PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Powers (ranked 5256 p4p, 25355 weight class) and Jack Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Jack Rivera acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Powers
vs
Rivera

175 cm
18
170
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
165
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Powers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Powers dodges the punch combination from Rivera.
Rivera looks winded!
Powers pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Powers takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Oooooh!!! Powers has knocked Rivera down with a huge combo! Powers steps away and waves a wobbly Rivera back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Rivera is rocked!

It looks like Jack Rivera has been cut.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Powers circles away.
Rivera is still on wobbly legs! Can Powers finish him?
Powers dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Powers gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rivera seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powers stalls.
Powers drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Powers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters circling a little - Powers finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Powers misses with a few strikes there.

Powers drives through and clinches with Rivera against the cage.
Powers lands an elbow just above Rivera 's eye.

Powers gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Powers connects with a nice short shot to Rivera's temple.
Powers throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Powers tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rivera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Powers working the head and body with strikes.
It looks like Powers is going to stand back up.
Powers is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Rivera.

Powers stands up from half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Powers misses with a wild combination.
Rivera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Powers throws out the jab.
Powers connects with the punch.
Powers misses with a wild combination.
Rivera shoots in and drives through. Powers sprawls well.
Powers lands a leg kick that knocks Rivera off balance momentarily.
Powers looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Good shot there by Powers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Powers scores with a head kick. Rivera tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rivera ducks under a wild hook from Powers.
Rivera misses with a wild body shot.
Powers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Powers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rivera.
Powers throws a series of punches but Rivera avoids them all with ease.
Powers misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powers misses with a jab, cross combination.
Powers just misses with a punch to the body.
Rivera dodges the punch combination from Powers.
Rivera drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Powers defends it well.

Rivera drives through with a takedown into Powers's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Powers working a defensive guard here.
Powers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivera manages to get himself to full guard.

Rivera has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Powers should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Rivera has tightened it up now! Powers should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jack Rivera!