PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Rivera (ranked 3650 p4p, 2648 weight class) and Jackson Jones (ranked 249 p4p, 201 weight class). Jackson Jones is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rivera
vs
Jones

173 cm
25
150
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
153
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Un-Kaged Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Antonio Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jackson Jones!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones misses with a straight left.
Jones lands a body shot.

Rivera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Jones looking for a guillotine here but Rivera defends easily.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Rivera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones working for a triangle but Rivera defends it easily.
Rivera trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rivera passes into half guard.
Jones really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rivera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Rivera is working for a submission of some sort.

Rivera seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two 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 a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jones is looking to improve his position.
Jones is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rivera is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jones sees it coming and defends easily.

Jones is defending against the submission attempts here by Rivera.
Jones felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Rivera takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jones is staying active underneath Rivera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've been hearing that Rivera has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Jones is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jones manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera forces his way into half guard.

Rivera wants to work for an arm triangle but Jones is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Rivera sits in half guard.

Rivera is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Jones to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Rivera tries to free his leg and advance position but Jones is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Rivera thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Jones is trying to keep Rivera in close.

Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.

Jones working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rivera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rivera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivera is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Rivera dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rivera shoots and misses

and Jones counters by moving into the clinch.
Rivera lands a hook that snaps the head of Jones backwards.
Still in the clinch, Jones scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rivera is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jones swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.

Jones manages to break the clinch.
Rivera has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rivera scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jones lands a really nice looking cross but Rivera seems unphased.
Rivera with a lazy takedown attempt
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rivera tries for a takedown but Jones circles away easily
letting Jones counter with a right hand.
Rivera takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice shot lands for Jones.

Jones moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Rivera.
Jones misses with the head strike.
Jones lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rivera takes a shot to the head.
Jones lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Rivera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Jones fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jackson Jones is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slow jab from Jones misses its intended target.
Rivera feinted with a counter takedown.
Good shot there by Jones.

Rivera is rocked!
Jones connects with the punch.
Oh Rivera is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jones cracks Rivera with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Rivera tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Jones pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Rivera is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jackson Jones!