PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe River (ranked 2538 p4p, 286 weight class) and Sergio Bujol (ranked 2143 p4p, 248 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Sergio Bujol enters the cage!

River
vs
Bujol

170 cm
35
160 lbs
20 - 3 - 0

180 cm
40
159 lbs
33 - 19 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergio Bujol!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bujol lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but River circles away quickly and effectively.
Bujol wants to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
River throws an overhand right that lands on Bujol's shoulder, as Bujol tries to avoid the shot.

River tries to keep at a distance but Bujol has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bujol works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River blocks an elbow strike from Bujol.
Bujol blocking some punches.
Bujol struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bujol told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Bujol controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bujol blocks a body shot from River.
Bujol effectively controlling the action here.
Bujol is working River over against the cage.
River lands a shot to the body.
A short uppercut from River.

River breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
River takes a swing at Bujol's ribcage but misses.
River throws a wild body kick that Bujol sees coming a mile off.
Bujol moves out of range as River strikes.
River misses with a looping right.

Bujol closes the distance and clinches.
Bujol misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from River.
River tries to throw a body punch but Bujol avoids it by throwing River back against the cage.
Bujol tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
Bujol blocks a body shot from River.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bujol taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
River definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bujol lands a left hand that snaps the head of River backwards.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
River avoids the elbow strike from Bujol, against the cage.
Bujol slowing the pace effectively.

River escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bujol gets in close and instigates a clinch.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Bujol controls the action.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bujol throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
River swats away the attempt to clinch by Bujol.
A little feinted left hand from River on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bujol blocks a head kick by River.
Bujol tries to clinch up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bujol looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
River keeps the fight on the outside.
River throws a looping overhand right but Bujol ducks down to avoid it.
Bujol lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bujol.
Bujol slips under a jab from River.
River misses with a double jab.
River lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bujol looks for the body kick but River saw that one coming.
River scores with a head kick. Bujol tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
River pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Bujol gets a clinch.
River lands on the inside with an uppercut.
River lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River misses with a hook to the ribs.
River blocks a body shot from Bujol.
River blocks a body shot from Bujol.
Bujol is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but River is keeping busy.
Bujol prevents a body shot from River.
Bujol misses with a body punch.
Bujol goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bujol trying to control the position but instead, River has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bujol into the cage.
Bujol tried to land a shot to the body but connects with River's elbow.
Bujol misses with a body punch.
River misses with a punch on the inside.
Bujol tries to work over River's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
River fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bujol struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
Bujol lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
River lands a body punch in the clinch.
River tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bujol's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River has a couple of punches blocked by Bujol.
River prevents a body shot from Bujol.
Bujol misses with a hook to the ribs.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River scores with a hook to the body.
Bujol digs a right hand underneath River's ribcage. River let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Bujol lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bujol wants to stall.
River lands with a right to the head.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Bujol controls the action.
Bujol misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River presses Bujol against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
River throws a head punch that misses.
River swings wildly with an uppercut but Bujol uses good head movement to avoid it.
River tries to work over Bujol's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River lands with a light punch inside.
Bujol stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe River 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.

River connects with a body shot.

Bujol has managed to clinch.
River cracks Bujol with a nice body shot.
Joe River has scored more points in the clinch so far.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from River.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from River.
Bujol misses with a punch to the body.
River blocks a body shot from Bujol.
A nice right hand lands inside from River.
River stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Bujol controls his hands.
River tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bujol prevents a body shot from River.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bujol misses with a body punch.
Bujol misses with a hook to the ribs.
River tries to work over Bujol's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bujol uses good head movement to avoid the hook from River.
Bujol uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by River.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bujol scores with a body shot.
Bujol blocks a jab.
River tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Joe River is winning the standup battle so far.
River misses with a straight right.
River throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Bujol counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sergio Bujol is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bujol misses with a straight right.
Bujol tries to close the distance and clinch up but River swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bujol pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bujol dodges the punch combination from River.
Bujol doesn't manage to clinch there - River circles away.
River throws a right hand that Bujol ducks under and follows up with a left that Bujol also avoids with ease.
River avoids a punch combination nicely.
River appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice jab there from River.
River throws a head kick that misses.
Bujol misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bujol defending well as River loads up on a big left hand.
Bujol doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
River just misses with a punch to the body.
River cracks Bujol with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Bujol.
Bujol throws a sloppy head kick and River moves out of range easily.
River throws a right and a left that Bujol avoids nicely.
Bujol moves away from the strike by River.
River throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bujol sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Bujol gets a clinch.
River misses with a hook from the clinch.
River misses with a punch to the body.
Bujol tries to stall but River uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bujol tries to throw a body punch but River avoids it by throwing Bujol back against the cage.
River doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bujol misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River struggles to land a body shot inside as Bujol controls his hands.
Bujol is pushing River up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
River misses with a body punch.

River pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bujol ducks down and throws a hook to the body but River moves away.
Bujol misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bujol looks to land a combination but River avoids it well.
Bujol misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bujol misses with a series of wild punches.
Bujol tries to close the distance and clinch up but River swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bujol throws a front kick aimed at River's knee but River avoids it well.
River throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bujol throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
River throws a wild body kick that Bujol sees coming a mile off.
River swings widly with a right hand
and Bujol counters with a left and a right that stings River.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

River moves into the clinch successfully.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Bujol.
River can't find room to land a body shot as Bujol controls the action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
River lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bujol blocks an uppercut.

River escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

River moves into the clinch successfully.
River misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bujol holding his opponent close, against the cage.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bujol backwards.
Bujol is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bujol tries to stall but River uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River takes an elbow to the forehead.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by River as Bujol tries to tie him up.
Bujol can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bujol backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe River dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bujol misses with a two punch combination.
River tries to clinch up but Bujol circles away and keeps his distance.
Bujol tries to close the distance and clinch up but River swats him away and circles back towards the center.
River swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
River lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
River throws out a loose jab but Bujol uses good head movement to avoid it.
River slips under a jab from Bujol.
River is looking to counter punch.
Bujol misses with a two punch combination.
Bujol tries to bum rush River with a series of wild strikes but River uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice uppercut lands for River. That snapped Bujol's head back.
River uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bujol.
River tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bujol manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from River.
Bujol is looking to clinch.
It appears River was looking to counter with a kick there.
Bujol connects with a jab.
River scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
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!

Bujol tries to keep at a distance but River has taken the fight into the clinch.
River stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bujol.
River lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bujol tries to stall but River uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bujol prevents a body shot from River.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
River is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bujol can do to turn this around?
River tries to work over Bujol's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Bujol - that landed with a thud.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
River lands with a light punch inside.
A right handed body shot lands from River.
Bujol misses with a body punch.
Bujol taking a breather.
River lands a right hand.
River throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Bujol takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
River misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
River working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
River lands a nice shot to the body.
River lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bujol.
River tries to work over Bujol's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bujol trying to stall but River improves his position.
River is leaning against Bujol and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Good body shot from River.
River cracks Bujol with a nice body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by River.

River escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
River scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bujol doesn't seem bothered though.
A nice combination there by River.
Sergio Bujol has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
River missing with a left hand there. Bujol was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bujol wants to clinch up but River keeps it at a distance.
River misses with a straight left.
Bujol on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
River wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

River has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nice body punch from Bujol.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Bujol.
Bujol struggles to land a body shot inside as River controls his hands.
Bujol is pushing River up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Joe River is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
River blocks a body shot from Bujol.
Bujol just leaning against River, taking a breather.
A hook to the body from River.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bujol can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
Bujol misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bujol misses with a body punch.
Bujol misses with the head strike.
River prevents a body shot from Bujol.
River lands with a left to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by River as Bujol tries to tie him up.
Bujol can't find room to land a body shot as River controls the action.
River blocks a body shot from Bujol.
Bujol is stalling here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe River showed his dominance in that final round.
Well River has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe River!