PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Blackmon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera comes to the ring accompanied by i wont give up. Jackson Rivera has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rivera
vs
Blackmon

225 cm
26
130 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
130 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

- Elite Fighter© + Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jackson Rivera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Blackmon!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blackmon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blackmon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rivera tries to keep at a distance but Blackmon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rivera is trying to pull guard but Blackmon turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.

Blackmon gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rivera regains guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Blackmon from controlling successfully.
Blackmon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rivera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blackmon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blackmon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Blackmon tries to stand but Rivera is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackmon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.
Rivera will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rivera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Blackmon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Blackmon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Rivera has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blackmon can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rivera is breathing heavily.

Rivera looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Blackmon passes into half guard.
Blackmon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Blackmon is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control but Blackmon postures up.
Rivera tries to roll over but Blackmon keeps him under control.
Blackmon tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Rivera looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Blackmon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rivera is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera gets full guard.
Blackmon wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Blackmon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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.
Blackmon trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Blackmon.
Blackmon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Rivera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
John Blackmon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blackmon moves in looking to clinch but Rivera pushes him off.

Blackmon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rivera trying to control but Blackmon postures up.
Blackmon is keen to just control but Rivera is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to roll over but Blackmon keeps him under control.
Blackmon wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.
Blackmon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Blackmon is keen to just control but Rivera is a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Blackmon was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Blackmon dives in and scores a takedown into Rivera's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blackmon trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Blackmon looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rivera looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Blackmon drops Rivera with a beautiful combination! Rivera stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Blackmon is looking for the KO!

Rivera is rocked!
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!
Blackmon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Oh Rivera is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jackson Rivera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blackmon leaves Rivera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rivera blocks a head kick by Blackmon.
Rivera avoids the head kick by Blackmon.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Blackmon keeping full guard, as Rivera tries to pass.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Blackmon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blackmon is looking for a triangle but Rivera pushes his legs off easily.

Blackmon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rivera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rivera seems to have got his legs back now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control but Blackmon is working from the bottom.
Rivera is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Blackmon is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Rivera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Blackmon is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blackmon looking for a guillotine here but Rivera defends easily.
Blackmon is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Blackmon keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Jackson Rivera wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Blackmon tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blackmon tries to close the distance and clinch but Rivera swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackmon.
Rivera dives in and grabs Blackmon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blackmon pushes down on Rivera's head and hops out.
Blackmon tries to clinch but Rivera is having none of it.
Blackmon fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blackmon is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rivera's half guard.
Blackmon wants to control but Rivera is keeping him busy.
Blackmon is looking to advance position but Rivera won't allow it.
Blackmon 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Blackmon wants to pass to mount but Rivera is defending the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. John Blackmon wasn't active enough on the ground.

Blackmon gets the takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera struggling a bit here.
Blackmon slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Blackmon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Blackmon throws a sloppy head kick and Rivera moves out of range easily.
Blackmon throws a sloppy head kick and Rivera moves out of range easily.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blackmon sprawls well. Blackmon wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Blackmon doesn't manage to clinch there - Rivera circles away.
Blackmon pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Blackmon tries to clinch but Rivera is having none of it.
Blackmon is looking to clinch.

Blackmon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rivera, pushing him back against the ropes.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rivera enables Blackmon to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rivera manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivera keeping full guard, as Blackmon tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackmon trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Blackmon was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Blackmon shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rivera napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Blackmon is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackmon wants to stand but Rivera is controlling his arm.
Rivera manages to get back to half guard.
Rivera is looking to control Blackmon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rivera avoid being mounted?
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rivera is staying active underneath Blackmon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rivera tries to get to full guard but Blackmon has control of the leg.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Blackmon was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Rivera swats away the attempt to clinch by Blackmon.
Rivera looks for a takedown but Blackmon sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blackmon lands a big head kick that sends Rivera tumbling to the mat! Blackmon takes a step backwards and waves Rivera back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Blackmon moves in looking to clinch but Rivera pushes him off.
Blackmon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blackmon throws a monster overhand right that drops Rivera! Blackmon follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Blackmon!
John Blackmon is the new bantamweight champion!