PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Craun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craun has chosen Pussy Money Weed as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rivera
vs
Craun

175 cm
18
158 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

167 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jose Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Craun!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rivera scores a takedown into full mount!
Rivera looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Craun sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craun tries to get to full guard but Rivera has control of the leg.
Craun throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Craun avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rivera.
Craun is trying to control but can't.
Craun is trying to get back to full guard.
Craun is trying to control but can't.
Rivera prevents Craun from improving his position.
Craun trying to hold on to Rivera's head to control him but Rivera postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craun shoots and misses

and Rivera decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Craun's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Craun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craun is trying to keep Rivera in close.
Craun might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rivera kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craun is on top in guard.
Craun trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craun is pushing down on Rivera's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rivera is fighting to maintain full guard but Craun has managed to sneak the leg through.
Craun is taking a breather. Rivera says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two 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.
Craun wants to take a breather but Rivera is having none of it.

Craun decides to return to a standing position.
Craun tries to clinch up but Rivera circles away and keeps his distance.
Craun misses with a takedown attempt

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Craun won't be happy with that.
Rivera just content to control the position.
Rivera wants to control but Craun is keeping him busy.
Craun sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Craun gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craun throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Rivera wants to control from the top but Craun keeps moving.
Craun not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Craun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craun is trying to control the position but Rivera postures up.
Rivera won't allow Craun to sweep him here.
Craun can't keep his opponent in guard - Rivera advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rivera prevents Craun from improving his position.

That's four 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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Craun gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rivera to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Craun trying to control the position.
Rivera won't allow Craun to sweep him here.
Craun lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rivera!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rivera tries to lock up and control but Craun gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Rivera dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Craun with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rivera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rivera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rivera stopping the sweep attempt from Craun.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Craun is on top in guard.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Craun from controlling successfully.

Rivera is looking for a triangle but Craun pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Craun trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
Jose Rivera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craun won't allow Rivera to sweep him here.
Rivera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Craun's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Craun trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craun tries for a takedown but Rivera circles away easily

and Rivera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rivera trying to control but Craun is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to free his leg and advance position but Craun is retaining full guard.
Rivera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Craun is keeping the position.
Craun keeping moving, preventing Rivera from controlling successfully.
Craun not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rivera prevents Craun from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Craun had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Rivera is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Craun Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Rivera's back instead.
A lull in the action here.
Craun is hanging on to Rivera's back as he tries to escape.
Craun trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Craun keeps control of the position as Rivera tries to break free.

Craun is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rivera has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Rivera can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A lull in the action here.
Rivera wants to escape the position.
Rivera breaks Craun's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rivera trying to control but Craun is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Craun slips a straight right by Rivera.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Rivera dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck for Craun with that takedown attempt.
Craun moves in looking to clinch but Rivera pushes him off.
Craun displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.
Craun has his takedown stuffed

and Rivera counters with a shoot takedown. Craun fights it but they end up in guard.

Craun is looking for a triangle but Rivera pushes his legs off easily.
Craun looking to control.
Rivera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera preventing the sweep.
Craun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Craun shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rivera counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jose Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Craun.
Craun looking for a sweep. Not yet Craun, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a big right hand that misses.

Rivera is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Craun utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Craun is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Craun wants to stand but Rivera is controlling the position.
Rivera trying to control the position from guard on top but Craun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Craun is keeping the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rivera chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Craun can pounce on him.
Eric Craun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rivera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Craun from controlling successfully.
Craun looking to pass the guard.
Rivera is pulling down on Craun's head. It's preventing any offense from Craun, at least for the moment.
Rivera keeping moving, preventing Craun from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera wants to sweep but no luck.

Rivera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Craun doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Craun manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rivera trying to keep a closed guard but Craun is proving a slippery customer.
Eric Craun has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craun sitting in guard, not really doing much.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rivera shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Craun's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Rivera!