PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aurelio Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Zurita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Rivera
vs
Zurita

172 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aurelio Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samuel Zurita!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zurita closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Zurita is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rivera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zurita is working away from the top position though.
Rivera is pressing down on Zurita's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zurita in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Zurita avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zurita engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zurita tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Zurita postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rivera is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Zurita, into his guard.

Zurita is trying to keep Rivera in close.

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

Rivera is adopting a defensive guard.
Rivera could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zurita pushes down on Rivera's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rivera is refusing to be controlled, as Zurita sits in half guard.
Zurita prevents Rivera from improving his position.
Rivera is trying to maintain the position but Zurita is very close to passing his half guard.
Rivera is not content to let Zurita control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zurita is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zurita wants to free his trapped foot but Rivera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rivera has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zurita is working away from the top position though.
Rivera is staying active underneath Zurita, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rivera looking for subs from the bottom but Zurita mounts him!
Rivera can't escape the position.
Zurita thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zurita looking to control but Rivera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zurita avoids the attempt from Rivera to control.
Zurita tries to control but Rivera wriggling away.
Zurita unloads with some shots from mount but Rivera bucks and avoids them well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera tries to hold on but Zurita pushes him away.
Rivera is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Zurita dominated that 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.

Zurita scores with a takedown into Rivera's guard.
Rivera has his hands on Zurita's head, controlling the position.
Zurita trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera is pulling down on Zurita's head to control his posture.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Zurita from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zurita doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zurita manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rivera is trying to control the position but Zurita postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rivera is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Zurita shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zurita showed some decent athleticism there.
Rivera is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rivera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zurita.
Zurita trying to control from half guard but Rivera is working away.
Zurita has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Zurita is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rivera trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rivera.
Rivera has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Zurita wants to stand but Rivera is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rivera keeps the fight on the outside.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.

Zurita gets a clinch.

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 looking to take this one to the mat.
Rivera jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zurita walks away with a smile on his face. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zurita takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Zurita moves out of range easily.

Zurita instigates a clinch.
Rivera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zurita fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aurelio Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zurita closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Zurita lands in his opponent's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Zurita showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zurita closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rivera did well to prevent Zurita getting side control.
Rivera trying to control but Zurita postures up.
Zurita trying to pass the guard but Rivera defending well.
Rivera controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zurita not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera is staying active underneath Zurita, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rivera is looking to improve his position.

Zurita is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Rivera to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Rivera has Zurita pulled in close to control his posture.
Zurita trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rivera's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.

Rivera gets caught flat footed, as Zurita shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rivera is trying to keep Zurita in close.
Zurita wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.
Zurita engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Rivera looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Zurita has picked Rivera up and slammed him! Rivera can't keep hold of the triangle and Zurita manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zurita tries for a kimura but Rivera is defending well.
Zurita working away.
Rivera misses with an elbow from the bottom.

Zurita tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

That's four 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.
Zurita is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rivera is trying to control Zurita's posture but Zurita avoids it.
Rivera sneaks back into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera trying to control but Zurita postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samuel Zurita comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zurita has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samuel Zurita!