PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregory is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Chumbawamba - English Rebel Songs. 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.

Rios
vs
Gregory

182 cm
42
205 lbs
38 - 16 - 0

192 cm
34
205 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 38 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Jesus Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Gregory!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Gregory.
No joy there for Gregory, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gregory moves into the clinch successfully.
Rios lands a body punch.
Gregory is stalling here.
Rios misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Rios.
Rios misses with a punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rios.
Gregory prevents a body shot from Rios.
Rios tries a body shot but Gregory blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios works on Gregory's body with a couple of short punches.
Rios tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rios misses with some punches.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rios lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Rios clinches up against the cage.
Gregory throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gregory told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rios tries to throw a body punch but Gregory avoids it by throwing Rios back against the cage.
Gregory pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gregory goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rios lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gregory lands an elbow inside that Rios shrugs off.
Rios lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Rios working aggressively here.
Rios swings wildly with an uppercut but Gregory uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gregory wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rios tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Gregory breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gregory throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rios.
Rios misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gregory tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rios paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gregory tries to clinch there but Rios circles away.
Gregory tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gregory blocks a head kick by Rios.
Gregory lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Gregory lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rios circles away quickly and effectively.

Gregory has closed the distance and engaged Rios in a clinch.
Rios takes an elbow to the forehead.
Gregory taking a breather.
Rios lands a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right from Rios on the inside.
Rios avoids a wild elbow strike from Gregory.
Gregory blocks an uppercut.
Rios takes an elbow to the temple.
Rios tries a body shot but Gregory blocks it.
I was talking to Rios's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Gregory pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gregory clinches up with Rios and pushes him back against the cage.
Gregory holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rios tries to throw a body punch but Gregory avoids it by throwing Rios back against the cage.

Gregory breaks the clinch.
Rios throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gregory bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jab from Rios.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory cracks Rios with a good jab.

Rios has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rios goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rios scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gregory stalling against the cage.
Rios lands with a right to the head.
Gregory is trying to force a seperation but Rios has the dominant position.
Rios lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gregory lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rios backwards.
Still in the clinch, Rios scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gregory tries to circle away but Rios has him pinned against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rios misses with a punch on the inside.
Rios struggles to land a body shot inside as Gregory controls his hands.
Gregory blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gregory blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Rios dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rios misses with a combination
and Gregory counters with a three punch combo that has Rios backing up. Rios nods at Gregory to acknowledge the strikes.

Gregory gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gregory.
Rios looking to slow down the pace here.
Gregory has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rios avoids a wild elbow strike from Gregory.
Rios blocks the elbow strike.
Gregory crunches a lovely knee into Rios's ribcage.
Rios lands with a left to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory lands an elbow that stopped Rios in his tracks for a moment.
Gregory blocks a body shot from Rios.
Gregory digs a right hand into Rios's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rios's gas tank.
Rios misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gregory tries to break free but Rios pushes him back against the cage.
Gregory blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gregory's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rios misses with a series of wild punches.
Rios scores with a leg kick.
Gregory misses with a wild combination.
Gregory goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gregory dodges the punch combination from Rios.
A bone on bone clash there as Gregory blocks the leg kick.
Gregory lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Gregory blocks the low kick.

Rios moves into the clinch.
Rios goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rios lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rios lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gregory has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gregory lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rios throws a punch but it's blocked by Gregory.
Gregory blocks a body shot from Rios.

Gregory pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jesus Rios is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rios rushes Gregory and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gregory lands an elbow inside.
Rios lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gregory's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gregory's elbow.
Gregory is trying to stall.
Gregory blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Rios.
Rios tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rios avoiding damage as Gregory throws knees to the body.
Rios lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Gregory scores with a shot to the side of Rios's head.
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rios misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gregory wants to stall.
Gregory tries to throw a body punch but Rios avoids it by throwing Gregory back against the cage.
Rios keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gregory's efforts to push away.
Rios tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gregory's elbow.
Gregory has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rios tries to work over Gregory's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gregory wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gregory is trying to break the clinch but Rios is controlling him.
Rios pushes Gregory back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rios has Gregory pressed against the cage, preventing Gregory from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gregory takes a shot to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rios.
Gregory is breathing heavily.
A nice left hand lands by Rios.
Rios can't find room to land a body shot as Gregory controls the action.
Rios lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gregory manages to break the clinch.
Rios dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rios tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gregory tries to clinch but Rios is having none of it.
Rios half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Rios dominated that second round.
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!

Rios throws a low kick but Gregory moves out of range easily.
Gregory sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rios misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rios moves into the clinch.
Rios takes a shot to the head.
Rios lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gregory looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rios works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rios lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Rios has a couple of punches blocked by Gregory.
Rios digs a right hand into Gregory's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gregory's gas tank.
Gregory takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rios lands a nice shot to the body.
Rios lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Good body shot from Rios.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Rios.
Rios tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gregory's elbow.
Rios has Gregory pressed against the cage, preventing Gregory from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gregory is trying to stall.
Gregory wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rios has him pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Rios.
Jesus Rios has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rios is working Gregory over against the cage.
Rios just leaning against Gregory, taking a breather.
Rios lands with a short shot to the head.
Rios misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rios lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rios lands a hook that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Rios lands a hook that snaps the head of Gregory backwards.
Rios has a couple of punches blocked by Gregory.
Rios works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rios working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rios is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gregory can do to turn this around?
A nice left hand lands by Rios.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rios presses Gregory against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gregory blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Rios.
Rios avoiding damage.
Rios goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rios swings wildly with an uppercut but Gregory uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rios cracks Gregory with a nice body shot.
Rios stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rios throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gregorys head.
Rios misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gregory wants to break the clinch but can't.
A left hand lands to the body for Rios.
Rios lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rios cracks Gregory with a nice body shot.
Rios lands a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gregory letting Rios take a breather here.
Rios lands a body punch.
Rios misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rios lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rios tries to throw a body punch but Gregory avoids it by throwing Rios back against the cage.
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rios avoids the elbow strike from Gregory, against the cage.
Rios working aggressively here.
Gregory's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gregory misses with an elbow over the top.
Gregory blocks an uppercut.
Gregory lands an elbow inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rios.
Rios doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gregory tries to work over Rios's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jesus Rios is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gregory is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory blocking some punches.
Gregory is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rios tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gregory's elbow.
Rios lands a shot to the body.
Gregory has a couple of punches blocked by Rios.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gregory throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rios creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rios working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rios prevents Gregory from breaking the clinch.
Gregory avoiding damage.
A shot in the inside from Rios.
Paul Gregory has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gregory throws an elbow but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jesus Rios showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rios, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Rios!
An out of breath Jesus Rios thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.