PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lester Avila (ranked 25292 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Rivera (ranked 6053 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Avila
vs
Rivera

200 cm
18
214 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lester Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera lands a nice hook to Avila's body. Avila takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Avila as he jumps to the side.

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

Avila jumps guard and drags Rivera to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Avila working a defensive guard here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rivera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avila trying to control the position.
Rivera is pushing down on Avila's leg trying to pass to half guard. Avila is fighting to maintain full guard but Rivera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rivera trying to mount his opponent but Avila defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Avila wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy.
Rivera not doing much here.
Avila trying to hold on to Rivera's head to control him but Rivera postures up.

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.

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

Avila looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Rivera wriggles free and stands up.
Avila slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivera, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Avila was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Avila on the side of the head.

It looks like Lester Avila has been cut.
Rivera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Avila swivels and escapes.
It looked like Avila wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lester Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Rivera.
Avila wants to clinch but Rivera slips to the side

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rivera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rivera postures up in Avila's guard and throws a big left but Avila blocks it.
Rivera landing with the ground and pound.
Rivera content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Avila looking for subs off his back but Rivera has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rivera slows the pace down in half guard.
Avila trying to hold on to Rivera's head to control him but Rivera postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Rivera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lester Avila's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Avila takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Rivera moves into the clinch.
Avila tries to pull guard but Rivera won't allow it.
Rivera tries to pull guard but Avila won't allow it.

Rivera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rivera moves into the clinch.
Avila is trying to drag Rivera to the mat but Rivera just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Avila wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Avila has Rivera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rivera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Avila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Avila wants to break the clinch but can't.
Avila wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Avila's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rivera gets caught flat footed, as Avila shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rivera wants to stand up but Avila is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rivera pushes Avila off and gets back to his feet.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Avila circles away and keeps his distance.
Avila throwing a counter right hand but Rivera manages to avoid it.
Rivera stuffs the takedown attempt from Avila. Avila gets slowly back to his feet.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Avila as he avoids it easily.

Rivera clinches.

Rivera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rivera throws a head kick but Avila moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera tries for a takedown but Avila sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Avila as he avoids it easily.
A big left from Avila misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivera is defended easily by Avila.
Rivera tries to clinch up
and Avila counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Rivera connects with a looping right hand.

Rivera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Avila sprawls well initially but Rivera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rivera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Avila is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Avila trying to control but Rivera postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera blocks the strikes from Avila.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lester Avila's cut.
That's time! Avila's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Avila circles away from the clinch attempt.
Avila is looking to counter punch.

Avila gets tackled into the cage by Rivera. Rivera maintains the clinch.
Rivera lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Avila tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rivera drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Avila gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Avila 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. Avila gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rivera shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Avila is trying to defend but Rivera finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Avila preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila trying to control but Rivera postures up.
Rivera looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Avila is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rivera's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rivera's back!
Rivera trying to get back to his feet but Avila is in full control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avila missing with strikes from the back.
Avila is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Rivera is trying to get back to his feet but Avila has full control of the position and if anything, Rivera has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Rafael Rivera has got the better of the ground game so far.

Avila is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rivera is defending well though. Avila let's go of the attempt for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera is trying to get back to his feet but Avila has full control of the position and if anything, Rivera has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila lands with a hammerfist to the side of Rivera's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.

Rivera is trying to shake Avila off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Avila won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
No luck for Rivera with that takedown attempt.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera tries for a takedown but Avila circles away easily
and Avila counters with a nice body shot.
Lester Avila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael Rivera.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Avila circles away.

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 Lester Avila.
Well Rivera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Rivera!