PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorge Riviera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hart comes into the arena with Hide Your Tears blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hart
vs
Riviera

180 cm
29
177 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

190 cm
29
174 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Fight Night Nutrition
KAISER

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Daniel Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorge Riviera!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riviera shoots in and bounces Hart off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Riviera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hart is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riviera trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.
Riviera throwing strikes but missing.
Hart utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Riviera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Riviera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Hart looking for a guillotine here but Riviera defends easily.
Riviera throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riviera throws a big elbow that misses.
Riviera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riviera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hart looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hart has Riviera pulled in close to control his posture.
Riviera is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hart not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riviera pushes down on Hart's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Riviera throws a strike but Hart avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riviera is controlling him.
Riviera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviera throws a big elbow that misses.
Riviera with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Riviera throwing strikes from guard but Hart blocks nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riviera lands a couple of elbows.
Riviera connects with a couple of short punches.
Hart is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Riviera stands up over Hart, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Riviera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hart is keeping the position for now.
Hart wants to sweep here but Riviera controlling him for the moment.
Riviera trying to control the position from guard on top but Hart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riviera wants to pass the guard but Hart is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riviera prevents Hart from getting back to his feet.
Hart wants to sweep here but Riviera controlling him for the moment.
Riviera advances position into side control!
Hart struggling a bit here.
Hart on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Riviera works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Riviera working the head and body with strikes.
Hart can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart manages to work his way to half guard, despite Riviera's best efforts.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Riviera looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hart is looking to escape.
Riviera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hart with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Riviera working over Hart with some ground and pound. Hart looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hart pushes Riviera off looking to stand but Riviera dives back in and keeps control.
Hart is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Riviera scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hart regains full guard. Nicely done.
Riviera wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riviera lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riviera postures up in Hart's guard and throws a big left but Hart blocks it.
Riviera working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hart's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorge Riviera dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hart wants to clinch.
Riviera throws an overhand right that lands on Hart's shoulder, as Hart tries to avoid the shot.
Hart scores with a spinning back kick!
Hart blocks a low kick nicely.
Riviera misses the jab.

Hart rushes Riviera and presses him up against the cage.

Hart breaks from the clinch.

Hart moves into the clinch.
Riviera managing to block the knees to the body from Hart.
Riviera trying to stall but Hart improves his position.
Hart wants to take the fight to the mat but Riviera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Hart tightens his grip and picks Riviera up, before dumping him to the ground. Riviera manages to land in guard.
Hart wants to control from the top but Riviera keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart connects with a couple of short punches.
Riviera is trying to control the position but Hart postures up.
Riviera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hart's guard.
Riviera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Riviera trying to control but Hart is working from the bottom.
Hart is looking to stand up but Riviera isn't so interested in that idea.
Riviera postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Riviera from controlling successfully.
Hart wants to sweep but no luck.
Riviera working some strikes from top position.
Riviera is working Hart over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Riviera trying to control the position from guard on top but Hart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riviera pushing down on Hart's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riviera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hart is trying to get back to full guard.
Riviera scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Riviera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hart with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Riviera is looking to pass Hart's guard but actually Hart recovers to full guard.

Hart looking for a guillotine here but Riviera defends easily.
Hart avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
Riviera looking to sit in guard and control but Hart gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Riviera manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hart manages to get himself to full guard.
Riviera looking to pass the guard.
Hart wants to stand and escape but Riviera is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riviera is one step ahead there.
Hart is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Riviera is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riviera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hart seems keen to control Riviera's posture.
Riviera wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riviera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hart is keeping the position for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Riviera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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 the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hart dodges the punch combination from Riviera.
Hart looks for a takedown but Riviera sprawls well.
Hart slips a jab and a cross from Riviera.

Riviera scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Riviera is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Riviera not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hart makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hart.
Riviera pushes down on Hart's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hart is trying to maintain the position but Riviera is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart manages to get to full guard.
Hart utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riviera stands up over Hart, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hart looking for a sweep. Not yet Hart, not yet.
Hart wants to stand but Riviera is controlling the position.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Riviera from controlling successfully.
Riviera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hart pulls Riviera in close to prevent any damage.
Hart is trying to control the position but Riviera postures up.
Jorge Riviera has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riviera pushing down on Hart's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Riviera trying to control the action but Hart is working from the bottom.
Riviera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hart works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hart is pulling down on Riviera's head. It's preventing any offense from Riviera, at least for the moment.
Hart keeping moving, preventing Riviera from controlling successfully.
Riviera is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riviera is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riviera lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riviera with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Riviera tries to free his leg and advance position but Hart is retaining full guard.
Riviera wants to control from the top but Hart keeps moving.
Riviera distracts Hart with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Daniel Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riviera working some strikes from top position.
Riviera working some strikes from top position.
Riviera chips away with some ground and pound.
Riviera won't allow Hart to get back to his feet.
Riviera working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hart's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Riviera stopping the sweep attempt from Hart.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart looking to control.
Riviera postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Riviera lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Riviera lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Riviera advances position into side control!
Jorge Riviera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Riviera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riviera working away.

Riviera swings around for an armbar but Hart sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Riviera's guard.
Hart postures up in Riviera's guard and throws a big left but Riviera blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hart trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riviera looking to control.
Riviera preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorge Riviera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Riviera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorge Riviera!
Jorge Riviera took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Fight Night Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.