Jimmie Rivera got back to winning ways tonight at UFC On ESPN 13 with a unanimous decision victory over Cody Stamann.
Round One:
Hard inside leg kick from Rivera to start and Stamann lands a punch on the counter. Rivera looks for the leg kick again a few times, but comes up short. Stamann lands one of his own though.
Glancing leg kick from Rivera. He lands a nice punch to the body and then a hook upstairs. Another leg kick for him.
Inside leg kick from Rivera. He goes for it again, but this time Stamann catches it and knocks him off-balance to the mat. Rivera up again, but Stamann landing punches as he does so.
They get back to striking range and now it’s Rivera who catches a kick and lands a punch as Stamann falls backwards.
Rivera on top, but then it’s Stamann who manages to reverse the position. Rivera looking to stand and does so, but Stamann clinches his back and lands some nasty foot stomps. Stamann still looking to work from this position, but the referee has other plans and separates them prematurely.
Good strikes from Rivera as they get back to striking. Body punch for Rivera. He closes in on Stamann and lands a leg kick as the round ends.
Round Two:
Rivera with a hook at close range, but Stamann working for takedown, clinching his back and partially getting him to the mat. Rivera lands a backwards elbow and then stands though.
Stamann still clinched up and lands knees to the back of the thigh. Rivera turns into him. Now Rivera reverses the clinch position and takes him down. Now it’s Rivera who has his back as they stand again. Rivera tries to work a single-leg, but Stamann quickly defends against that.
Stamann reverses Rivera into the cage. Both exchange knees to the body. Hard left hook for Rivera as they separate.
Body punch and then a hook that misses from Rivera. Inside leg kick for Stamann. Body punch from Rivera, knee from Stamann might have strayed to the groin but Rivera says he’s ok.
Leg kick for Rivera. Inside leg kick for Stamann. Another leg kick for Rivera. Powerful left hand connects for Rivera, but the follow-up punches don’t quite find the mark. Jab for Stamann.
Jab lands for Rivera and a knee upstairs from Stamann. Another exchange to end the round.
Round Three:
Short flurry for Stamann and a punch in return from Rivera. Jab for Rivera, but Stamann ducks into a takedown. Rivera does well to defend that attempt though and Stamann has to settle for working the clinch against the cage.
Rivera reverse the clinch position and lands a knee. hook from Rivera as he backs out of the clinch.
Kick from Rivera comes off the arm. Stamann with a head kick attempt. Punches from Stamann. Low leg kick from Rivera and then another.
Outside calf kicks from Rivera. Stamann into a single leg takedown, but Rivera shows great balance to keep on his feet.
Stamann still working for a takedown against the cage. Rivera sinks in a guillotine choke, but Stamann is able to get out of that while still working for the takedown.
No takedown this time and they go back to striking range. Rivera with a good body punch. Leg kick for him and two punches in response from Stamann.
Rivera misses with punches and Stamann lands a counter right. More missed hooks from Rivera but lands a leg kick. They both throw and it’s Rivera who lands with a clean hook in the final seconds of the round.
Decision:
Rivera was the fighter pressing the action for much of the three rounds and it’s he who emerges with the unanimous decision victory (30-27 x2, 29-28).
