PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cortez Burns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmie Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burns
vs
Rivera

224 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

162 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cortez Burns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmie Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burns displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.
Burns is looking for a counter combo.

Rivera clinches up against the cage.

Burns manages to break the clinch.
Rivera goes for a double leg but Burns avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burns continues to drive forward.
Rivera darts in looking for a takedown but Burns gets double underhooks and turns Rivera into the cage.
Cortez Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmie Rivera.
Rivera misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera misses with a double jab.
Burns feinted with a counter takedown.
Rivera shoots for a takedown but Burns saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rivera just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBurns.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burns as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Burns counters with a two punch combo.
Rivera with a poor takedown
and Burns counters with a three punch combo that has Rivera backing up. Rivera nods at Burns to acknowledge the strikes.

Rivera rushes Burns and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Burns misses with a punch on the inside.
Rivera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Burns fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rivera looks winded!
Rivera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Burns counters with a left and a right that stings Rivera.
Rivera misses with a combination
and Burns counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Burns really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
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 moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fails to pull guard.
Burns stalling.
Burns prevents a body shot from Rivera.
Burns displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rivera up against the cage.
Burns looking for a takedown.
Burns content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rivera goes for a takedown in the clinch but Burns prevents it.
Rivera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Burns smiles and moves away.

Burns gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Burns counters with a two punch combo.

Rivera closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Burns did well to prevent Rivera getting side control.

Burns manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Rivera keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Burns holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Burns stalling against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Burns for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Burns controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Burns tries to land a knee to the head but Rivera blocks with his arms.
Burns fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Burns misses with a knee to the head.
Burns has Rivera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rivera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Burns fails to pull guard.
Rivera is trying to pull guard but Burns turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rivera has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Burns uses from the top position.
Burns being controlled here momentarily.
Burns 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cortez Burns 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.

Rivera throws a head kick that misses.

Burns instigates a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rivera tries to pull guard but Burns forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rivera gets underhooks to prevent Burns's takedown attempt.
Burns is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burns tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rivera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Burns scores with a knee to the head.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Burns counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Rivera clinches up with Burns and pushes him back against the cage.
Burns takes an elbow to the temple.
Rivera avoiding damage.
Rivera tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Burns just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cortez Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmie Rivera.
Burns wants a takedown.

Rivera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cortez Burns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rivera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Burns gets underhooks to prevent Rivera's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera successfully pulls guard.
Rivera throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Burns engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Burns pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
Burns won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Rivera being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rivera for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rivera controls Burns momentarily but Burns frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rivera is looking to score with low kicks.
Burns appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Rivera has closed the distance and engaged Burns in a clinch.
Burns is trying to force a seperation but Rivera has the dominant position.
Rivera landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to pull guard but Burns won't allow it.
Burns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?
Rivera has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Burns after a bit of a struggle.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Burns is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rivera drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Burns gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Burns is pressed up against the cage. Rivera has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Burns down to the mat. Burns avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Burns clinches up with Rivera and pushes him back against the cage.
Burns pushes Rivera back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera gets underhooks to prevent Burns's takedown attempt.
Burns lands a right hand.
Rivera blocks a punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimmie Rivera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Burns clinches up with Rivera and pushes him back against the cage.

Burns jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burns swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rivera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burns is trying to keep Rivera in close.

Burns had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rivera defends it easily.
Burns trying to keep a closed guard but Rivera is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burns works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burns avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Burns is trying to keep Rivera in close.
Rivera 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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Burns has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rivera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Burns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rivera fails with the takedown
and Burns counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cortez Burns is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fails with a takedown attempt.
Rivera has a takedown stuffed.
Cortez Burns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmie Rivera.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice takedown defense from Rivera. No joy for Burns on that attempt.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt - Burns sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Burns seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Burns darts in and clinches Rivera up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Burns breaks from the clinch.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Burns is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Burns is trying to pull guard but Rivera turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rivera is looking to take this one to the mat.

Burns's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera dives in and grabs Burns's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burns pushes down on Rivera's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rivera or perhaps it was just good defense by Burns, which made it look bad.
As Rivera looks to move away, Burns throws a big counter combo but Rivera just gets out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burns forces Rivera back against the cage and clinches.
Burns stalling against the cage.
Burns jumps guard but Rivera turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Burns gets underhooks to prevent Rivera's takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burns lands with a right to the head.
Burns is trying to pull guard but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
Rivera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cortez Burns showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burns has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cortez Burns!