PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Rivera (ranked 4649 p4p, 356 weight class) and Peter Heart (ranked 1939 p4p, 188 weight class). Heart is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Eric Church - Record Year. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivera
vs
Heart

157 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 2

180 cm
27
155 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 2, fighting out of London, Ruben Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Peter Heart!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heart has managed to clinch.
Rivera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Heart misses with a punch on the inside.
Heart blocks an elbow strike.
Heart takes an elbow to the temple.
Rivera blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Heart avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Heart tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Heart wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rivera connects with a knee to the head.
Rivera misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivera lands an elbow just above Heart 's eye.
Rivera misses with an elbow strike.
Heart pushes Rivera back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Heart throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Heart.
Heart avoids the elbow strike from Rivera, against the cage.
Heart misses with some punches.
Heart on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera throws an elbow but it misses.
Heart on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Heart tightens his grip and picks Rivera up, before dumping him to the ground. Rivera manages to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heart wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Heart in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Heart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Heart makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Heart throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heart postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Heart throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rivera has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heart trying to control the position here.
Heart has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Heart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heart controlling the position.
Rivera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rivera has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rivera's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ruben Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heart connects with a body shot.
Heart lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Heart lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Rivera moves into the clinch successfully.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heart.
Rivera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivera.
Heart tries to throw a body punch but Rivera avoids it by throwing Heart back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heart softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rivera lands an elbow that stopped Heart in his tracks for a moment.
Rivera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Heart lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Rivera prevents a body shot from Heart.
Rivera throws an elbow that misses.
Heart pushes Rivera back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heart is defending well for now.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heart fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Heart working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Heart tightens his grip and picks Rivera up, before dumping him to the ground. Rivera manages to land in guard.
Rivera knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Heart on the ground.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Heart from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Peter Heart will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rivera misses with a body kick.
Rivera throws a leg kick
and Heart counters with a stiff right hand.
Heart darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Rivera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Heart, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Heart is blocking nicely.
Heart drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Heart misses with the head strike.
Rivera scores a nice knee to the body.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Heart avoids the damage to the body.
Heart dodges an elbow strike from Rivera.
Heart misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heart makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rivera misses with an elbow strike.
Rivera misses with an elbow over the top.
Heart misses with the head strike.
Heart lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heart misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heart blocks the elbow strike.
Rivera lands an elbow that stopped Heart in his tracks for a moment.
Heart takes a knee right on the jaw!
A knee to the head by Rivera.
Heart throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Heart throws a head punch that misses.
Heart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Heart wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ruben Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Heart.
Heart can't get the takedown.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heart.
A head punch on the inside from Heart fails to land.
Heart blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Rivera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rivera lands a good knee to the midsection. Heart won't want to take too many of those.
Heart is breathing heavily.
Rivera lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rivera lands a knee to the body.
Heart fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Heart misses with the head strike.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heart is defending well for now.
Rivera lands an elbow that stopped Heart in his tracks for a moment.
Heart avoids a wild elbow strike from Rivera.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rivera throws an elbow but misses.
Rivera working Heart over with knees to the body.
Heart gets through Rivera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Heart avoids the elbow strike from Rivera, against the cage.
Rivera throws an elbow but it misses.
Rivera lands a nice elbow.
Rivera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Heart.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands an elbow inside.
Heart scores with a nice hook to the head.
Heart tries for a takedown. No joy.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivera.
Heart swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heart blocks the elbow strike.
Heart takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Peter Heart has been cut.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Heart.
Rivera is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Heart blocks an elbow strike.
Rivera is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Heart can do to turn this around?
Heart is working for takedown but Rivera is calmly controlling the position for now.
Heart misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ruben Rivera has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rivera lands a nice elbow.
Heart misses with a hook from the clinch.
Heart managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Heart takes an elbow to the temple.
Rivera lands a good knee to the midsection. Heart won't want to take too many of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rivera throws an elbow but it misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice elbow from Rivera.
Rivera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rivera lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Heart on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Heart blocks the elbow strike.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heart avoids it.
Heart misses with a punch on the inside.
Heart on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera pushes off an throws an elbow but Heart leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rivera gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rivera misses with an elbow over the top.
Heart looking for a takedown.
Rivera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heart is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Rivera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Peter Heart's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rivera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Heart's calf.
Peter Heart is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Heart stalks Rivera and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rivera's face. Rivera staggers backwards, shaken.
Rivera throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Heart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Heart rushes Rivera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Heart has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rivera avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Heart wants a takedown.
Heart avoids the elbow strike from Rivera, against the cage.
Rivera lands an elbow inside.
Heart makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Heart misses with a body punch.
Rivera lands a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Heart has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rivera regains guard immediately.

Rivera scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Rivera tenderised Heart's leg. Heart is trying to keep his angry face on.

Rivera clinches up with Heart and pushes him back against the cage.
Heart drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ruben Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Heart.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rivera just misses with a elbow thrown towards Heart's brow.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heart avoids it.
A nice left hand lands by Heart.
Rivera comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Heart throws a head punch that misses.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Heart blocks with his arms.
Heart working aggressively here.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Heart.
Heart misses with some punches.
Heart tries for a takedown. No joy.
Heart takes a knee to the side of the body.
Heart takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heart drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Heart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Heart blocks an elbow strike from Rivera.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera prevents a body shot from Heart.
Heart blocks an elbow strike from Rivera.
Rivera lands a knee to the head.
Heart takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heart has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heart on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heart avoids it.
Heart blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heart avoids it.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.

Heart has picked Rivera up - he's going for a ride! Heart dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to stand.
Heart thows a huge punch but Rivera dodges it nicely.
Heart slips a nice elbow through Rivera's hands, connecting with Rivera's forehead.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivera is concentrating on defense, preventing Heart from advancing position.
My spies in Shit House inform me that Heart has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Heart looks to land a strike but Rivera avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Heart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Heart throws a big right hand that misses.
Heart postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rivera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Heart throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.
Rivera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Heart moves out of range of the body kick from Rivera.
Heart is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Heart moves out of range easily.
Heart swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rivera misses with an uppercut. Heart saw that one coming.
Rivera drops his hands momentarily and Heart takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Rivera closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Heart as the two fighters clinch.
Heart wants to take the fight to the mat but Rivera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rivera scores a nice knee to the body.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Heart blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Heart has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rivera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rivera prevents a takedown attempt there.
Heart can't get the takedown.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Heart's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruben Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rivera 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruben Rivera!
During a confident post fight interview, Ruben Rivera thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Peter Heart was interviewed post fight and said 'Fuck this! Let's do it again.'.