PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jojo Cunnings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jojo Cunnings has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivera
vs
Cunnings

178 cm
22
138 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

167 cm
28
145 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jojo Cunnings!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cunnings looks to score with a jab to the body but Rivera is just out of range.
Cunnings misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Cunnings, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rivera shoots in looking for a takedown. Cunnings tries to sprawl out of it but Rivera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cunnings manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cunnings uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rivera has time to react.
Rivera takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rivera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rivera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cunnings pinned against the cage. Cunnings gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Rivera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunnings throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cunnings scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rivera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cunnings throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Cunnings looks to land a combination but Rivera avoids it well.
Cunnings looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunnings misses the jab.
Cunnings throws a series of punches but Rivera moves out of range.
Cunnings fails to land with a series of punches.
Rivera moves out of range of the strikes.
A combination from Cunnings does no damage.

Rivera gets the takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Rivera is trying to get an arm triangle but Cunnings is defending well.

Rivera looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Cunnings tries to bench press Rivera off him but Rivera keeps the position.
Cunnings is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cunnings is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rivera asserts his dominance and retains side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rivera looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunnings is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Rivera looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rivera thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Rivera has hold of Cunnings's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Cunnings tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Rivera cranks the arm and Cunnings screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Cunnings, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Alex Rivera!