PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fausto Rivas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Armor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Armor is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivas
vs
Armor

161 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
153 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fausto Rivas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jon Armor !
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Bruno Lombardi and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Armor closes the distance and clinches.

Rivas jumps into guard, dragging Armor to the mat.
Armor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Armor throws a big right hand that misses.
Rivas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rivas is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivas wants to sweep here but Armor controlling him for the moment.
Armor tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivas is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armor stopping the sweep attempt from Rivas.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Armor throws a one two combo.

Armor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armor looks winded!
Armor throws a big right hand that misses.
Rivas controlling Armor 's posture.
Armor prevents Rivas from getting back to his feet.
Rivas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armor throws a strike but Rivas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rivas is in close to Armor 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rivas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rivas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rivas is stalling in the full guard.
Rivas tries to free his leg and advance position but Armor is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Armor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rivas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rivas.

Rivas decides to stand back up.
Rivas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Armor connects with the punch.
Armor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rivas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rivas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Armor defends it nicely.
Armor unleashes a big counter combination but Rivas bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Rivas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Fausto Rivas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Armor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rivas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Armor asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rivas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivas is trying to control Armor 's posture but Armor avoids it.
Rivas has one of Armor 's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivas is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Armor is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Armor is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armor raining down shots from the mount!
The referee warns Rivas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Armor working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Rivas slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.

Rivas kicks off Armor and gets to his feet.
Nice body punch from Armor .
Armor throws a leg kick

and Rivas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rivas is looking to stand up but Armor won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armor is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Rivas drops back looking for a leg! Armor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Armor manages to kick Rivas off! Rivas jumps back into Armor 's guard.
Armor wants to stand and escape but Rivas is having none of it.
Rivas looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armor is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rivas is controlling him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Rivas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Armor misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Rivas drives through with a takedown into Armor 's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Armor looking to control.
Rivas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rivas throwing strikes from guard but Armor blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armor wants to improve his position but instead Rivas has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fausto Rivas dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rivas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Armor is trying to defend but Rivas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Rivas seems to be working for a kimura but Armor defends the submission attempt.

Rivas is working for a kimura but Armor is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivas stops Armor from getting back to his feet.
Armor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivas working Armor over with strikes.
Rivas is trying to control. Armor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Armor looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rivas working over Armor with some ground and pound. Armor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rivas throwing shots but Armor is blocking nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Rivas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Armor to the ground. Rivas is now in Armor 's guard.
Rivas trying to control but Armor is working from the bottom.
Rivas controlling from the top position.
Armor keeping moving, preventing Rivas from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivas controlling from the top position.
Armor has momentary wrist control but Rivas slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivas is stalling in the full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Armor clinches up with Rivas and pushes him back against the cage.

Rivas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Armor uses from the top position.
Armor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rivas looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivas, not yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rivas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jon Armor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fausto Rivas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rivas holds on and takes a little breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fausto Rivas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fausto Rivas!