PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lenard Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owens has chosen Thunderstruck by AC/DC as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rivera
vs
Owens

207 cm
26
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lenard Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joseph Owens!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens scores with a jab to the body.

Owens drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Rivera has his foot on Owens's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Owens works his way back into a safe position though.

Owens stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Rivera clinches up against the cage.
Rivera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Rivera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Owens.
Rivera feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Rivera moves out of range of the body kick from Owens.
Rivera quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

Owens shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Owens decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera avoids the head kick by Owens.
Rivera appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Owens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Owens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Owens is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rivera is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Rivera's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Owens is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to reverse the position.
Rivera is not content to let Owens control the position.
Rivera wants to control but Owens postures up.

Owens decides to stand back up.
Rivera avoids the head kick by Owens.
Owens throws a jab but it's blocked by Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivera is defended easily by Owens.

Rivera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rivera lands in his opponent's guard.
Owens is wriggling around but Rivera manages to pass to half guard.

Owens trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera working the head and body with strikes.
Owens looks winded!
Owens wants to get back to full guard.
Rivera trying to control from half guard but Owens is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera tries to pass to full mount but Owens defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens trying to hold on to Rivera's head to control him but Rivera postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Owens dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Rivera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Owens.

Owens moves into the clinch.

Owens drags the fight down to the ground.
Owens is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Owens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera looking to sit in guard and control but Owens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rivera throws his legs up looking for a submission but Owens uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to buck Owens off but Owens is having none of it.
Rivera is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Owens is controlling him well.
Rivera is looking to regain half guard here but Owens keeps moving and retains side control.
Rivera looking for a sweep but Owens has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rivera regains half guard.
Owens seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rivera does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Owens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Owens is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Owens trying to control from half guard but Rivera is working away.
Owens is breathing heavily.

Rivera looking for submissions off his back.
Rivera flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera looking for submissions off his back.
Rivera is trying to maintain the position but Owens is very close to passing his half guard.
Rivera is looking for a sweep. Owens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera scores with a few weak punches.

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

Owens shoots in and bounces Rivera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Owens trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera is looking for a triangle but Owens pushes his legs off easily.
Owens trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera is trying to control the position but Owens postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Owens cracks Rivera with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Owens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rivera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Rivera clinches with his opponent.
Rivera wants to break free but Owens has control.
Rivera tries to break free but Owens pushes him back against the cage.

Rivera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Owens.
Rivera gets back to half guard.
Owens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Owens stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Rivera to get to his feet.

Owens fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rivera, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Owens pulls Rivera into guard.

Owens pushes Rivera off and scrambles back to his feet.
Joseph Owens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Owens drives through with a takedown into guard.

Rivera has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Owens off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Owens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rivera forces Owens back against the cage and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Owens pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rivera wants to clinch but Owens slips to the side

and Owens counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rivera won't be happy with that.
Rivera manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rivera wants to control but Owens is keeping busy.
Rivera is trying to control but Owens manages to pass to mount!
Rivera is desperately trying to improve his position but Owens has a good base and remains in mount.

Owens goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rivera turns into him and now he's in Owens's guard.
Rivera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera preventing the sweep.
Rivera will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Owens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rivera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Owens is keeping the position for now.
Rivera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

Owens working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rivera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rivera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rivera is pushing down on Owens's leg trying to pass to half guard. Owens is fighting to maintain full guard but Rivera has managed to sneak the leg through.

Rivera decides to stand up.
Lenard Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joseph Owens is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Rivera clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lenard Rivera.
I think Owens has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Owens!
A determined Joseph Owens didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!