PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Israli Rajeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Guervo (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.

Rajeem
vs
Guervo

177 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 Los Angeles, Israli Rajeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jose Guervo!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rajeem shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rajeem is fighting to break Guervo's control of his arms but Guervo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Guervo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Guervo trying to keep a closed guard but Rajeem is proving a slippery customer.
Guervo looking for a sweep. Not yet Guervo, not yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Guervo can do anything to dispel that myth.

Guervo is working an open guard so Rajeem takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rajeem gets the takedown into side control.
Rajeem working away.
Guervo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Rajeem is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Guervo is just riding it out for now. Rajeem eventually gives up the hold.
Guervo is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guervo is doing well to control the position and prevent Rajeem from advancing to side control.
Rajeem not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rajeem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Guervo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Guervo landing a few short strikes.
Rajeem trying to mount his opponent but Guervo defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rajeem shoots in looking for a takedown. Guervo tries to sprawl out of it but Rajeem keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Guervo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rajeem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rajeem tries to bum rush Guervo with a series of wild strikes but Guervo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rajeem misses with a head kick.

Guervo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Guervo lands in his opponent's guard.
Rajeem is breathing heavily.
Guervo landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Guervo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rajeem trying to control the position.
Rajeem might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rajeem could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Guervo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rajeem tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Guervo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Guervo cracks Rajeem with a big right hand but Rajeem just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Guervo is putting a hurting on Rajeem here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rajeem takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Rajeem taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rajeem taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rajeem is being controlled here.
Guervo grinds an elbow into Rajeem's temple.
Rajeem tries to buck Guervo off but Guervo is having none of it.
Guervo landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guervo is putting a hurting on Rajeem here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rajeem can't do much from the bottom here.
Rajeem is looking to regain half guard here but Guervo keeps moving and retains side control.
Rajeem is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Guervo's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rajeem wants to control but Guervo is keeping busy.
Rajeem is trying to get back to full guard.
Rajeem is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Guervo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Guervo's back!
Guervo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Rajeem.

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.
Rajeem somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Rajeem tries to keep control of the position but Guervo is staying busy.

Rajeem is looking for the choke from the back position but Guervo is controlling his hands well.
Guervo trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Rajeem missing with punches from the back.

Rajeem is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Guervo is defending well though. Rajeem let's go of the attempt for now.
Guervo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Rajeem's guard. Nice work there by Guervo.
Guervo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rajeem gets the takedown into side control.
Guervo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rajeem's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jose Guervo 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.

Rajeem wants to clinch.
Rajeem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Guervo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Guervo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rajeem counters with a takedown into side control.
Guervo is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rajeem's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Guervo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rajeem.
Guervo is not content to let Rajeem control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guervo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rajeem's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rajeem's back!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Guervo is landing with strikes from the back.
The referee is taking a good look at Rajeem as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Guervo!
Rajeem is trying to break free.
Guervo scores with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guervo lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Rajeem hold on?!
Guervo tries to get the hooks in deep but Rajeem pushed the leg off.
Guervo scores with strikes from the back.
I really don't envy Rajeem right now.
Guervo gets his hands free as Rajeem looks to control.
Rajeem grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Guervo. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Rajeem tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rajeem wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rajeem blocking the ground and pound.
Rajeem wants to try and get back to his feet.
Rajeem wants to hold on but Guervo pushes him away.
Rajeem is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rajeem regains half guard.
Guervo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rajeem trying to hold on to Guervo's head to control him but Guervo postures up.
Guervo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rajeem tries to get to full guard but Guervo has control of the leg.
Guervo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rajeem is trying to maintain the position but Guervo is very close to passing his half guard.
Rajeem keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rajeem is looking to escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rajeem shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Guervo but Guervo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Guervo fails with the takedown

and Rajeem decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Guervo's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guervo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rajeem's guard.
Guervo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Guervo is pushing down on Rajeem's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rajeem is fighting to maintain full guard but Guervo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Guervo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rajeem is trying to get back to full guard.
Rajeem is looking to control Guervo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rajeem avoid being mounted?
Guervo trying to control the action but Rajeem is working from the bottom.
Guervo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Guervo controlling the pace.
Guervo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rajeem's head.
Rajeem controlling the position for now.
Guervo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rajeem tries to roll over but Guervo keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guervo throwing shots but Rajeem is blocking nicely.
Rajeem is trying to maintain the position but Guervo is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Guervo seems content to control.
Guervo working Rajeem over with strikes.
Rajeem trying to hold on to Guervo's head to control him but Guervo postures up.
Guervo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rajeem tries to get to full guard but Guervo has control of the leg.
Guervo slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Guervo lands strikes from half guard.
Rajeem moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
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 Israli Rajeem will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rajeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rajeem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Guervo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Guervo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Rajeem keeping hold of Guervo's head, controlling as best he can.
Guervo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Guervo wants to pass the guard but Rajeem is defending well.

Rajeem kicks Guervo off and gets back to his feet.
Rajeem with a poor takedown

so Guervo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Guervo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajeem tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Guervo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Guervo working away.
Rajeem is trying to buck Guervo off.
Rajeem is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rajeem is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Rajeem's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rajeem takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Guervo advances to mount.
Guervo breaks from Rajeem's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rajeem can't escape the position.

That's two 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.
Rajeem wants to hold on but Guervo pushes him away.
Guervo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Rajeem tries to hold on but Guervo pushes him away.
Jose Guervo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rajeem is in a horrible position here. Guervo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rajeem really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rajeem bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rajeem throwing strikes but missing.
Rajeem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Guervo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Guervo working a defensive guard here.
Rajeem preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guervo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Guervo wants to sweep here but Rajeem controlling him for the moment.
Guervo throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rajeem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Guervo counters with a single leg into guard. Rajeem didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israli Rajeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guervo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Guervo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rajeem trying to keep a closed guard but Guervo is proving a slippery customer.
Guervo wants to control from the top but Rajeem keeps moving.
Guervo postures up.
Rajeem manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guervo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rajeem trying to control but Guervo is having none of it.
Rajeem throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Guervo flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Guervo is looking to get to half guard.
Rajeem blocks Guervo's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Guervo is looking to improve his position but Rajeem isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Guervo wants to hold on but Rajeem pushes him away.
Guervo keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Rajeem is working for a guillotine from mount but Guervo frees his head quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Guervo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Guervo 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Guervo!