PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezekiel Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hughes
vs
Rivera

188 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

189 cm
41
216 lbs
29 - 25 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Granite chin

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ezekiel Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juancho Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera connects with a jab.
Hughes wants to clinch up but Rivera keeps it at a distance.
Hughes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hughes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Juancho Rivera has been cut.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hughes was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Hughes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rivera moves out of range of the body kick.
No joy there for Hughes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rivera wants to slow Hughes down by chopping away at his legs.
Rivera moves out of range of the body kick from Hughes.
A countering left hand to the body from Rivera misses.
A jab lands there for Rivera.
Hughes throws a head kick that misses.
Hughes throws a big shot that misses.
It seemed like Rivera was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A jab from Rivera misses.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
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!
Hughes wants to clinch.
Juancho Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rivera ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rivera stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hughes.
Hughes misses with a wild body shot.
Hughes scores with a push kick.
Hughes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hughes walks into a stiff left hand from Rivera.
Rivera is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hughes rather than just go for the knockout.
Rivera takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rivera misses with a hook. Hughes ducked under it nicely.
Rivera takes one to the chin there.

Hughes instigates a clinch.
Rivera lands a body punch in the clinch.
I was talking to Hughes's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Hughes controls the action.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Hughes controls the action.
Hughes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rivera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a punch to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Hughes.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rivera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rivera has a couple of punches blocked by Hughes.
Rivera lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rivera stalling.
Hughes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hughes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hughes misses with the head strike.
Rivera cracks Hughes with a nice body shot.
The referee calls for Rivera to work.
Hughes is looking to break free of the clinch but Rivera has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivera tries a body shot but Hughes blocks it.
Rivera working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hughes.
A head punch on the inside from Hughes fails to land.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Hughes controls the action.
Hughes prevents a body shot from Rivera.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rivera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rivera misses with a body punch.
Rivera misses with a body punch.
Rivera is trying to stall.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Hughes controls the action.
Rivera scores with a shoulder strike.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hughes looking to stall.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughes controls his hands.
Hughes blocks a body shot from Rivera.
Hughes is looking to control Rivera's arms but Rivera gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hughes has his back to the cage.
Hughes throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rivera on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hughes throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivera blocks a body shot from Hughes.
Hughes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hughes tries a body shot but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera misses with a body punch.
Hughes looking to stall.
Rivera is working Hughes over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juancho Rivera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juancho Rivera's cut.
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.

That kick from Rivera tenderised Hughes's leg. Hughes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Juancho Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera throws a body shot but no joy.
Jab from Rivera.
Hughes throws a head kick but Rivera moves out of range.
Hughes avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Hughes appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Rivera sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rivera appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Rivera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Hughes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rivera, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivera lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hughes or not.
Rivera tries to work over Hughes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rivera takes a shot to the head.
Hughes is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes stalling in the clinch but Rivera improves position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rivera struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughes controls his hands.
Hughes swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hughes backwards.
Rivera tries to throw a body punch but Hughes avoids it by throwing Rivera back against the cage.
Rivera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Hughes controls the action.
Rivera tries to work over Hughes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hughes missing with knees to the body.
Rivera is working Hughes over against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hughes tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.
Rivera working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rivera can't find room to land a body shot as Hughes controls the action.
Juancho Rivera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rivera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hughes as Rivera tries to tie him up.
Hughes prevents a body shot from Rivera.
Hughes trying to stall but Rivera improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands with a light punch inside.
Hughes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rivera misses with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rivera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rivera lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rivera scores with a shoulder strike.
Rivera scores with a shoulder strike.
Hughes prevents a body shot from Rivera.
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 lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hughes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivera avoids it.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Rivera connects with a solid leg kick.
Hughes defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.
Hughes takes a swing at Rivera's ribcage but misses.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes connects with an inside leg kick.
Hughes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hughes tries to clinch there but Rivera circles away.
Rivera digs a good hook to Hughes's body.
Hughes tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera lands the left hand.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rivera counters with an outside leg kick.
Hughes throws out a leg kick but Rivera moves out of range and Hughes only half commits.
Rivera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hughes.
Hughes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rivera. Rivera circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rivera scores with a jab to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Rivera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hughes lands a right hook to the body.
Rivera cracks Hughes with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera lands with an uppercut that bounces Hughes off the cage and back into range.
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hughes swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rivera counters with a stiff right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hughes. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hughes moves forwards but Rivera connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rivera cracks Hughes with an open hand slap.

Hughes is rocked!
BOOM! Rivera lands a beautiful left hook that drops Hughes. Hughes tries to recover but Rivera is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Hughes lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Juancho Rivera!