PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mountain Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krooninen Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Cockney Rejects - Go Down Fighting kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mountain Rivera has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivera
vs
Gracie

197 cm
25
274 lbs
7 - 25 - 0

195 cm
32
201 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
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 7 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mountain Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Krooninen Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivera is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gracie's half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivera trying to control the pace.
Rivera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rivera prevents Gracie from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rivera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rivera's back!
Gracie thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Gracie avoiding Rivera 's attempts to control his hands.
Rivera holding both Gracie 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for the choke but no joy.
I really don't envy Rivera right now.
Rivera just trying to survive but Gracie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Rivera is really stuck here.
Gracie softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Gracie is hanging on to Rivera's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a punch to the head.
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!
Gracie has the hooks in. Rivera is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Gracie is looking to control Rivera but Rivera is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Rivera avoids the strikes from Gracie.
Rivera breaks Gracie's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rivera has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rivera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rivera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rivera knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera's corner is telling him to maintain position.

We're going to have a standup here because Mountain Rivera wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rivera.
Gracie tries to clinch there but Rivera circles away.
Rivera stuffs the takedown attempt from Gracie. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown but Gracie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rivera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rivera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gracie defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mountain Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Mountain Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Gracie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.

Rivera moves into the clinch.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but Rivera turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gracie has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rivera after a bit of a struggle.

Rivera lands a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera throws a strike but Gracie rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mountain Rivera will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rivera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivera clinches up against the cage.
Rivera landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Gracie jumps guard and drags Rivera to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rivera trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Rivera postures up.
Rivera landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.
Rivera is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
Gracie throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Gracie is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Rivera trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mountain Rivera.
Rivera has his takedown stuffed

and Gracie counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rivera's guard now.
Gracie postures up.

Rivera looking for subs off his back but Gracie has passed one foot through into half guard.
Gracie is trying to control. Rivera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie prevents Rivera from improving his position.
Rivera is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.
Rivera wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling him.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gracie trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Gracie postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rivera pulls Gracie in close to his closed guard and prevents Gracie from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rivera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Rivera has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rivera trying to control but Gracie postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gracie lands a nice short elbow.
Gracie throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Gracie slips a nice elbow through Rivera's hands, connecting with Rivera's forehead.

Rivera kicks off Gracie and gets to his feet.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gracie sprawls well. Gracie wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gracie as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mountain Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie shoots in but Rivera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gracie. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mountain Rivera will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rivera moves into the clinch.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gracie's face.

Gracie is rocked!

It looks like Krooninen Gracie has been cut.
Rivera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gracie is still on wobbly legs! Can Rivera finish him?

Rivera gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rivera is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera controlling his opponent.

Rivera looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rivera drops a big elbow. That's hurt Gracie! More shots from Rivera and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mountain Rivera!