PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juancho Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nigel Burkshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burkshire has chosen It's a Fight - Three 6 Mafia as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Rivera
vs
Burkshire

189 cm
30
216 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

198 cm
31
220 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juancho Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nigel Burkshire!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera moves out of range as Burkshire strikes.
Burkshire fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rivera avoids it really well and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Burkshire.

Burkshire pushes Rivera up against the cage in a clinch.
Burkshire stalls.
Rivera lands a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rivera.
A short uppercut from Rivera.
Rivera tries a body shot but Burkshire blocks it.
Rivera gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Burkshire.
Burkshire blocking some punches.
Rivera scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Rivera.
Burkshire drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rivera pulls his leg out and moves away.
Juancho Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nigel Burkshire.
Burkshire slips a straight right by Rivera.
Burkshire throws an off balance right hand
and Rivera counters with a straight right hand.
Burkshire shoots in looking for a takedown. Rivera tries to sprawl out of it but Burkshire 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.
A big left from Burkshire misses.
Rivera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rivera moves away from the strike by Burkshire.
Nice defenses there by Burkshire.
Burkshire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burkshire.
Burkshire shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
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!
Rivera scores with a crisp jab that stopped Burkshire in his tracks.
Nice takedown defense from Rivera. No joy for Burkshire on that attempt.
Rivera connects with a crisp jab.
Burkshire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rivera.
Burkshire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rivera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rivera lands a nice leg kick that just misses Burkshire's sensitive parts.
Burkshire moves in looking to clinch but Rivera pushes him off.
Burkshire misses with an uppercut
and Rivera counters with a stiff right hand.
Burkshire throws a hook but Rivera avoids it easily.
Burkshire misses with a leg kick
and Rivera counters with a nice low kick that buckles Burkshire's knee momentarily.
Rivera scores with a jab. Burkshire acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Juancho Rivera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Rivera misses the jab.
Rivera digs a good hook to Burkshire's body.
Rivera is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Burkshire throws a combination that misses
and Rivera counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Burkshire looks gassed!
Burkshire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Burkshire.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Burkshire's belly button to the back.
Rivera fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Burkshire.
Rivera scores with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera thows a body shot but no joy.
Burkshire takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rivera connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rivera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Burkshire.
Rivera is looking to slow Burkshire down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera lands the left hand.
Rivera cracks Burkshire with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rivera lands a jab to the head.
Rivera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Burkshire.
Burkshire defending well as Rivera loads up on a big left hand.

Rivera gets caught flat footed, as Burkshire shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rivera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rivera wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivera wants to stand but Burkshire is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juancho Rivera dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Burkshire manages to avoid it.
Nice cross by Rivera.
Burkshire tries to clinch up.
Burkshire throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivera.

Burkshire has managed to clinch.

Rivera breaks the clinch.
Burkshire wants to clinch up but Rivera keeps it at a distance.
Rivera connects with the punch.
Burkshire waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rivera.
Burkshire fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Burkshire. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Rivera misses.
Rivera just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera lands a slapping body shot.
Burkshire takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Burkshire shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rivera napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rivera dodges the ground and pound from Burkshire.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.

Burkshire is trying to get an arm triangle but Rivera is defending well.
Burkshire tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rivera can't do much from the bottom here.
Rivera is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire scores with punches from side control.
Rivera can't do much from the bottom here.
Rivera tries to buck Burkshire off but Burkshire is having none of it.
Burkshire fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Burkshire working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burkshire looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rivera is avoiding damage well.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Burkshire drags him back down.
Rivera can't do much from the bottom here.
Burkshire is working Rivera over with some ground and pound from side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burkshire working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Burkshire scores with punches from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Burkshire in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Burkshire advances to mount.
Burkshire has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rivera's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Burkshire showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Burkshire is defended easily by Rivera.
Rivera works Burkshire's body with a nice hook.
A good leg kick by Rivera.
Rivera slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Burkshire blocks a jab.
Burkshire tries to clinch but Rivera is having none of it.
Burkshire avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Burkshire takes a jab right on the kisser.
Burkshire shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rivera as he jumps to the side.
Burkshire takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Burkshire moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Burkshire does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera slaps away a takedown attempt from Burkshire, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Juancho Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nigel Burkshire.
Rivera slips a jab and a cross from Burkshire.
Burkshire takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rivera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Burkshire moves in looking to clinch but Rivera pushes him off.
A leg kick checked by Burkshire.
Rivera tries to score with a low kick but Burkshire moves his leg out of the way.
Burkshire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Burkshire's hands.
Juancho Rivera is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from Burkshire.
Rivera catches Burkshire with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Burkshire is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rivera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rivera takes a swing at Burkshire's ribcage but misses.
Burkshire doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rivera counters with a thumping low kick.
Burkshire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Burkshire on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Burkshire takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rivera catches Burkshire with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rivera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera punishes Burkshire's body with a nice straight punch.
Burkshire doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Burkshire has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Burkshire there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rivera connects with a looping right hand.
Rivera throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Burkshire shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rivera defends it nicely.
Burkshire walks into a stiff left hand from Rivera.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera scores with a jab to the body.
Nigel Burkshire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burkshire on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rivera misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rivera.
Rivera tests Burkshire's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rivera takes a swing at Burkshire's ribcage but misses.
Rivera lands an overhand right.
Rivera lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rivera scores with a shot to the body.
Rivera throws a one two combo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Burkshire shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Burkshire showed some decent athleticism there.
Rivera preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juancho 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

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