PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Drens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Riviera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Drens
vs
Riviera

185 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mathew Drens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorge Riviera!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riviera closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Riviera lands a nice forearm strike.
Drens regains half guard.
Drens slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Riviera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Drens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riviera lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Drens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riviera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Drens wants to sweep here but Riviera controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riviera trying to control but Drens is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Drens wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riviera pushing down on Drens's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Riviera wants to work for an arm triangle but Drens is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Riviera.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nice strikes from Riviera there.
Drens wants to improve his position but Riviera is controlling well.
Riviera is looking to advance position but Drens won't allow it.
Riviera is just content to waste time from the top position. Drens takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Drens wants to sweep but no luck.

Riviera 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviera looking to pass the guard.
Riviera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Drens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Riviera wants to control from the top but Drens keeps moving.
Drens trying to keep a closed guard but Riviera is proving a slippery customer.
Riviera won't allow Drens to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Drens is trying to get back to full guard.
Drens is breathing heavily.
Riviera works his way into side control.
Drens taking punishment in the form of punches.
Riviera lands a nice forearm strike.
Drens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riviera lands some shots froms side control.
Riviera lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Drens down.
Riviera lands some shots froms side control.
Drens is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Riviera is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Drens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Riviera lands a heavy elbow.
Riviera lands a big shot there that rocks Drens but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Riviera lands a big shot there that rocks Drens but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Riviera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drens is looking to escape.
Riviera raining down shots from the mount!
Drens takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Drens tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riviera in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riviera looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Drens doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Riviera counters with a single leg into guard. Drens didn't expect that.
Riviera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Drens works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riviera postures up and lands a big shot to Drens's brow.
Riviera keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Drens's head.
Riviera advances position into side control!
Riviera grinds an elbow into Drens's temple.
Drens tries to improve position but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riviera working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drens is working to avoid the ground and pound but Riviera connects with a decent elbow.
Drens is looking to reverse the position.

Riviera tries for a kimura but Drens is defending well.

Riviera tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Riviera cracks Drens with a big elbow.
Riviera creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Riviera working the ground and pound from side control.
Drens takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riviera cracks Drens with a big elbow.
Riviera scores with a couple of short elbows.
Jorge Riviera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drens is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Riviera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riviera connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Drens some visible discomfort.
Riviera working the ground and pound.
Riviera is putting a hurting on Drens here, landing some big shots from side control.
Riviera working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Drens is rocked!
Riviera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Riviera cracks Drens with a big right hand but Drens just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Oh Drens is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Riviera lands a decent elbow from side control.
Riviera lands a few punches from side control.
Riviera lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Drens down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera landing strikes.
Drens seems to have got his legs back now.
Drens is working to avoid the ground and pound but Riviera connects with a decent elbow.
Drens takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Riviera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drens keeps working.
Riviera landing a few strikes.
Drens taking punishment in the form of punches.
Drens regains half guard.
Drens taking some punishment here, with Riviera in his half guard.
Riviera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Drens with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Riviera is working for a kimura but Drens is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riviera is trying to work for a kimura but Drens is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riviera is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Drens wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riviera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Riviera working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Drens's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Riviera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Drens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riviera swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Drens closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Riviera's guard.
Drens trying to control the position from guard on top but Riviera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riviera lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Drens!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riviera lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drens is in all sorts of trouble here.
Riviera controlling from the full mount.
Riviera with shots to the head and body - Drens looks very uncomfortable down there.
Riviera is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Riviera looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Riviera lands a big shot there that rocks Drens but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Riviera trying to control but Drens is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riviera looking for a guillotine from mount but Drens is having none of it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riviera has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Drens's face.

Riviera has control of Drens's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Drens regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Drens is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Riviera cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Riviera working for a submission but Drens is keeping him at bay.
Riviera lands a big shot there that rocks Drens but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Drens keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Riviera landing strikes, looking to finish!
Drens taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riviera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riviera wants to control the pace but Drens is squirming around nicely.
Drens in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Drens taking shots to the head.
Riviera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Drens is looking to escape.
Jorge Riviera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Drens is bucking up trying to escape but Riviera cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Riviera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Riviera has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Riviera!