PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Hera (ranked 4769 p4p, 4772 weight class) and Enrique Rivera (ranked 292 p4p, 293 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hera
vs
Rivera

170 cm
24
145
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
145
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

Sakura Style
BANZAI COMBAT NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brandon Hera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Enrique Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera cracks Hera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Hera scores with a takedown into Rivera's guard.
Hera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hera manages to pass to side control.
Hera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Hera seems content to control.
Hera throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Hera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hera is looking for a kimura but Rivera is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hera to get the leverage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hera is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rivera sees it coming and defends easily.
Hera takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hera connects with a nice short shot to Rivera's temple.
Hera tries to stand and escape but Rivera is controlling the position.
Hera 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.
Hera not doing much here.
Hera throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.

Hera looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hera looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hera throwing shots but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Hera wants to free his trapped foot but Rivera is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rivera pushes Hera off looking to stand but Hera dives back in and keeps control.

That's four 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.
Hera uses his free foot to push down on Rivera's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rivera.
Hera landing punches.
Hera controlling the pace for now.
Hera seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rivera for as long as he can get away with.
Hera's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivera takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rivera is fending him off so far but Hera persists. Nope, Rivera circles away and we're back to standing.
Rivera throws a leg kick which misses Hera's front leg but catches the back leg as Hera tries to avoid it.
Rivera fails to land with a series of punches.
Rivera misses with a wild combination.
Rivera misses with a two punch combination.
Brandon Hera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera misses with a series of wild punches.
Hera shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera lands a leg kick that knocks Hera off balance momentarily.
Hera misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rivera is breathing heavily.

Rivera gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hera to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rivera is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hera dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rivera bucks up and tries to throw Hera off but instead Hera has got his back!
Hera is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Hera gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Hera gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Hera apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Hera shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rivera is trying to defend but Hera finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hera with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hera is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hera trying to control the pace.
Hera scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Still in half guard, Hera seems content to control.
Hera slips a nice elbow through Rivera's hands, connecting with Rivera's forehead.
Hera wants to pass the guard but Rivera is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hera content to control rather than advance.
Further stalling from Hera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rivera pushes Hera off looking to stand but Hera dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rivera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hera shoots in but Rivera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rivera.
Rivera cracks Hera with a right hand to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hera walks into a jab.
Rivera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Hera moves out of range.
Rivera thows a leg kick but Hera checks it

and Hera counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Enrique Rivera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rivera fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hera is out of range.
Rivera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Enrique Rivera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rivera throws a series of punches but Hera avoids them all with ease.
Hera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hera feinted with a counter takedown.
Rivera circles away from the clinch attempt.

Hera shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hera was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hera controls the position from side control.
Rivera is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hera tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rivera wants to get back to his feet but Hera is dominant here and he's now got Rivera's back!
Rivera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hera has his arm under Rivera's chin here. Game over son! Hera squeezes tightly and Rivera is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Brandon Hera!