PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Rivero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny OConnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johnny OConnell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivero
vs
OConnell

184 cm
19
213 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

194 cm
20
214 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rivero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny OConnell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OConnell looks to land a combination but Rivero avoids it well.
Rivero is looking to land body kicks.
OConnell just misses with a punch to the body.

OConnell rushes Rivero and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

OConnell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
OConnell swinging wilding here.
OConnell takes a swing at Rivero's ribcage but misses.
Some wild striking there from OConnell.
Rivero throws a right hand that OConnell ducks under and follows up with a left that OConnell also avoids with ease.
OConnell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rivero counters with a left and a right that stings OConnell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OConnell throws a push kick but Rivero slaps the foot to one side.
OConnell throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rivero counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
OConnell is trying to break the clinch but Rivero has him pressed against the cage.
OConnell wants to break free but Rivero has control.
Rivero tries to pull guard but OConnell holds him up against the cage and eventually Rivero drops back down to his feet.
OConnell can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OConnell breaks from the clinch.
OConnell connects with a looping right hand.
Rivero lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
OConnell throws a combination that misses

and Rivero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in OConnell's guard.
Rivero tries to free his leg and advance position but OConnell is retaining full guard.
Rivero is looking to work some ground and pound but OConnell has wrist control.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. OConnell is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivero is working hard here to advance position.
Rivero thows a big elbow that misses.
OConnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rivero.
OConnell keeping full guard, as Rivero tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
OConnell is looking to chop away at Rivero's legs.

Rivero closes the distance and clinches.
OConnell tries to break the clinch but Rivero is controlling the position.
OConnell can't get the takedown.

OConnell has picked Rivero up - he's going for a ride! OConnell dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
OConnell looks gassed!
Rivero misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rivero gets full guard.
Rivero controls OConnell momentarily but OConnell frees himself.
OConnell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rivero wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OConnell wants to control from the top but Rivero keeps moving.
OConnell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rivero manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rivero throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Rivero landing shots from mount.
Rivero looking to finish OConnell with some ground and pound. This is bad for OConnell!
Rivero is landing with some decent strikes but OConnell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rivero working OConnell over with strikes here.
Rivero putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
OConnell tries to hold on but Rivero postures up.
OConnell's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivero is landing with some decent strikes but OConnell is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

OConnell is rocked!
OConnell is squirming around, avoiding Rivero's attempts to control the action.
OConnell is still in real trouble! Can Rivero finish him?
OConnell wants to hold on but Rivero pushes him away.
OConnell seems to have recovered his senses.
Rivero looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rivero looking to control but OConnell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
OConnell is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivero trying to control but OConnell is having none of it.
Rivero throws some wild stikes that OConnell manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rivero dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

OConnell lands a front kick.
Rivero takes one on the button.
OConnell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rivero counters with a three punch combo that has OConnell backing up. OConnell nods at Rivero to acknowledge the strikes.
OConnell falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rivero counters with a three punch combo that has OConnell backing up. OConnell nods at Rivero to acknowledge the strikes.

OConnell darts in and clinches Rivero up against the cage.
Rivero is looking for a takedown up against the cage. OConnell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
OConnell lands a nice shot to the body.
Rivero prevents OConnell from breaking the clinch.
OConnell can't break the clinch.
OConnell has had enough of the clinch but Rivero keeps him there for the moment.
Rivero tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. OConnell just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rivero tries for a takedown but OConnell manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Rivero. That's going to take a lot out of him.

OConnell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. OConnell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rivero preventing the sweep.
OConnell is pulling down on Rivero's head to control his posture.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OConnell is pulling down on Rivero's head to control his posture.
Rivero thows a big elbow that misses.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivero wants to stand but OConnell has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rivero tries to keep at a distance but OConnell has taken the fight into the clinch.

OConnell breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
OConnell misses with a combination

and Rivero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in OConnell's guard.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rivero works over OConnell with some ground and pound from guard.
Rivero trying to control but OConnell is working from the bottom.
Rivero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as OConnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
OConnell wants to get back to his feet but Rivero is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rivero has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivero wants to control from the top but OConnell keeps moving.

Rivero gets to his feet. OConnell looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A nice combination there by Rivero.
OConnell blocks a head kick by Rivero.
Rivero throws a series of punches but OConnell avoids them all with ease.
Rivero misses with a series of wild punches.
OConnell closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rivero counters with a single leg into guard. OConnell didn't expect that.
Rivero wants to pass the guard but OConnell is keeping the position.
Rivero throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivero wants to control from the top but OConnell keeps moving.
Rivero slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sloppy strikes there by Rivero.
OConnell misses with an elbow from the bottom.
OConnell is not content to let Rivero control the position.
Rivero is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OConnell is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rivero dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

OConnell throws a right hand that misses

and Rivero counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rivero postures up in OConnell's guard and throws a big left but OConnell blocks it.

OConnell has his foot on Rivero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rivero works his way back into a safe position though.
Rivero looking to sit in guard and control but OConnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rivero looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
John Rivero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rivero looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but OConnell puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
OConnell prevents Rivero from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivero regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivero trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

OConnell stands up from guard. Let's bang!
OConnell shoots and misses
and OConnell takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
OConnell dodges the punch combination from Rivero.
OConnell wants to clinch
and Rivero counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
OConnell wants to clinch.

OConnell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
OConnell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rivero.
OConnell scores with a shoulder strike.

OConnell breaks from the clinch.
OConnell misses with the combination.
Rivero avoids the head kick by OConnell.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OConnell misses with a few strikes there.
Rivero throws the kick towards the body but OConnell avoids it.

OConnell gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rivero being controlled here momentarily.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but OConnell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
OConnell looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivero is one step ahead there.
Rivero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as OConnell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivero is looking to stand up but OConnell won't let him.
Rivero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. OConnell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
OConnell seems keen to control Rivero's posture.
Rivero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. OConnell is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rivero clinches up with OConnell and pushes him back against the cage.
Rivero is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rivero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rivero dodges the punch combination from OConnell.
Rivero shoots for a takedown but OConnell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
OConnell doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rivero counters with a one-two to the body.

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.
Rivero throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
OConnell slips a jab and a cross from Rivero.
OConnell thows a leg kick but Rivero checks it
and Rivero counters with a three punch combo that has OConnell backing up. OConnell nods at Rivero to acknowledge the strikes.
Rivero throws a right hand that OConnell ducks under and follows up with a left that OConnell also avoids with ease.
Rivero throws a head kick that half lands.

Rivero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
OConnell is in a horrible position here. Rivero smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Johnny OConnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rivero tries to control but OConnell wriggling away.
OConnell working to try and regain half guard.
OConnell throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Rivero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivero, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Rivero!