PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lamont Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Banner
vs
Rivera

185 cm
36
218 lbs
25 - 17 - 1

189 cm
45
216 lbs
34 - 30 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

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 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lamont Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 30 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juancho Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Banner takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Banner takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rivera throws out a powerful jab.
Banner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.
A jab from Rivera does it's job there.
A cross from Rivera lands.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
Banner attempts a counter takedown but Rivera avoids it well and moves away.
An inside leg kick lands from Rivera.
Rivera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Banner circles away quickly and effectively.
Juancho Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Banner was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Banner takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera misses the jab.
Rivera throws a hook but Banner avoids it easily.
Rivera keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Banner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivera.
A right-left combo lands from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a hook

and Banner counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Banner is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rivera has managed to free his arm - good work.

Banner is looking for submissions but instead, Rivera has regained full guard.
Rivera looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivera, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Banner wants to stand but Rivera is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera looking to control.

Banner drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rivera looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rivera looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there 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!
Banner is looking to reverse the position.

Rivera stands up.
Banner takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Banner seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Banner moves out of range of the strikes.
Banner appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rivera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rivera lands a nice looking kick to the body. Banner takes a step back to recover.
Rivera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Banner shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Banner is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Banner is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rivera is just riding it out for now. Banner eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to stand.

Banner is trying to work for a kimura but Rivera is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivera is looking to improve his position.
Banner is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Rivera reverses the position - he's now on top in Banner's guard.

Banner looking for subs off his back but Rivera has passed one foot through into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner won't allow Rivera to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juancho Rivera dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rivera cracks Banner with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rivera throws a leg kick

and Banner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Banner.
Rivera misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rivera scores with a shot to the side of Banner's head.
Rivera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera stops a takedown attempt from Banner.

Rivera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
Banner seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Banner dives in for a single leg takedown but Rivera sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rivera displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Banner.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera throws a jab but it's blocked by Banner.
Rivera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Banner changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera scores with a decent looking hook.
Juancho Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera cracks Banner with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rivera with a jab.
Banner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rivera throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Banner.
Banner walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rivera.
Jab, jab by Rivera - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner ducks under a wild hook from Rivera.
Rivera throws a hook to the side of Banner's head but Banner sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rivera scores with a nice strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Banner drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rivera sprawls and moves away.
Banner uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rivera.
Banner changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Banner scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rivera sneaks out the side door and pushes Banner away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rivera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Banner with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Rivera to score with a decent uppercut.
Banner avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Banner tries to counter with a takedown but Rivera is quick to defend against it.
Banner ducks right into an uppercut from Rivera.
Rivera throws a hook but Banner avoids it easily.
It looked like Banner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Banner slips a jab from Rivera.
Banner seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a head shot.
Rivera keeps Banner at a distance using the push kick.
Lamont Banner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera throws a hook but Banner avoids it easily.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Rivera lands a leg kick that knocks Banner off balance momentarily.
Banner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a body shot.
Juancho Rivera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rivera turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Banner has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rivera misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rivera lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banner slips a jab from Rivera.
Banner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rivera avoids it really well and circles away.
Banner slips a straight right by Rivera.

Banner feints and as Rivera raises his hands in defense, Banner changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rivera pushes Banner off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Rivera moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
Rivera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Banner checks a leg kick nicely.
Rivera scores with a jab to the head.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rivera misses with a hook

and Banner counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Banner.
Rivera lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera wants to break free but Banner has control.
Banner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rivera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rivera misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera has a couple of punches blocked by Banner.
A right hand to the body from Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rivera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Banner looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Banner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Banner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rivera walks away with a smile on his face. Banner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rivera is looking to slow Banner down with leg kicks.
Banner shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rivera sprawls well. Rivera wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Banner gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamont Banner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
Rivera throws a shot to the body.
Rivera connects with a right hand. Banner shakes it off.
Rivera throws a one two combo.
Lamont Banner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera takes a swing at Banner's ribcage but misses.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. Banner looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rivera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Banner.
Rivera scores with a nice strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rivera connects with a solid leg kick.
Banner needs to keep his hands up - Rivera had a free shot at his head there.
Banner doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rivera counters with a head kick. That will keep Banner thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rivera feints a jab promting Banner to slip. Rivera then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Banner slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Banner is rocked!
Banner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera seems to be stalking Banner here. He circles momentarily and then unleashes a devastatic head kick! Banner drops like a stone, out cold! WOW! Are you kidding me!? What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Juancho Rivera!