PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Smith has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Smith
vs
Rivera

195 cm
21
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smith showed some decent athleticism there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smith tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rivera.
Smith thows a huge punch but Rivera dodges it nicely.
Smith is nestled in close to Rivera, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rivera defending well though.
Rivera has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smith working Rivera over with strikes.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Rivera has eaten all the pies!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Smith throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to escape.
Smith throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rivera with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rivera manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Rivera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Rivera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
Smith postures up in Rivera's guard and throws a big left but Rivera blocks it.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.
Smith throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Smith has a closed guard, preventing Rivera from standing up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith wants to stand but Rivera is controlling the position.
Rivera wants to stand but Smith is controlling his posture from full guard.
Smith wants to stand up but Rivera is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is working an open guard so Rivera takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smith misses with the combination.
Rivera wants to clinch up but Smith keeps it at a distance.
Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.

Rivera forces Smith back against the cage and clinches.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith jumps guard but Rivera turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rivera scores with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.

Smith wants the takedown. Rivera is fighting it off but Smith persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rivera's guard against the cage.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Smith throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Smith throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rivera trying to stand up but can't free himself from Smith's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rivera won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.
Smith being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Smith dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Rivera's guard.
Rivera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Smith!
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Rivera wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Rivera tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smith is looking to escape.
Rivera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johnny Rivera wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rivera wants to clinch.

Smith gets the takedown into side control.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smith working the strikes but Rivera uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rivera wants to get back to full guard.
Smith missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rivera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera gets back to full guard.
Smith postures up.
Smith scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.
Smith throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rivera looking to pass the guard.
Rivera wanted to stand there but Smith had control of the position.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rivera trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith pushes Rivera off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Rivera gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smith to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Smith missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Rivera working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Smith has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivera is controlling him.
Rivera tries to stand but Smith is controlling from the bottom.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Rivera controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johnny Rivera.
Rivera moves in looking to clinch but Smith pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Smith dominated that second round.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Rivera tries to clinch there but Smith circles away.

Smith shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rivera to regain full guard.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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 wants to stand and escape but Rivera is having none of it.
Rivera is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Rivera gets to his feet - Smith follows without any prompting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnny Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smith shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rivera sprawls well. Rivera wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Smith misses the jab.
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivera.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smith manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smith closes the distance and clinches up with Rivera, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes Rivera against the cage but Rivera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smith paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jim Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera tries to clinch but Smith moves out of range.
Johnny Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jim Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith gets tackled into the cage by Rivera. Rivera maintains the clinch.
Rivera lands a knee to the body.
Rivera blocks an uppercut.
Rivera has Smith pressed against the cage.
Smith is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Rivera prevents the takedown attempt.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rivera gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rivera stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Smith here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Smith avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Smith taking a breather.
Rivera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smith is defending well for now.
Smith tries to pull guard but Rivera forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Smith pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.

Rivera has managed to clinch.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smith avoids it.
Rivera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
Smith drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivera pulls his leg out and moves away.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivera pinned against the cage. Rivera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smith shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rivera pinned against the cage. Rivera gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera takes the fight into the clinch.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rivera avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Smith pulls guard.

Smith has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rivera off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera tries to clinch but Smith moves away

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Jim Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rivera wants to stand but Smith is controlling his posture from full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johnny Rivera.
I think Smith has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Smith!