PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodriguez Julien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera comes to the ring accompanied by Mortal Kombat. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivera
vs
Julien

177 cm
19
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

177 cm
26
166 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rodriguez Julien!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivera throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Julien was covering up waiting for the punch and Rivera finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rivera sitting in guard here, content to control.
Julien wants to sweep here but Rivera controlling him for the moment.
Rivera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rivera prevents Julien from getting back to his feet.

Diego Rivera has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivera.
Nice defenses there by Julien.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Julien displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Rivera misses the body punch
letting Julien counter with a right hand.
Rodriguez Julien is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Julien misses with a head kick.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Julien swinging wildly here.
A left and a right from Julien both land. Nice combination.
Rivera misses with a shot to the body
and Julien counters with a head kick.
Julien showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivera.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Julien as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Julien defends it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera swinging wildly here.
Julien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rivera misses with a looping right.
A big right from Rivera misses.
Julien leaves Rivera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Julien ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Julien defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
Julien keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Diego Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Julien keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Rivera has a takedown stuffed.
Rivera misses the body punch

and Julien counters with a head kick that drops Rivera - he's looking to finish, following his stunned foe to the ground!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera keeping hold of Julien's head, controlling as best he can.
Julien wants to stand but Rivera has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Julien tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rivera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rivera tries to roll over but Julien keeps him under control.
Rivera is trying to control but can't.
Rivera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rivera.
Rivera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Julien manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivera advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Julien leaves Rivera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rivera fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt - Julien sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Julien avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Julien moves out of range of the strikes.
Rivera misses the jab.
Rivera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Julien.
Rodriguez Julien is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera misses with a looping right.
Julien looks to land a right hand but Rivera moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Julien to the mat! Julien manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Julien is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rivera trying to control but Julien postures up.
It looks like Julien is going to stand back up.
Julien wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivera keeps working.
Julien trying to advance position but Rivera counters by regaining guard.
Julien wants to get up but he can't break Rivera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Julien is pushing down on Rivera's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rivera is fighting to maintain full guard but Julien has managed to sneak the leg through.
Julien working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rivera's thigh. Rivera counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Julien won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Rivera pulls Julien in to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Julien looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Julien looking to sit in guard and control but Rivera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Julien is keeping the position.
Rivera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Julien works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivera trying to control but Julien is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Julien is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivera is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Julien as he avoids it easily.

Rivera is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Julien's half guard.
Rivera is looking to take a break and control but Julien is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rivera prevents Julien from standing back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Julien is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rivera dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivera is defended easily by Julien.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Julien sprawls well.
A big left from Rivera misses.
Rivera looks for a takedown but Julien sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diego Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Julien.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Julien sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Julien as Rivera shoots in.
Julien lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Diego Rivera has been cut.
Julien scores with a head kick. Rivera tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Julien lands a left and a right that sends Rivera crashing to the canvas! Julien dives into mount looking to finish!

Rivera is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Julien tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oh Rivera is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Julien trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Julien controlling the pace for now.
Rivera tries to hold on but Julien postures up.
Rivera seems to have got his legs back now.
Diego Rivera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Julien trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rodriguez Julien.
Rivera fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Julien keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.
Rivera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Julien pinned against the ropes. Julien gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Julien misses with a two punch combination.

Rivera scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Julien is trying to stand.
Julien wants to improve his position but Rivera is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera thows a huge punch but Julien dodges it nicely.
Rivera looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rivera wants to pass to mount but Julien is defending the position.
Julien is pressing down on Rivera's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looking to pass the guard.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Julien.
Julien keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Julien is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Julien misses with a few strikes there.
Rodriguez Julien seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rivera shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Julien manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodriguez Julien comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Julien 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Rodriguez Julien!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Rodriguez Julien!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Rodriguez Julien!

Rodriguez Julien wins by unanimous decision!