PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesse Maze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gionny Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Maze
vs
Rivera

160 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse Maze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gionny Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera connects with a high kick.
Maze lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivera circles away quickly and effectively.
Rivera pivots, looking for a leg kick but Maze is out of range and Rivera settles back down.
Rivera throws a body kick that misses.
Rivera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maze.
Maze ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.
Rivera throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maze counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rivera throws a hook but Maze avoids it easily.
Maze throws a nice looking combination but Rivera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maze throws a one two combo.
Rivera wants to clinch
and Maze counters with a two punch combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Maze's belly button to the back.
Rivera tries to land a front kick but Maze steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. Maze looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rivera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maze is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rivera looks to throw the jab but Maze is out of range.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maze moves away.
Maze uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rivera.

Rivera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Maze tries to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling the position.
Maze wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Maze moves into the clinch.
Maze can't break the clinch.
Maze is breathing heavily.
Rivera wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rivera prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rivera stalling in the clinch but Maze improves position.
Rivera jumps guard but Maze turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Maze can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maze's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Maze.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Some wild striking there from Maze.
Rivera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maze.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maze paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maze has a takedown stuffed.
Maze takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera misses with a kick to the body.
Rivera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maze manages to avoid it.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Maze circles away.
Maze blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maze was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Rivera throws a lazy right hand but Maze sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivera lands a head kick!
Rivera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Maze counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maze.

Rivera drags the fight down to the ground.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Maze is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Maze gets to his feet - Rivera follows without any prompting.
A good leg kick by Rivera.
Rivera misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivera misses with the combination.
Rivera throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rivera misses with a body kick.
Maze takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Maze does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Maze moves out of range easily.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maze misses with a two punch combination.
Rivera lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Maze circles away and keeps his distance.
Rivera is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maze moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on Maze's shoulder, as Maze tries to avoid the shot.
Rivera fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gionny Rivera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rivera misses with a looping right.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maze.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Rivera.

Maze closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rivera looking to stall.
Rivera wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rivera tries to pull guard but Maze forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rivera jumps guard but Maze stands there with Rivera around his waist. Rivera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Maze gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rivera.
Jesse Maze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gionny Rivera.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivera has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Maze is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Maze wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maze has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rivera after a bit of a struggle.

Maze manages to pull guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivera trying to control but Maze is working from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Maze holds on and takes a little breather.

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

Maze wriggles free and stands up.
Gionny Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maze.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maze on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jesse Maze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maze takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Maze avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Maze swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera lands a head kick!
Maze uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
Rivera tries to clinch but Maze is having none of it.
Rivera fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maze checks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rivera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maze sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivera scoring well with a low kick there.
Maze takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Maze darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Maze circles away and keeps his distance.
Rivera fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rivera throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maze swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rivera throws the kick towards the body but Maze avoids it.
Rivera lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rivera throws a shot from downtown. Maze moves away and avoids it.
Rivera throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Maze avoids the body shot from Rivera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Rivera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rivera tries to land a front kick but Maze steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maze steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rivera.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rivera stalls.
Maze jumps guard but Rivera stands there with Maze around his waist. Maze gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maze is trying to push Rivera away but Rivera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Rivera is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Maze pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gionny Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rivera misses with a leg kick.
Rivera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rivera there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maze misses with a two punch combination.
Maze is looking to clinch.
Rivera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Maze.
Rivera lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Rivera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Maze is just out of range.
Rivera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rivera looks to land a right hand but Maze moved out of range.
Rivera throws a wild body kick that Maze sees coming a mile off.
The fighters circling - Rivera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Maze throws a right and a left that Rivera avoids nicely.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maze moves away.
Maze is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maze throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rivera scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rivera looks to throw the jab but Maze is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown but Maze manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rivera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gionny Rivera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maze shoots for a double leg takedown but Rivera sprawls well. He's pushed Maze's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera looks to land a left hand but Maze moved out of range nicely.
Rivera jabs Maze right on the nose. Maze blinks but takes it well.
Rivera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Maze has Rivera up against the cage in a clinch.
Maze gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rivera.
Rivera wants to stall.
Rivera is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Maze to keep the fight standing.
Jesse Maze has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gionny Rivera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maze goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rivera prevents it.
Rivera tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivera is trying to break the clinch but Maze is controlling him.
Maze jumps guard but Rivera turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rivera tries to break the clinch but Maze is controlling the position.

Rivera manages to break the clinch.
Rivera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Rivera.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rivera.
Rivera connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maze throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maze manages to avoid it.
Rivera misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivera throws a combination. Maze tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rivera misses with a left hand
and Maze counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
A lazy left from Rivera finds it's target.
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Maze.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maze manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maze blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Maze moves away from the strike by Rivera.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera misses with an uppercut.
Rivera delivers a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maze looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jesse Maze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivera thows a body shot but no joy.
Rivera fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maze lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Maze.

Rivera clinches with his opponent.
Maze keeps control of Rivera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivera tries to pull guard but Maze holds him up against the cage and eventually Rivera drops back down to his feet.
Maze wants a takedown but no success here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera lands a two punch combo.
Gionny Rivera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A punch combination from Rivera misses.
Rivera takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gionny Rivera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rivera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

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