PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juancho Rivera will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mason
vs
Rivera

178 cm
40
181 lbs
31 - 18 - 0

189 cm
38
216 lbs
26 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

xXx Clothing (Nothing Over $20)
Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Mason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juancho Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rivera.

Mason moves into range and clinches up with Rivera.
Mason scores with a shoulder strike.
Rivera blocking some punches.
Rivera tries to throw a body punch but Mason avoids it by throwing Rivera back against the cage.
Mason is working Rivera over against the cage.
Rivera tries to throw a body punch but Mason avoids it by throwing Rivera back against the cage.
Rivera lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mason backwards.
Mason misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rivera breaks from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Mason counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mason displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.
Rivera darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rivera throws a head kick but Mason moves out of range.
Rivera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mason moves away.
Mason's corner calls for a 1-2. Mason obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Mason.
Rivera looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Rivera tries to keep at a distance but Mason has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mason throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Mason controls the action.
Rivera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivera has a couple of punches blocked by Mason.
Mason makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mason softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mason prevents Rivera from breaking the clinch.
Rivera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good body shot from Mason.
Rivera looks winded!
Mason lands a hook that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
A short left from Mason.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mason cracks Rivera with a nice body shot.
Mason lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Mason lands with a light punch inside.
A nice left hand lands by Mason.
Mason throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Riveras head.
Mason works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Still in the clinch, Mason scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mason lands a shoulder strike.
Mason makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mason lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Mason on the inside.
Nice body punch from Mason.
Mason lands with a light punch inside.
Mason stalling against the cage.
Nice body punch from Mason.
Mason is leaning against Rivera and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mason lands with a left to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Mason.
Mason lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Mason.
A short uppercut from Mason.
Mason lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Rivera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mason's elbow.
Mason lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mason lands a shoulder strike.
Mason lands a body punch.
Mason scores with a hook to the body.
Mason softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mason scores with a hook to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mason.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mason.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mason lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Mason scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mason lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Mason lands a takedown into guard.
Mason trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

Mason drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mason jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mason decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Rivera, up you get!
Jab by Mason.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab by Mason.
Mason looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Mason scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Rivera is defending against the submission attempts here by Mason.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mason looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Mason is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rivera defends it well.

Mason is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Rivera to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Mason pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Mason dominated that round.
That's time! Mason's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rivera fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rivera throws the left hand but Mason avoids the punch easily.
Mason scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rivera in his tracks.
Rivera has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Juancho Rivera has been cut.
Mason scores with a nice strike.
Mason scores with a decent looking hook.
Juancho Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mason shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rivera napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rivera is not content to let Mason control the position.
Mason prevents Rivera from escaping the position.

Mason is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rivera knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rivera knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rivera is not content to let Mason control the position.

Mason is trying to get an arm triangle but Rivera is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mason is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rivera is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Mason tries for a kimura but Rivera is defending well.
Mason is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?

Mason swings around for an armbar but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mason's guard.

Mason looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Mason pushes a forearm under Rivera's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Rivera is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Craig Mason!
An out of breath Craig Mason thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.