PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Rivera (ranked 6045 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonah Richardson Jr (ranked 4717 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivera
vs
Richardson Jr

188 cm
21
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

150 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hector Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jonah Richardson Jr!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Richardson Jr gets a clinch.

Richardson Jr has hold of one of Rivera's legs. Rivera is fighting the takedown attempt but Richardson Jr gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Rivera is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Rivera blocks an elbow strike.
Richardson Jr is looking to break free of the clinch but Rivera has double underhooks.

Rivera gets a trip takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rivera thows a huge punch but Richardson Jr dodges it nicely.

Rivera wants to work for an arm triangle but Richardson Jr is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Richardson Jr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Richardson Jr missing with punches from the bottom.
Rivera takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Richardson Jr avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Rivera is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Richardson Jr wants to control but Rivera is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rivera is nestled in close to Richardson Jr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Richardson Jr keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rivera slips a nice elbow through Richardson Jr's hands, connecting with Richardson Jr's forehead.
Richardson Jr throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rivera is stalling here. Richardson Jr is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rivera seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Richardson Jr has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Rivera regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Richardson Jr is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rivera is just riding it out for now. Richardson Jr eventually gives up the hold.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richardson Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Richardson Jr performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rivera trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Richardson Jr manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richardson Jr looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Richardson Jr prevents Rivera from getting the reversal.
Poor strikes thrown by Richardson Jr there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Richardson Jr has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Richardson Jr landing punches.
Richardson Jr wants to control the pace but Rivera is squirming around nicely.
Rivera holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Richardson Jr tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is squirming around, avoiding Richardson Jr's attempts to control the action.
Richardson Jr misses with a head shot.
Richardson Jr throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rivera is squirming around, avoiding Richardson Jr's attempts to control the action.
Richardson Jr thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Richardson Jr working Rivera over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonah Richardson Jr dominated that round.
That's time! Rivera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Richardson Jr drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rivera is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Richardson Jr asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Richardson Jr stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown. Richardson Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Rivera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Richardson Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richardson Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richardson Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Richardson Jr closes the distance and clinches.
Richardson Jr should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hector Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Richardson Jr is defending well.
Rivera tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Richardson Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Richardson Jr closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rivera quickly recovers to half guard.

Rivera manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Richardson Jr keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Richardson Jr looking to stall.
Richardson Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Rivera has one foot on Richardson Jr's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
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!
Richardson Jr throws a lazy body kick
and Rivera counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Richardson Jr clinches up against the cage.

Richardson Jr has Rivera pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Richardson Jr pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rivera tumbling to the mat - Richardson Jr dives into Rivera's guard.
Richardson Jr trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rivera will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Richardson Jr wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Rivera avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Richardson Jr landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rivera wants to improve his position but instead Richardson Jr has moved into half guard.

Richardson Jr decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Richardson Jr misses with a lunging right hand

and Rivera counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Richardson Jr kicks off Rivera and gets to his feet.
Richardson Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivera.

Richardson Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonah Richardson Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Richardson Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rivera looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Richardson Jr trying to control the action but Rivera is working from the bottom.

Richardson Jr stands up and beckons Rivera to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera thows a huge punch but Richardson Jr dodges it nicely.
Richardson Jr trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Richardson Jr manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Richardson Jr wants to get back to his feet but Rivera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
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.
Richardson Jr avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Rivera got a little sloppy there for a moment and Richardson Jr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rivera has managed to get both his arms back between Richardson Jr's legs - danger averted.
Richardson Jr trying to control the position.
Richardson Jr throws a couple of heel strikes.
Rivera postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Richardson Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Richardson Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rivera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Richardson Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jonah Richardson Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rivera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Richardson Jr keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Richardson Jr controlling Rivera's posture.
Rivera with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
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.
Rivera lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws an elbow that misses. Richardson Jr uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rivera's guard. Nice move by Richardson Jr!

Rivera keeping moving, preventing Richardson Jr from controlling successfully.

Rivera has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Richardson Jr has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Rivera is fighting off a takedown attempt but Richardson Jr is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rivera to the mat. Rivera regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Rivera pushes Richardson Jr off and gets back to his feet.

Richardson Jr feints and as Rivera raises his hands in defense, Richardson Jr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Richardson Jr wants to stand but Rivera is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rivera has Richardson Jr pulled in close to control his posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richardson Jr trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Richardson Jr 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonah Richardson Jr!