PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Pounder might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to People in Planes-Last Man Standing. Juancho Rivera told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Pounder
vs
Rivera

186 cm
38
222 lbs
31 - 19 - 1

189 cm
35
216 lbs
21 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 31 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jim Pounder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Juancho Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Rivera coming out on top.
Pounder displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.
Rivera misses with a lunging right hand

and Pounder counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rivera!
Pounder tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rivera's legs.

Pounder goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rivera rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pounder's guard! Nice work there by Rivera!
Pounder is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivera is controlling him.
Rivera is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rivera won't allow Pounder to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera wants to stand but Pounder is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pounder seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Juancho Rivera has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivera misses the target.
Rivera misses with a hook.
Pounder getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looks to land a right hand but Pounder moved out of range.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Pounder is just out of range.
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Pounder.
Rivera misses with a looping left.
Rivera tries to bum rush Pounder with a series of wild strikes but Pounder uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rivera misses with a looping left.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivera misses the target.
A leg kick checked by Pounder.
Rivera cracks the inside of Pounder's front leg.
Rivera swings for the body but Pounder moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pounder circles away quickly and effectively.
Pounder uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rivera.
Rivera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rivera connects with a solid leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Pounder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on Pounder's shoulder, as Pounder tries to avoid the shot.
Good leg kick by Rivera there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera thuds his right hand into Pounder's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Pounder takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounder dives in and grabs Rivera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rivera pushes down on Pounder's head and hops out.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Pounder.
Rivera looks to land a left hand but Pounder moved out of range nicely.
Rivera throws a leg kick

and Pounder counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pounder is controlling the pace.
Rivera is staying active underneath Pounder, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pounder is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rivera is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juancho Rivera will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Pounder will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Pounder gets a double leg takedown into Rivera's guard.
Pounder stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rivera pushes Pounder off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rivera misses with a looping right.
Rivera throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pounder avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rivera swings for the body but Pounder moves out of range.
Rivera slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Juancho Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pounder ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.
Juancho Rivera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pounder avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Rivera throws an overhand right that lands on Pounder's shoulder, as Pounder tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a right hand

and Pounder counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rivera's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Pounder from controlling successfully.
Rivera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pounder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pounder is looking to pass into half guard but Rivera pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rivera is in guard.
Pounder is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivera is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to stand but Pounder is controlling from the bottom.
Jim Pounder overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivera stops Pounder from standing up.

Pounder scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rivera misses with an uppercut. Pounder saw that one coming.
Rivera pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pounder is out of range and Rivera settles back down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rivera.
Rivera pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pounder is out of range and Rivera settles back down.
Nice straight punches there by Rivera. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rivera.
Pounder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera throws a jab when Pounder was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands with a good body shot.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pounder manages to avoid it.
Rivera misses with a straight right.
Rivera throws a chopping leg kick but Pounder manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
The fighters circling - Rivera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rivera looks to land a right hand but Pounder moved out of range.
Jim Pounder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pounder moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera misses with the combination.
Rivera scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juancho Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pounder uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pounder.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera throws a right hand that misses

and Pounder counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rivera!
Rivera is not content to let Pounder control the position.
Pounder tries to move to mount but Rivera blocks the move with his legs.

Pounder goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rivera has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pounder but great work by Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rivera is controlling him well.
Rivera happy to just control the position for now.

Pounder sneaks out the side door and pushes Rivera away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rivera throws out a loose jab but Pounder uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rivera throws a right hand that Pounder ducks under and follows up with a left that Pounder also avoids with ease.
Rivera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pounder uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Pounder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pounder slips a straight right by Rivera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounder closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Rivera lands with a good body shot.
Pounder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.
Rivera lands with a thumping leg kick.
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!
Rivera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pounder stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Juancho Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera lands a head kick. Pounder smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rivera tries to work over Pounder's front leg with a kick but Pounder checks it.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Pounder is just out of range.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pounder moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera works the jab nicely.
Rivera comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Pounder does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pounder checks a leg kick nicely.
A bone on bone clash there as Pounder blocks the leg kick.
Juancho Rivera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pounder keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.
Rivera lands a nice looking body shot.
Rivera works the jab nicely.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rivera.
Pounder takes one to the chin there.
Pounder moves out of range as Rivera strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Pounder is just out of range.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Pounder moves out of range.
Rivera throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pounder.
Pounder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rivera fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jim Pounder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivera lands a jab to the head.
Rivera looks to land a left hand but Pounder moved out of range nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lazy left from Rivera finds it's target.
Rivera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Pounder's calf.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juancho 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

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