I watched highlights of Martin / Rivera. And

[Combat Talk Radio]

Yes, Rivera was bamboozled.

Yes, he has flaws. Stance and lunging in.

But it looked like he was thinking way too hard about not getting hit.

Obviously the guy across from him was dangerous, and clearly the game plan was to stay at range, but because he kept lunging, he put himself in range to get clipped constantly.

Rivera seemed to just be thinking too hard. He hardly went for the body and he never adjusted to the constant pivoting.

As a fan, I think his trainer took him as far as he could, but now he needs more dimensions. His defense is actually very good upstairs, but even the best defensive fighters also had to be capable in the phone booth.

The fight reminded me of Loma vs. Rigo without the quit.

[Punch on Tap]

I was surprised at how he made no adjustments. Maybe to limit risk and engagement was, but I expected a tug of war and a battle of attrition.

While Martin looked composed and determined at the same time. He was missing with the left a lot but still managed to clip him.

Good scrap. Martin just needs to keep sharpening his tools. Some real bad boys at 135.

[Jsmooth9876]

Rivera just is not that good. He made the same mistakes over and over and over during the fight. He was basic as fk. Martin looked good but Rivera looked like a C level guy. I think most of the top 10 guys would beat Rivera without issue based on last night's performance.

[Combat Talk Radio]

Rivera just is not that good. He made the same mistakes over and over and over during the fight. He was basic as fk. Martin looked good but Rivera looked like a C level guy. I think most of the top 10 guys would beat Rivera without issue based on last night's performance.

He's better than what he showed. Here he took no chances whatsoever and remained in defense mode. You can't do that against guys with high workrates like Martin.

That's why I said it looked like Loma / Rigo, Rigo took no chances either.

[Ganondorf]

He pretty much kept circling to his right into Martin’s power and dipping his head in one direction all night.

When I saw him doing that over and over in round 1 I rolled my eyes because it was at that point I realized I probably called this fight wrong. Im honestly surprised he made it 12 rounds.

[QueensburyRules]

The fight reminded me of Loma vs. Rigo without the quit.

- - Has Rigomortis been finally buried by now?

[sicko]

Still only 24 so he will just work harder and get better, need to make some serious changes to his Corner though, just wasn't much Strategy or Adjustments suggestions in that Corner just the Generic "You Need To Go For The Knockout"

While Derrick James in the other Corner, well prepared giving Martin Strategy, tell him where to step, telling him to keep spinning him, telling him to go to the body, telling him to get inside. That trainer is suppose to be your extra set of eyes so at the end of the round he should be telling you what he sees that his fighter can possible exploit

[eco1]

I wanted Rivera to win but when I saw the walk in I said to my wife, he will loose this fight. Don't ask me why, just a hunch.

Then he started circling the wrong way, to his right instead of left and gave his advantage on the outside away.

The corner should have told him what to do, they did not.

They only told him to get in there and fight, but how??? They did not address the issues on this particular fight.

[Mammoth]

Rivera needs to start over, beginning with the Ali shtick.

[GhostofDempsey]

Showtime hyped him to make Martin look better. Rivera looked befuddled in the early rounds and really had no answer for Martin’s offense.