PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dionicio Pizarro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera comes to the cage accompanied by Your Hand in Mine. Pizarro has chosen Globus - Europa (Instrumental Version) as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rivera
vs
Pizarro

190 cm
25
197 lbs
15 - 5 - 1

178 cm
26
200 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlos Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dionicio Pizarro!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Hirohito Nitta and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Rivera, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rivera. That's going to slow Pizarro down.
Rivera lands a nice shot that snaps Pizarro's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Rivera misses the target.
Pizarro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pizarro thows a body shot but no joy.
Jab, jab by Pizarro - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pizarro is defended easily by Rivera.
Pizarro takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pizarro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.
Pizarro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Pizarro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to clinch but Pizarro is avoiding it.
Carlos Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pizarro misses with a combination
and Rivera counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pizarro lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rivera throws a jab when Pizarro was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands a jab to Pizarro's midsection.
Pizarro misses with a right hand
and Rivera counters with a right hand to the body.
Pizarro misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivera counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pizarro thinking.
Pizarro looks gassed!
Rivera swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pizarro.
Pizarro walks into a straight right hand from Rivera.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Pizarro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pizarro throws a sloppy body shot
and Pizarro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pizarro lands with a cross.
A shot to the body from Pizarro misses
and Rivera counters with a straight right hand.
Rivera takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rivera scores with a sloppy right hand. Pizarro should have avoided that one.

It looks like Dionicio Pizarro has been cut.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pizarro counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rivera throws a right hand that misses
and Pizarro counters with a nice uppercut.
Pizarro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rivera is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Rivera misses with a hook to the body

and Pizarro counters with a takedown into side control.
Rivera can't do much from the bottom here.
Rivera managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Pizarro.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Pizarro asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Pizarro connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rivera some visible discomfort.
Pizarro looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rivera is avoiding damage well.
Pizarro trying to control the action but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Pizarro looking to control but instead Rivera has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.
Rivera is refusing to be controlled, as Pizarro sits in half guard.
Rivera regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pizarro.
Pizarro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rivera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pizarro with a nice head shot there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pizarro wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Rivera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Pizarro from controlling successfully.
Rivera controls Pizarro momentarily but Pizarro frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivera looking for a guillotine here but Pizarro defends easily.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pizarro thows a big elbow that misses.
Pizarro trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera is looking to stand up but Pizarro isn't so interested in that idea.
Pizarro looking to pass the guard.
Pizarro is looking to work some ground and pound but Rivera has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Rivera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dionicio Pizarro's cut.
That's time! Rivera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pizarro misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivera counters with a nice body shot.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
Pizarro just misses with a punch to the body.

Pizarro shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rivera is trying to defend but Pizarro finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pizarro passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pizarro throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rivera in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pizarro throwing strikes but Rivera uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rivera is trying to stand.
Pizarro is controlling the pace.

Pizarro is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is trying to control but Pizarro passes into side control!
Pizarro sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rivera is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Pizarro looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rivera is avoiding damage well.
Pizarro trying to control the action but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Rivera manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pizarro with the ground and pound but Rivera uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rivera wants to stand and escape but Pizarro is having none of it.
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.
Pizarro working some strikes from top position.
Pizarro tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
Pizarro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Pizarro from controlling successfully.
Pizarro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rivera is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rivera is trying to get back to his feet.
Rivera wants to control but Pizarro postures up.
The strikes coming from Pizarro are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Rivera is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pizarro off and has taken his back!
Pizarro looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rivera.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pizarro holding on to Rivera's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Pizarro is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Pizarro manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rivera's guard. Nice work there by Pizarro.
Pizarro wants to pass the guard but Rivera is keeping the position.
Pizarro trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pizarro is controlling him.

That's six 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.

Rivera uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Pizarro misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Rivera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rivera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pizarro counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Rivera misses with a hook to the body

and Pizarro counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rivera!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pizarro looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rivera's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Pizarro controlling from the full mount.
Pizarro fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Rivera is squirming around, avoiding Pizarro's attempts to control the action.
Pizarro lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rivera hang on?

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is wriggling around trying to escape.

Pizarro moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Rivera has worked his arm free - good work by Rivera!
Rivera gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Pizarro is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pizarro throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Pizarro wants to take a breather but Rivera is having none of it.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rivera manages to get to full guard.
Pizarro with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pizarro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rivera is trying to improve his position.
Rivera is pushing Pizarro's head away, looking to escape. Pizarro manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dionicio Pizarro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dionicio Pizarro's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Pizarro takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rivera misses with a lunging right hand
and Pizarro counters with a series of strikes. Rivera will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rivera swings away with a body shot that misses
and Pizarro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Pizarro has managed to clinch.
Rivera wants to stall.

Pizarro lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Dionicio Pizarro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pizarro is trying to control the action in half guard but Rivera is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera trying to get back to full guard but Pizarro takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Pizarro throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Pizarro tries to control but Rivera wriggling away.

Pizarro goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rivera is on top in guard.
Pizarro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pizarro wants to sweep but no luck.

Rivera gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rivera lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Pizarro has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Pizarro and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Pizarro avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Rivera explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Rivera throws a looping overhand right but Pizarro ducks down to avoid it.
Pizarro shoots in looking for a takedown but Rivera manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pizarro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to clinch.
Pizarro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.

Pizarro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pizarro misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rivera.
Pizarro looking for a takedown.
Rivera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rivera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A short uppercut from Rivera.
Rivera pushes Pizarro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rivera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rivera seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Pizarro is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Carlos Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dionicio Pizarro.
A right hand to the body from Rivera.
Rivera dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Carlos Rivera.
Pizarro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rivera lands a jab.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pizarro works Rivera's body with a nice hook.
Jab by Rivera.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's six 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.
Pizarro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carlos Rivera is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pizarro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pizarro digs a good hook to Rivera's body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pizarro scores with a jab.

Pizarro instigates a clinch.
Pizarro throws a head punch that misses.
Rivera is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rivera taking a breather.
Pizarro is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rivera gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivera.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rivera is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pizarro is keeping busy.
Rivera slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Carlos Rivera.
Pizarro shoots in looking for a takedown. Rivera tries to sprawl out of it but Pizarro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rivera manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rivera scores with a shot to the body.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Rivera takes a swing at Pizarro's ribcage but misses.
Pizarro checks a leg kick nicely.
Pizarro connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rivera tries to clinch up.
Pizarro swings for the body but Rivera moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Carlos Rivera!
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight for Carlos Rivera!
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Carlos Rivera!

Carlos Rivera wins by unanimous decision!