PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Riviera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Pargo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Riviera
vs
Pargo

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

[GTI] Divine Clothing (95% LAUNDRY)

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jonathan Riviera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neil Pargo!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pargo closes the distance and clinches.
Pargo is looking to break free of the clinch but Riviera has double underhooks.

Riviera has clasped his hands together around Pargo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Riviera tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Riviera has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pargo is trying to get back to his feet.

Riviera thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pargo wants to get back to his feet but Riviera drags him back down.
Riviera wants to control but Pargo is keeping him busy.

Pargo explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Pargo has closed the distance and engaged Riviera in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.
Pargo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riviera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pargo tries to land a knee to the head but Riviera blocks with his arms.
Riviera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pargo's efforts to push away.
Riviera effectively controlling the action here.
Riviera has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pargo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pargo tries to land a knee to the head but Riviera blocks with his arms.
Pargo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Riviera wants a takedown.
Riviera is trying to break free.
Pargo throws a knee to the head but misses.

Riviera manages to pull guard.
Pargo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Riviera is proving hard to escape from.
Pargo postures up.
Pargo stopping the sweep attempt from Riviera.
Pargo wants to get up but he can't break Riviera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviera looking for a sweep. Not yet Riviera, not yet.
Pargo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Riviera's guard.
Pargo won't allow Riviera to sweep him here.
Pargo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Pargo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Pargo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
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!

Riviera manages to break the clinch.
Pargo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pargo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riviera moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pargo looks gassed!

Riviera rushes Pargo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pargo prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Riviera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riviera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Riviera stalling.
Riviera goes for a takedown attempt but Pargo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pargo throws a series of punches but Riviera moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pargo throws a nice looking combination but Riviera bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Riviera instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Riviera's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pargo gets underhooks to prevent Riviera's takedown attempt.
Riviera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pargo is defending well for now.
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.

Riviera jumps into guard, dragging Pargo to the mat.
Pargo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Riviera is proving hard to escape from.
Riviera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pargo is one step ahead there.

Riviera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Pargo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riviera gets tackled into the cage by Pargo. Pargo maintains the clinch.

Riviera gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Riviera is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pargo tries to kick Riviera off but Riviera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Pargo kicks off Riviera and gets to his feet.

Pargo tries to keep at a distance but Riviera has taken the fight into the clinch.
Riviera looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Riviera decides to pull guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riviera controls Pargo momentarily but Pargo frees himself.

Pargo gets to his feet - Riviera follows without any prompting.

Pargo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Neil Pargo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Riviera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pargo throws a series of punches but Riviera avoids them all with ease.
Riviera shoots in but no luck this time.

Pargo closes the distance and clinches.
Pargo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pargo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.
Pargo dodges an elbow strike from Riviera.
Pargo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pargo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Riviera blocks it with crossed arms.
Pargo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Riviera has Pargo pressed against the cage, preventing Pargo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Riviera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pargo avoids it.
Pargo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pargo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pargo stops a takedown attempt from Riviera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Riviera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pargo wants to break free but Riviera has control.
Riviera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Riviera tries to pull guard but Pargo holds him up against the cage and eventually Riviera drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riviera is working for takedown but Pargo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Riviera leaning his opponent against the cage.
Pargo tries to break free but Riviera pushes him back against the cage.
Pargo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riviera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Riviera prevents Pargo from breaking the clinch.
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.
Pargo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pargo is breathing heavily.
A head punch on the inside from Riviera fails to land.

Pargo breaks the clinch.

Riviera tries to keep at a distance but Pargo has taken the fight into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Riviera.
Riviera misses with a punch on the inside.
Riviera has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pargo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pargo misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pargo breaks from the clinch.

Riviera closes the distance and clinches.
Pargo letting Riviera take a breather here.
Riviera is working for takedown but Pargo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pargo tries to land a knee to the head but Riviera blocks with his arms.
Pargo can't break the clinch.
Neil Pargo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pargo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riviera controlling the action here for a moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riviera tries to break free but Pargo pushes him back against the cage.
Pargo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Riviera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pargo.
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.

Riviera pulls Pargo into guard.
Riviera has a closed guard, preventing Pargo from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pargo postures up.
Pargo wants to stand but Riviera has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Riviera trying to keep a closed guard but Pargo is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonathan Riviera wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Riviera closes the distance and pushes Pargo back into the cage.
Pargo keeps control of Riviera as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pargo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Riviera is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riviera wants to take the fight to the mat but Pargo manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Pargo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Riviera wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pargo looking to throw knees to the head but Riviera is blocking nicely.
Pargo looking to throw knees to the head but Riviera is blocking nicely.
Riviera tries to circle away but Pargo has him pinned against the cage.

Riviera has hold of one of Pargo's legs. Pargo is fighting the takedown attempt but Riviera gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Pargo wants to stand and escape but Riviera is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riviera wants to pass the guard but Pargo is keeping the position.
Pargo keeping moving, preventing Riviera from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riviera passes Pargo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Riviera moves nicely into side control.

Riviera is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pargo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jonathan Riviera will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Riviera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pargo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pargo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Riviera is looking for a takedown.
A frustrated look appears on Pargo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pargo is pressed up against the cage. Riviera has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pargo down to the mat. Pargo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pargo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pargo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Neil Pargo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pargo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pargo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pargo clinches up against the cage.
Pargo misses with a knee strike.
Riviera wants to break free but Pargo has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pargo misses with a knee strike.
Pargo has Riviera pressed against the cage, preventing Riviera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pargo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Riviera is stalling here.
Pargo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riviera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Riviera.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jonathan Riviera.

Pargo clinches up against the cage.
Pargo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riviera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.
Riviera tries to pull guard but Pargo holds him up against the cage and eventually Riviera drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Riviera. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviera missing with knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Riviera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Riviera tries a body shot but Pargo blocks it.
Riviera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Riviera stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Pargo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Riviera tries to break the clinch but Pargo is controlling the position.
Riviera tries to pull guard but Pargo holds him up against the cage and eventually Riviera drops back down to his feet.
Riviera tries to break free but Pargo pushes him back against the cage.
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!
The referee calls for Riviera to work.
Pargo misses with a knee to the head.
Pargo looking to throw knees to the head but Riviera is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pargo avoids it.
Riviera stalling the fight.
Riviera misses with an elbow strike.
Riviera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pargo has him pressed against the cage.
Riviera has Pargo pressed against the cage.
Pargo can't break the clinch.
Pargo letting Riviera take a breather here.
Riviera is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pargo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Riviera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Pargo moves into the clinch.
Riviera is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pargo wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riviera has Pargo pressed against the cage, preventing Pargo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pargo tries a knee to the head but Riviera blocks it.

Riviera wants the takedown. Pargo is fighting it off but Riviera persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Pargo's guard against the cage.
Riviera prevents Pargo from getting back to his feet.
Riviera trying to control but Pargo is working from the bottom.
Riviera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
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!

Riviera stands and steps away. Pargo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Pargo clinches up with Riviera and pushes him back against the cage.
Riviera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pargo smiles and moves away.

Pargo closes the distance and pushes Riviera back into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Riviera.
Pargo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riviera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pargo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jonathan Riviera.
I think Riviera has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!