick there.
Rivera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rivera. That's going to slow Joseph down.
Joseph thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Joseph does it's job there.
Rivera swinging wildly here.
Rivera gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.
Joseph's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Joseph duly obliges.
Rivera tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Joseph throws a poor cross that misses
and Rivera counters with a low kick, right behind Joseph 's knee.
Rivera throws a leg kick but Joseph sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Joseph fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Joseph. Those never looked like landing.
Joseph waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.
Joseph throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rivera makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Joseph lands a jab to Rivera's midsection.
Rivera feints and then cracks Joseph's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Joseph down.
Joseph checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph wants to slow Rivera down by chopping away at his legs.
Rivera moves out of range of the leg kick from Joseph.
Rivera slips under a jab from Joseph.
Rivera throws a combination that misses

and Joseph counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rivera is looking for a sweep. Joseph is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joseph lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joseph works his way into full mount!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rivera is bucking up trying to escape but Joseph cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rivera is looking to improve his position but Joseph isn't that keen on the idea.
Joseph working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jally Joseph dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Joseph lands a jab to the nose.
Joseph looks to land a right hand but Rivera moved out of range.
Joseph checks a leg kick.
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 attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Joseph throws a sloppy body shot
and Rivera counters with a three punch combo that has Joseph backing up. Joseph nods at Rivera to acknowledge the strikes.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A bone on bone clash there as Joseph blocks the leg kick.
No joy there for Rivera, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Joseph ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
Rivera moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Joseph lands with a straight right. Rivera didn't see that one coming.
Good work by Rivera as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera moves away from the strike by Joseph.
Joseph throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rivera counters with a low kick, right behind Joseph 's knee.
Joseph throws a right hand that Rivera ducks under and follows up with a left that Rivera also avoids with ease.
Joseph paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Joseph throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Joseph finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Rivera tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Joseph is able to avoid easily.
Rivera attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Rivera walks into a jab.
Joseph swings widly with a right hand
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Joseph with a hook.
Joseph looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.
Joseph tests Rivera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph throws a lazy uppercut
and Rivera counters with a good low kick that Joseph was not able to check.
Rivera throws a low kick but Joseph moves out of range easily.
Rivera throws a body punch but Joseph moves out of range.
Rivera misses with a low kick.
Joseph throws a combination. Rivera tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rivera throws a low kick but Joseph avoids it.
Joseph throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rivera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rivera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Joseph is out of range.
Joseph checks a leg kick.
Joseph throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera misses with a double jab.
Joseph uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Joseph.
Joseph throws a front kick aimed at Rivera's knee but Rivera avoids it well.
Rivera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rivera walks into a jab.
Joseph lands a two punch combo.
Joseph misses with an uppercut
and Rivera counters with a right hand to the body.
Joseph misses with a left hand
and Rivera counters with a left to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A bone on bone clash there as Rivera blocks the leg kick.
A big right from Joseph misses.
Joseph misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circling - Joseph throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rivera misses with a combination
and Joseph counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a solid leg kick but Joseph takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rivera.
Joseph misses with an uppercut
and Rivera counters with a nice low kick that buckles Joseph's knee momentarily.
Rivera takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Joseph throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Joseph thows a leg kick but Rivera checks it
and Rivera counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rivera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivera takes one to the side of the head.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joseph.
Joseph tests Rivera's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Joseph paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Joseph throws a right and a left that both miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pablo Rosa Rivera.
Well Joseph has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Jally Joseph!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Jally Joseph!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Jally Joseph!

Jally Joseph wins by unanimous decision!
Jally Joseph is the new bantamweight champion!