PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Rivero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Rodgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodgers has chosen The Prodigy - World's On Fire as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rivero
vs
Rodgers

184 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
19
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Primal Instinct Supplements

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 Las Vegas, John Rivero!
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, James Rodgers!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivero fails to land the takedown.
Rodgers shoots and misses

and Rivero counters with a shoot takedown. Rodgers fights it but they end up in guard.
Rodgers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivero manages to get himself to full guard.
Rodgers works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rodgers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rivero is trying to stand back up but Rodgers is controlling him
Rodgers slows the pace down in half guard.
Let's hope that Rodgers has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rodgers wants to advance to full mount but Rivero doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Rivero trying to keep a closed guard but Rodgers is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers trying to control but Rivero is working from the bottom.
Rivero being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodgers is one step ahead there.
Rodgers trying to control the position from guard on top but Rivero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodgers not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rivero looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rodgers controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rodgers passes Rivero's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rodgers prevents Rivero from improving his position.
Rodgers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rivero defending well though.
Rodgers is tying to control. Rivero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rodgers slows the pace down in half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, James Rodgers just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rivero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rodgers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers tries to hold on but Rivero pushes him away.
Rodgers is looking to get to half guard.
Rodgers looks gassed!
Rodgers is squirming around, avoiding Rivero's attempts to control the action.
Rodgers is trying to escape the mount.
Rivero can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rodgers is looking to escape.
Rivero controlling his opponent.
Rodgers tries to lock up and control but Rivero gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rodgers holds on for dear life, controlling Rivero's posture momentarily.
Rivero blocks Rodgers's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rivero lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rodgers hang on?
Rivero trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rodgers is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rivero dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rivero bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rivero working away.
Rodgers is looking to regain half guard here but Rivero keeps moving and retains side control.
Rodgers sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rodgers tries to get to full guard but Rivero has control of the leg.
Rivero scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rodgers missing with punches from the bottom.
Rodgers is breathing heavily.
Rodgers is refusing to be controlled, as Rivero sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers is looking to improve his position.
Rivero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rodgers keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rodgers with a poor takedown

so Rivero counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rodgers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivero is one step ahead there.
Rodgers pulls Rivero in close to prevent any damage.
Rodgers lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rivero!
Rodgers controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rodgers.
Rodgers lands a heavy elbow.
Rivero tries to control Rodgers's body but Rodgers pushes him off. Rivero squirms to his side and now Rodgers has his back!

Rivero fending off the submission attempt from Rodgers.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rivero covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Rodgers connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Rivero to escape the position.
Rodgers wants to control but Rivero is keeping busy.
Rodgers has Rivero flattened out and is raining down punches.
Rivero tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rodgers is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Rivero is rocked!
Rodgers controlling the position easily from mount.
Oh Rivero is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rodgers looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers looking to finish Rivero with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rivero!
Rodgers controlling from mount.
Rivero tries to control Rodgers's body but Rodgers pushes him off. Rivero squirms to his side and now Rodgers has his back!
Rodgers lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Rivero.
Rivero seems to have got his legs back now.
Rodgers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rivero grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivero is covering up but some of the strikes from Rodgers are getting through and doing damage.

Rivero showing good submission defense here.
Rodgers keeps control of the position easily here as Rivero tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Rodgers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rodgers misses with a takedown

so Rivero counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rivero seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rodgers has a closed guard, preventing Rivero from standing up.
Rivero controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rodgers trying to keep a closed guard but Rivero is proving a slippery customer.

Rodgers looking for a guillotine here but Rivero defends easily.
Rodgers keeping moving, preventing Rivero from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rodgers wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodgers is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rivero being controlled here momentarily.
Rodgers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rivero is one step ahead there.
Rivero would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rivero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rodgers misses with a takedown attempt

and Rivero counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodgers!
Rivero sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rivero has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Rivero tries to control but Rodgers wriggling away.
Rodgers is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivero tries to control but Rodgers wriggling away.
Rodgers is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rodgers regains half guard.
Rodgers keeping hold of Rivero's head, controlling as best he can.
Rivero is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rivero is looking to stall here but Rodgers recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivero has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rodgers is proving hard to escape from.
Rivero trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodgers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee stands the fighters back up. John Rivero just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Rodgers has his takedown stuffed

and Rivero counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
John Rivero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Rodgers.
Rivero prevents Rodgers from improving his position.
Rodgers wants to control but Rivero is keeping busy.
Rivero prevents Rodgers from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Rivero showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rivero 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

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