Jimmie Rivera proved to be the bigger, more powerful fighter tonight at UFC 228 against John Dodson in a cautious, controlled performance that would see him emerge with a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
Body kick for Rivera. A leg kick now. Now a leg kick for Dodson. Hard body kick for Rivera, but then Dodson catches the kick and lands a punch as he drives him across the cage.
Rivera breaks free and goes back to kicking Dodson’s leg. Right hand for Rivera now. Head kick from Dodson, but Rivera takes it.
Leg kick for Rivera. Again it lands and it’s heavy. Double jab attempt for Dodson, but then Rivera moves to his back and clinches up. Dodson stuffs a takedown attempts and peels his hands apart to break free.
Rivera land a clean punch on the counter. Rivera with a right hand to the body and then one upstairs. Crisp work from him. Another combination lands. Dodson comes forward and unloads, with Rivera falling off-balance for a moment under that pressure, but emerging unscathed.
Two solid right hooks for Rivera as the round comes to a close.
Round Two:
Leg kick for Rivera. Probing left hand lands from Dodson. Leg kick again for Rivera. Another lands. One punch for Dodson and two in return from Rivera.
Exchange of straight punches, but they don’t connect clean. Dodson catches a kick and then tries for a counter punch that only glances his opponent.
Dodson starting to check leg kicks now. Body kick for Rivera. Body kick for Dodson now. Leg kick for him. Spinning backfist from Dodson misses.
Body kick for Dodson and two punches in response from Rivera. leg kick for Rivera, but it lands to the groin and Dodson’s going to need some time to recover.
One-two for Rivera on the reset. Now a head kick attempt from him that’s blocked. Body kick from Dodson. Another lands just as the round comes to an end.
Round Three:
Leg kick for Rivera. left hand for Dodson, but Rivera immediately lands a punch in return and Dodson staggers backwards.
Leg kick from Rivera and a counter punch from Dodson. Another leg kick connects. Dodson lands a leg kick. Body punch for Rivera. Leg kick for him.
Left hand for Dodson. Push kick for him, then a leg kick for Rivera. Exchange of punches, but neither connects the way they would like.
Rivera letting his hands go, but Dodson proving to be an elusive target. Left hook for Dodson. Right hand lands flush for Rivera. In close as the fight is coming to a conclusion Dodson rips a flurry of punches to the body.
Decision:
Two good fighters here, but Rivera seemed much the bigger, more powerful fighter and was fast too, and it’s he who emerges with the unanimous decision victory (30-27 x2, 29-28).
