PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zakumi Jabulani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jabulani comes to the cage accompanied by K'naan - Wavin´ flag. Rivera is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Push it to the Limit - Rick Ross. Junior Rivera has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jabulani
vs
Rivera

178 cm
25
178 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

183 cm
30
179 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fight Club Clothing est. 09™
Fight Club Clothing est. 09™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zakumi Jabulani!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Junior Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera lands a jab.
Jabulani throws a jab but it's blocked by Rivera.
Jabulani scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rivera darts in trying to clinch
and Jabulani cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rivera lunges at Jabulani with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jabulani's hand.
Rivera throws a head kick but Jabulani moves out of range.
Jabulani lands a jab to Rivera's midsection.
Rivera takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Jabulani thows a body shot but no joy.
Jabulani misses with a lunging right hand
and Rivera counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jabulani jabs Rivera to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Jabulani throws a right and a left that Rivera avoids nicely.
Rivera connects with a solid leg kick.
Rivera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jabulani was well out of range. Poor timing from Rivera.
Jabulani avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Jabulani cracks Rivera with an open hand slap.
Jabulani takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
No joy there for Jabulani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rivera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rivera lands a leg kick that knocks Jabulani off balance momentarily.
Rivera's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Jabulani connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rivera scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jabulani moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jabulani checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rivera takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rivera wants to slow Jabulani down by chopping away at his legs.
Jabulani avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jabulani throws a lazy right hand but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rivera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Jabulani lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rivera circles away quickly and effectively.
Rivera connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jabulani momentarily.
An inside leg kick lands from Rivera.
Rivera throws a head kick but Jabulani moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rivera walks into a straight right hand from Jabulani.
Jabulani throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rivera throws a low kick but Jabulani avoids it.
Jabulani tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rivera was well out of range. Poor timing from Jabulani.
Jabulani connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jabulani misses with a jab, cross combination.

Jabulani shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rivera wants to control but Jabulani is having none of it.
Rivera holds on for dear life, controlling Jabulani's posture momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jabulani controlling from the full mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rivera is desperately trying to improve his position but Jabulani has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zakumi Jabulani dominated that round.
That's time! Jabulani's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivera slips a straight right by Jabulani.
Jabulani misses the jab.
Rivera tries to clinch there but Jabulani circles away.
A combination from Jabulani does no damage.
Jabulani throws a combination that misses
and Rivera counters with a nice body shot.
Rivera delivers a nice body kick.
Jabulani avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zakumi Jabulani is winning the standup battle so far.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rivera.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rivera staying out of range there.
Jabulani uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Jabulani circles away and keeps his distance.
Rivera lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jabulani's sensitive parts.
Rivera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jabulani. That did some damage!
Rivera lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rivera clobbers Jabulani with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jabulani throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jabulani misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jabulani swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rivera counters with a solid body kick.
Jabulani thuds a left hand into Rivera's body.
Jabulani takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rivera throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rivera digs a good body shot into Jabulani's ribs.
Zakumi Jabulani is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab by Rivera.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Jabulani.
Rivera with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rivera looks to score with a jab to the body but Jabulani is just out of range.
Jabulani missing with a left hand there. Rivera was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jabulani moves out of range of the body kick from Rivera.
Rivera ducks right into an uppercut from Jabulani.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera dodges the punch combination from Jabulani.
Rivera motions for Jabulani to come forward. Rivera throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rivera takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rivera lands a nice looking body shot.
Rivera throws a sloppy head kick and Jabulani moves out of range easily.
Jabulani swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rivera buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jabulani lands with a good body shot.
Rivera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jabulani manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rivera - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jabulani's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jabulani. Rivera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rivera thumps Jabulani with a low kick.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jabulani.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rivera clinches.
Jabulani managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jabulani is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Jabulani avoids the damage to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Jabulani tries for a takedown. No joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jabulani's efforts to push away.
Rivera is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zakumi Jabulani. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jabulani wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rivera has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Rivera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rivera tries to clinch but Jabulani moves out of range.
Jabulani takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jabulani blocks a head kick by Rivera.
Rivera fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rivera throws a push kick but Jabulani slaps the foot to one side.
Jabulani connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rivera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jabulani.
Rivera throws a nice head kick!
Rivera darts in trying to clinch
and Jabulani counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jabulani checks a leg kick.
Rivera connects with a high kick.
Rivera slips a straight right by Jabulani.
A swing and a miss from Rivera.
Rivera lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jabulani's sensitive parts.
Nice sprawl there from Jabulani as Rivera shoots in.
Jabulani misses the shot to the body.
Jabulani changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rivera is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jabulani rather than just go for the knockout.
Jabulani misses with an uppercut.
Jabulani fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jabulani throws a combination that misses
and Rivera counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Jabulani is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rivera slips under a jab.
Jabulani lands a jab to Rivera's midsection.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rivera walks into a left hand.
Jabulani thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jabulani takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jabulani throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rivera sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Jabulani.
Rivera misses the shot to the body.
Jabulani misses with the combination.
Rivera connects with a body shot that sends Jabulani's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rivera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jabulani cracks Rivera with an open hand slap.
Rivera thows a leg kick but Jabulani checks it

and Jabulani counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jabulani is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rivera is trying to keep Jabulani in close.
Jabulani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rivera is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jabulani trying to control but Rivera is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rivera is trying to keep Jabulani in close.

Zakumi Jabulani has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A jab from Jabulani finds it's way through Rivera's defenses.
Nice body kick from Rivera.
Rivera fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Zakumi Jabulani did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jabulani punishes Rivera's body with a nice straight punch.
Jabulani shoots in but Rivera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jabulani connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rivera momentarily.
Jabulani misses the shot to the body.
Rivera throws a leg kick
and Jabulani counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rivera thinking.
Jabulani takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jabulani misses with a hook. Rivera ducked under it nicely.
Rivera throws out a leg kick but Jabulani moves out of range and Rivera only half commits.
Rivera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jabulani moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jabulani looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
Rivera avoids the body shot from Jabulani.
Rivera fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jabulani avoids the head kick by Rivera.
Jabulani will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jabulani gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Rivera.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rivera. Jabulani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jabulani stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rivera.
Rivera misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera dodges the punch combination from Jabulani.
Jabulani throws a hook but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jabulani takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rivera connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jabulani stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivera. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice shot lands for Jabulani.
Jabulani shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jabulani throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jabulani will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Jabulani shoots in and gets a takedown into Rivera's guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Jabulani tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
Rivera trying to keep a closed guard but Jabulani is proving a slippery customer.
Jabulani tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivera is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jabulani wants to control from the top but Rivera keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rivera throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Rivera throws a left and a right that both miss
and Jabulani counters with a nice uppercut.
Jabulani tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rivera throws a head kick that misses.
Rivera cracks the inside of Jabulani's front leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jabulani misses with a double jab.
Rivera misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Jabulani does no damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Zakumi Jabulani will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rivera is looking to clinch.
Jabulani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jabulani throws a lazy right hand but Rivera sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rivera is looking to chop away at Jabulani's legs.
Jabulani throws a right and a left that Rivera avoids nicely.
Jabulani loads up on a big right hand but Rivera slips the punch.

Jabulani is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rivera's half guard.
Rivera trying to control but Jabulani postures up.
Rivera gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jabulani is looking to advance position but Rivera has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rivera raining down shots from the mount!
Jabulani wants to hold on but Rivera pushes him away.
Rivera lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jabulani hang on?
Zakumi Jabulani overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jabulani wants to control but Rivera is having none of it.
Rivera dominating with strikes here.
Junior Rivera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jabulani tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rivera unloading with bombs!
Rivera working Jabulani over with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivera landing shots from mount.
Rivera lands a nice shot to the head.

Jabulani is rocked!
Rivera with the ground and pound from mount.
Oh Jabulani is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jabulani is trying to escape the mount.
Rivera working Jabulani over with strikes here.
Rivera postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Jabulani badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Rivera around the waist but Rivera pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Rivera is the winner by TKO! Rivera jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Junior Rivera! Junior Rivera retains his welterweight title!
Junior Rivera took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Fight Club Clothing est. 09™ for their support in the buildup to the fight.