PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Noel Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Duality - Slipknot. Juancho Rivera has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivera
vs
Smith

189 cm
31
216 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

191 cm
28
219 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Dynamic Nutrition $35 159 Recovery

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juancho Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Noel Smith!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Ian Loll and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rivera.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Rivera sprawls well.
Smith looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rivera is fending him off so far but Smith persists. Nope, Rivera circles away and we're back to standing.
Rivera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rivera misses with a low kick as Smith jumps back.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Smith shoots for a takedown but Rivera saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Juancho Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Noel Smith.
Smith takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smith takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rivera swings for the body but Smith moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Smith shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rivera is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Rivera's temple.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rivera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Smith throws a strike but Rivera avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rivera keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Smith throws an elbow that misses. Rivera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Rivera!
Smith is trying to keep Rivera in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control the position here.
Smith trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Rivera from standing up.
Rivera won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Rivera has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Noel Smith was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rivera with a hook.
Rivera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rivera swivels and escapes.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rivera defends it nicely.
Rivera throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith with a poor takedown
and Rivera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rivera circles away.
Rivera lands a right hook to the body.
Rivera throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Noel Smith will probably get the nod.
That's time! Rivera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rivera moves away.
Rivera misses the jab.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smith scores with a hook.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivera.
Juancho Rivera is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Smith momentarily.
Jab, jab by Smith - just one landing.
Rivera lands a slapping body shot.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivera scores with a jab. Smith acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Rivera throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Smith in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Who's going to make the next move?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Smith trying to control the action but Rivera is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Smith lands a nice forearm strike.
Smith prevents Rivera from escaping the position.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smith postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith in side control lands a decent elbow.

Smith tries for a kimura but Rivera is defending well.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rivera is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Smith is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera working to try and regain half guard.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smith lands a heavy elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera working to try and regain half guard.
Rivera is trying to stand up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith landing punches.
Rivera in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noel Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rivera thows a body shot but no joy.

It looks like Juancho Rivera has been cut.
Rivera swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rivera doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Oooh a lovely combination from Smith sends Rivera down but not out. Smith dives into side control looking to finish.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rivera's shoulder. That is not cool.
Noel Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

Smith looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Smith wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rivera, who protects the arm well.
Rivera struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rivera knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Smith has hold of Rivera's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Rivera tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Smith cranks the arm and Rivera screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Rivera, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Noel Smith!
Noel Smith decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.