PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Skeeter Gator (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mountain Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gator comes to the cage accompanied by Drop it Like its Hot. Rivera has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Mountain Rivera told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Gator
vs
Rivera

190 cm
26
232 lbs
5 - 16 - 0

197 cm
21
274 lbs
3 - 11 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Skeeter Gator!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mountain Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivera closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gator quickly recovers to half guard.
Gator is trying to get back to full guard.
Rivera controlling the action here.

Gator looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gator is breathing heavily.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rivera in particular looking to stall.
Gator is trying to control but can't.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rivera perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mountain Rivera.

Rivera scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera moves into full mount!
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Rivera working for a submission but Gator is keeping him at bay.
Rivera prevents Gator from getting the reversal.
Rivera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gator. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee warns Gator that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera scoring with strikes but Gator is staying in there.
Rivera pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rivera takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gator tries to reverse the position but Rivera maintains control.

Rivera has control of Gator's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gator regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Gator can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Gator has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Rivera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Rivera looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Gator is just holding on here. Rivera manages to take his back.
Gator is really stuck here.
What can Gator do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Rivera is landing with strikes from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera has good solid back control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gator is really stuck here.
Rivera controls the action.
Gator trying to control but not successfully.
Rivera is punishing Gator with strikes - can he finish him?!
Rivera is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gator gets tackled into the cage by Rivera. Rivera maintains the clinch.
Rivera stalling.
Rivera gets underhooks to prevent Gator's takedown attempt.

Rivera has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Gator uses from the top position.
Rivera pulls Gator in close to prevent any damage.
Gator won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Rivera has Gator pulled in close to control his posture.

Rivera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rivera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gator is one step ahead there.
Gator has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rivera is proving hard to escape from.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rivera wants to sweep here but Gator controlling him for the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rivera can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gator trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rivera has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rivera manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two 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.
Gator tries to lock up and control but Rivera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rivera scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rivera is landing with some decent strikes but Gator is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rivera controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gator can't escape the position.
Rivera controlling from the full mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mountain Rivera was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rivera throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gator was covering up waiting for the punch and Rivera finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rivera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gator looking for a sweep. Not yet Gator, not yet.

Gator is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rivera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Gator is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rivera defends well.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Gator is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mountain Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivera shoots in and gets a takedown into Gator's guard.
Gator has momentary wrist control but Rivera slips an elbow through the middle.
Gator working a defensive guard here.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Gator keeps moving.

Gator looking for a guillotine here but Rivera defends easily.
Rivera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rivera closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gator quickly recovers to half guard.
Gator is looking to control Rivera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gator avoid being mounted?
Mountain Rivera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rivera is taking a breather. Gator says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Gator looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mountain Rivera wasn't active enough on the ground.

Rivera shoots in and bounces Gator off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rivera controlling from the top position.
Rivera preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a couple of digs.
Rivera controlling from the top position.
Gator keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.

Rivera drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rivera jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gator escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rivera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gator is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gator keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.

Gator is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rivera working some strikes from top position.
Skeeter Gator has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Gator keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mountain Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rivera 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 26:30

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