PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Here comes the hotstepper kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivera
vs
Garcia

175 cm
20
158 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia shoots for a double leg takedown but Rivera sprawls well. He's pushed Garcia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Garcia throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Garcia gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Rivera advances position into side control!
Garcia tries to improve position but can't.
Garcia can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throwing strikes but Garcia manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera gets back to half guard.
Rivera wants to get back to full guard.
Rivera is working hard here to advance position.
Garcia passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rivera!
Garcia looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rivera is trying to reverse the position but instead Garcia has taken his back - oops!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throwing sloppy strikes.
Rivera looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Rivera turns into Garcia and is now in his guard.
Rivera advances position into side control!
Garcia wants to control but Rivera postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
A lull in the action here as Rivera stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Garcia is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rivera tries to move to mount but Garcia blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rivera scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Garcia manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rivera's best efforts.
Rivera not doing much here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia is looking to control Rivera's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Garcia avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Rivera dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Garcia connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Garcia tries for a takedown but Rivera circles away easily

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Garcia keeping full guard, as Rivera tries to pass.
Garcia trying to control the position.

Rivera has gone for a leg lock! Garcia slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rivera's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Garcia!
Rivera lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rivera content just to control the position here.
Rivera thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two 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.
Garcia blocking the ground and pound.
Rivera thowing shots but they're missing.
Rivera tries to control but Garcia wriggling away.
Rivera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Rivera is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Garcia has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Garcia!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

Rivera is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garcia defends well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garcia passes Rivera's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Garcia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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.
Garcia is trying to control. Rivera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rivera tries to get to full guard but Garcia has control of the leg.
Rivera wants to control but Garcia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Garcia is trying to control. Rivera wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rivera manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rivera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Rivera dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Garcia stuffs the takedown.
Garcia throws a sloppy head kick and Rivera moves out of range easily.
Garcia scores with a jab. Rivera acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rivera blocks a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Rivera.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia lands with a right hand.
Garcia circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rivera looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Garcia is staying active underneath Rivera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garcia is looking for a sweep. Rivera is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Garcia is defending well.
Garcia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivera is just content to waste time from the top position. Garcia takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia working a defensive guard but Rivera passes into half guard.
Garcia is not content to let Rivera control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rivera looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.
Rivera looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.
A punch combination from Garcia misses.
Garcia throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rivera was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rivera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Garcia is looking to escape.
Garcia is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Garcia tries to lock up and control but Rivera gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rivera lands a big shot there that rocks Garcia but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rivera controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivera jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Garcia is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Garcia and Rivera has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Garcia prevents Rivera from moving into mount.
Jason Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garcia is not content to let Rivera control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rivera tries to advance to mount but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

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