PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gideon Navarro (ranked 88 p4p, 14 weight class) and Jarred Reich (ranked 249 p4p, 41 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Navarro
vs
Reich

181 cm
26
178 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

188 cm
35
185 lbs
14 - 6 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Conviction

Conviction
VanDam Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gideon Navarro!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jarred Reich!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Navarro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Reich.
Reich connects with a right hand. Navarro shakes it off.
Reich throws a hook to the side of Navarro's head but Navarro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Navarro jabs Reich right on the nose. Reich blinks but takes it well.
A slow jab from Reich misses its intended target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Navarro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Reich thows a left - swing and a miss!
A swing and a miss from Navarro.
Navarro tries a head kick but it misses.
Reich's corner calls for a 1-2. Reich obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Reich lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Navarro throws a hook but Reich blocks it.
Navarro wants to clinch.
Reich checks a leg kick.
Navarro avoids a kick to the body.
Reich fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Navarro.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Navarro instigates a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Reich.
Still in the clinch, Reich scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro blocks a body shot from Reich.
Navarro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reich just stands there and leans against the cage.

Reich manages to break the clinch.
Navarro misses with a looping right.
Navarro throws a series of punches but Reich moves out of range.
Reich throws a shot from downtown. Navarro moves away and avoids it.
Navarro lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Navarro slips under a jab.
Navarro misses the jab.
Navarro wants to clinch
and Reich counters with a good low kick that Navarro was not able to check.
Navarro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Navarro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Navarro looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Navarro closes the distance and clinches.
Navarro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Reich is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Reich throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Navarro fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gideon Navarro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Navarro prevents a body shot from Reich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Reich scores with a nice short uppercut.

Navarro has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Reich uses from the top position.
Reich sitting in guard here, content to control.
Reich works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Navarro moves into full guard.
Reich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Navarro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Navarro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Reich is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Navarro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro is trying to control Reich's posture but Reich avoids it.
Reich controlling the position.
Navarro struggling a bit here.
Reich tries to move into full mount but can't pass Navarro's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Navarro is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Reich is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Navarro is looking to get to half guard.
Navarro is working hard here to advance position.
Navarro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Navarro is looking to improve his position but Reich isn't that keen on the idea.
Reich controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarred Reich dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Navarro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Navarro moves out of range as Reich strikes.
Navarro avoids a kick to the body.
Navarro with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Navarro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Reich connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Navarro momentarily.
Gideon Navarro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Navarro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Reich.
Navarro throws a body shot but no joy.
Jarred Reich seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Navarro wants to clinch but Reich slips to the side
and Reich counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Reich dodges the punch combination from Navarro.
A slow jab from Reich misses its intended target.
Reich cracks Navarro with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reich blocks a jab.
Navarro tries to clinch there but Reich circles away.
Navarro takes one to the side of the head.
Reich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Navarro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reich throws an overhand right that lands on Navarro's shoulder, as Navarro tries to avoid the shot.
Navarro tries to counter by clinching up but Reich breaks away and moves out of range.
Navarro fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reich defending well as Navarro loads up on a big left hand.
A countering left hand to the body from Reich misses.
Reich misses with an uppercut. Navarro saw that one coming.
Reich throws a big shot that misses.
Reich throws a big shot that misses.
A good leg kick by Reich.
Reich finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Navarro connects with a looping right hand.
Reich throws a leg kick but Navarro checks it.
Reich throws a body kick that misses.
Navarro throws out a powerful jab.
Navarro lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Reich dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Navarro jumps into guard, dragging Reich to the mat.

Navarro working for submissions but it's allowed Reich to get to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Navarro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Reich's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Reich's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro struggling to keep hold of the position.

Navarro working for a choke but Reich is defending well.
Reich is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Navarro off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Reich defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Navarro looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reich tries to break free.

Reich defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Navarro is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Reich is defending well though. Navarro let's go of the attempt for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Navarro tightening his grip on Reich, looking for the choke.
We've been hearing good reports from Navarro's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Reich has hold of Navarro's leg, trying to break free but it's let Navarro lock up a rear naked choke! This could be big trouble! Reich is turning an unusual color here… he's out! Navarro throws him to one side and jumps onto the cage to celebrate with his fans.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gideon Navarro!
Gideon Navarro retains his welterweight title!
A victorious Gideon Navarro thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.