PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Jurgen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera has chosen Right Said FRED---I'm to Sexy as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jurgen
vs
Rivera

188 cm
25
245 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

196 cm
19
281 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Virtual Fighter Clothing
Sublime Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Jurgen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raphael Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Leandro Rodrigues and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jurgen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rivera's half guard.

Jurgen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jurgen is trying to control the action in half guard but Rivera is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jurgen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rivera's head.
Jurgen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jurgen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rivera's head.
Jurgen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rivera is not content to let Jurgen control the position.

Rivera kicks off Jurgen and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jurgen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rivera wants to clinch up but Jurgen keeps it at a distance.
Rivera wants to clinch up but Jurgen keeps it at a distance.
A slow jab from Jurgen misses its intended target.
Jurgen misses with a wild combination.
Rivera misses with the combination.
Raphael Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jurgen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jurgen motions for Rivera to come forward. Jurgen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rivera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jurgen prevents Rivera from getting back to his feet.
Jurgen throws a strike but Rivera rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rivera slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control from half guard but Jurgen is working away.
Rivera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rivera thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jurgen's head.
Rivera not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jurgen controlling the position well.
Jurgen wants to get back to full guard.
Jurgen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jurgen tries to get out of the position.
Rivera wants to take a breather but Jurgen is having none of it.
Jurgen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jurgen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rivera controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jurgen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rivera postures up in Jurgen's guard and throws a big left but Jurgen blocks it.
Jurgen trying to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera thows a big elbow that misses.
Rivera throws a big right hand that misses.
Rivera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jurgen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivera tries to clinch there but Jurgen circles away.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rivera tries to clinch there but Jurgen circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jurgen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rivera. Rivera circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

It looks like Raphael Rivera has been cut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jurgen misses with a wild body shot.
Rivera tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jurgen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Jurgen and Rivera goes tumbling to the canvas! Jurgen follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Jurgen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rivera with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jurgen throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Jurgen winds up and cracks Rivera with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Jurgen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Jurgen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rivera doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jurgen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jurgen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Jurgen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Raphael Rivera's cut.
That's time! Jurgen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jurgen misses with a head kick.
Rivera tries to clinch but Jurgen moves out of range.
Jurgen looks to land a combination but Rivera avoids it well.
Rivera moves in looking to clinch but Jurgen pushes him off.

Jurgen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jurgen throwing strikes from guard but Rivera blocks nicely.
Rivera pulls Jurgen in close to prevent any damage.
Jurgen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jurgen is in close to Rivera's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jurgen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jurgen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jurgen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jurgen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rivera swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jurgen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
Jurgen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jurgen forces his way into half guard.
Jurgen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jurgen winds up and cracks Rivera with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivera manages to get to full guard.
Jurgen throwing strikes but missing.
Jurgen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rivera looking for a sweep. Not yet Rivera, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jurgen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Jurgen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Jurgen is working Rivera over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rivera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jurgen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rivera's head.
Jurgen tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
Jurgen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rivera's head.
Jurgen forces his way into half guard.
Rivera avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jurgen.
Jurgen wants to free his trapped foot but Rivera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jurgen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jurgen is keen to just control but Rivera is a slippery customer.
Rivera is looking to control Jurgen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rivera avoid being mounted?
Rivera is staying active underneath Jurgen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Jurgen there.
Rivera trying to control but Jurgen postures up.
Jurgen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Jurgen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Jurgen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Raphael Rivera's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jurgen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rivera at a distance.
Paul Jurgen is winning the standup battle so far.
Rivera checks a leg kick nicely.

Jurgen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Jurgen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rivera can do to turn this around?
Jurgen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rivera keeps working.
Jurgen working the ground and pound.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Paul Jurgen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivera is working to avoid the ground and pound but Jurgen connects with a decent elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jurgen cracks Rivera with a big right hand but Rivera just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivera takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jurgen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rivera is not content to let Jurgen control the position.
Rivera stops Jurgen from passing to mount.
Jurgen landing strikes.
Rivera defending against the ground and pound.

That's two 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.

Jurgen is trying to get an arm triangle but Rivera is defending well.
Rivera avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Jurgen.
Rivera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jurgen lands an elbow.
Rivera regains half guard, as Jurgen was trying to land strikes.

Jurgen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Raphael Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rivera keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivera trying to hold on to Jurgen's head to control him but Jurgen postures up.
Jurgen is looking to take a break and control but Rivera is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
Jurgen throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera trying to control but Jurgen postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jurgen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rivera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jurgen throws a series of strikes that have Rivera backpedaling.
Jurgen blocks a head kick by Rivera.

Jurgen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rivera is not content to let Jurgen control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jurgen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rivera has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Jurgen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Jurgen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Jurgen!