PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Christopoulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Christopoulos
vs
Rivera

185 cm
27
210 lbs
14 - 12 - 1

189 cm
31
216 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry
Wolfpack Threadz

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

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 14 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Christopoulos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juancho Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Rivera. No joy for Christopoulos on that attempt.
Rivera misses with a looping right.
Rivera punishes Christopoulos's body with a nice straight punch.
Christopoulos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rivera scores with a decent looking hook.

It looks like Jason Christopoulos has been cut.
Christopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera punishes Christopoulos's body with a nice straight punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera lands with a shot to the body.
Christopoulos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rivera thows a body shot but no joy.
Christopoulos misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Rivera scores with a crisp jab that stopped Christopoulos in his tracks.
Christopoulos tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera scores with a punch to the head.
Christopoulos defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christopoulos misses with a right hand
and Rivera counters with a nice uppercut.
Rivera connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Christopoulos's hands.
Christopoulos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rivera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Christopoulos doesn't seem bothered though.
Christopoulos just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera cracks Christopoulos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rivera connects with a nice looking jab.
Rivera moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Christopoulos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rivera but Rivera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A shot to the liver by Christopoulos. Beautiful body shot.
Christopoulos ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rivera is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Christopoulos had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Rivera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera seems keen to control Christopoulos's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera wants to stand up but Christopoulos is controlling him.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Christopoulos pushing down on Rivera's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Christopoulos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Christopoulos throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rivera to regain full guard.
Rivera is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Christopoulos not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Christopoulos trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christopoulos scoring with punches to the head and body.
Christopoulos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Christopoulos throws a big right hand that misses.
Christopoulos wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Rivera is looking to stand up but Christopoulos isn't so interested in that idea.
Christopoulos controls from within his opponent's guard.
Christopoulos chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christopoulos works over Rivera with some ground and pound from guard.
Christopoulos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Christopoulos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivera is looking to stand up but Christopoulos isn't so interested in that idea.
Christopoulos throwing strikes but missing.
Rivera is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rivera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Christopoulos.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivera wants to stand up but Christopoulos is controlling him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juancho Rivera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason Christopoulos's cut.
That's time! Christopoulos's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivera bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rivera scores with a spinning back kick!
Rivera stuffs the takedown.
Christopoulos misses the shot to the body.
Christopoulos fails with the takedown.
Christopoulos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jason Christopoulos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Christopoulos scores a takedown into full mount!
Christopoulos punching from mount but Rivera doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Christopoulos trying to control but Rivera is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to lock up and control but Christopoulos gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Christopoulos thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
A nice elbow there by Christopoulos.
Christopoulos unloads with some shots from mount but Rivera bucks and avoids them well.
Christopoulos raining down shots from the mount!
Christopoulos throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rivera because Christopoulos loaded up on that one.
Christopoulos throwing strikes here but Rivera is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera holds of for dear life.
BOOM! Christopoulos connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Christopoulos jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Rivera is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Rivera and Christopoulos has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Christopoulos asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rivera stops Christopoulos from passing to mount.
Christopoulos is trying to ground and pound but Rivera uses the momentary lack of control by Christopoulos to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera taking some punishment here, with Christopoulos in his half guard.
Rivera manages to get to full guard.
Christopoulos throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.
Rivera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Christopoulos!
Christopoulos has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Christopoulos is trying to reverse the position but instead Rivera has taken his back - oops!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christopoulos trying to control the action but Rivera just sinks the hooks in.
Rivera keeps control of the position as Christopoulos tries to break free.
Christopoulos trying to control the action but Rivera just sinks the hooks in.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lull in the action here.
Rivera is hanging on to Christopoulos's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Christopoulos dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jason Christopoulos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Christopoulos loads up on a big right hand but Rivera slips the punch.
Rivera scores with a nice head shot.
Christopoulos displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.
Rivera throws a hook but Christopoulos avoids it easily.
Christopoulos is looking to wear down Rivera with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Rivera scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Christopoulos takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Christopoulos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Christopoulos misses with a straight left.
Christopoulos slips a straight right by Rivera.
Rivera lands a nice looking body shot.
Christopoulos on the wrong end of a nice jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Christopoulos lands a body shot.
Christopoulos avoids the body shot from Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christopoulos looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
Juancho Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera scores with a decent looking hook.
Rivera misses with a wild combination.
Christopoulos throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rivera counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rivera connects with an inside leg kick.
Christopoulos takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Christopoulos takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Christopoulos is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Jason Christopoulos's cut is getting worse.
Rivera connects with a single shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Christopoulos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rivera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivera lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Christopoulos misses the jab.
Christopoulos shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivera lands a jab to the head.
Rivera stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Christopoulos is defended easily by Rivera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Christopoulos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera lands a leg kick that knocks Christopoulos off balance momentarily.
Rivera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Christopoulos misses with a wild body shot.
Christopoulos on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Christopoulos.
Christopoulos shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivera pinned against the cage. Rivera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rivera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rivera fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Christopoulos takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Christopoulos fails with the takedown.
Rivera lands a slapping body shot.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Christopoulos manages to avoid it.
Rivera scores with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera connects with a good right hand that stumbles Christopoulos. Christopoulos circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Christopoulos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christopoulos takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice uppercut there from Rivera.

Jason Christopoulos's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rivera throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rivera connects with a crisp jab.
Rivera lands a jab to Christopoulos's midsection.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Christopoulos's belly button to the back.
Rivera stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivera lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A jab from Rivera does it's job there.

Christopoulos is rocked!
Rivera takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juancho Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rivera 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

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