HEAVY! PBP Commentary

Co-main event

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Swano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rickson Porucha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickson Porucha has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Swano
vs
Porucha

190 cm
23
223 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

200 cm
25
265 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Dan Swano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rickson Porucha!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Swano misses.
Swano looks for the body kick but Porucha saw that one coming.
Swano throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Swano.
Swano misses with a body punch
and Porucha counters with a nice uppercut.

Porucha gets a takedown into half guard.
Porucha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swano defending well though.
Swano is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Lawson MMA (UK) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Porucha seems to be working for a kimura but Swano defends the submission attempt.
Porucha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porucha takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Swano wants to improve his position but Porucha is controlling well.

Porucha wants to work for an arm triangle but Swano is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Swano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Porucha.
Porucha thows a huge punch but Swano dodges it nicely.
Swano keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porucha is trying to control the action in half guard but Swano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Porucha trying to control from Swano's half guard. Swano has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Porucha is pushing down on Swano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Swano is fighting to maintain full guard but Porucha has managed to sneak the leg through.
Swano knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Porucha on the ground.
Porucha throwing shots but Swano is blocking nicely.
Porucha tries to pass to full mount but Swano defends it.
Porucha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Porucha throwing shots but Swano is blocking nicely.
Porucha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porucha with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Porucha thows a huge punch but Swano dodges it nicely.
Porucha is looking to take a break and control but Swano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Swano trying to control from the bottom.
Porucha performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Swano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Porucha counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Swano misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swano throws a leg kick but Porucha moved away.
Swano misses with a double jab
and Porucha makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Porucha drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Porucha tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Porucha has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Porucha tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Porucha has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Porucha is looking to take a break and control but Swano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rickson Porucha dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Porucha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Swano defends well and Porucha ends up having to push Swano into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Swano tries to stall but Porucha uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Swano throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Swano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Swano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Porucha.
Swano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Swano misses with a kick to the body.
Porucha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Swano circles away.
Swano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swano throws a head kick that misses.
Dan Swano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Porucha goes for a double leg but Swano avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Swano continues to drive forward.
Dan Swano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Porucha.

Porucha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Porucha keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Porucha shoots in and drives through. Swano sprawls well.
Porucha walks forward, straight into a front kick from Swano.
Swano wants to clinch.
Swano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Swano throws a poor cross that misses
and Porucha counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swano misses with a lunging right hand
and Porucha counters with a stiff right hand.
Swano throws a series of punches but Porucha avoids them all with ease.
Swano throws a series of punches but Porucha avoids them all with ease.
Swano is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Porucha's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Porucha slips under a jab from Swano.
Swano throws a right and a left that both miss.
Swano misses with a hook
and Porucha counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Swano lands a lovely overhand right.
Swano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Porucha was well out of range. Poor timing from Swano.
Porucha shoots in for a double leg but Swano sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Swano stuffs the takedown attempt from Porucha. Porucha gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porucha blocks a head kick by Swano.
Swano throws a right hand that Porucha ducks under and follows up with a left that Porucha also avoids with ease.
Swano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A left lands for Porucha.
Swano throws a shot from downtown. Porucha moves away and avoids it.
Swano jabs Porucha right on the nose. Porucha blinks but takes it well.

Porucha throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Swano was covering up waiting for the punch and Porucha finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Swano keeping full guard, as Porucha tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porucha wants to control from the top but Swano keeps moving.
Porucha's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Porucha postures up in Swano's guard and throws a big left but Swano blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Porucha throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Porucha trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Swano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Swano dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Porucha looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Swano misses with a hook to the body
and Porucha counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Porucha throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swano's waist but Swano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Porucha off to one side.
Porucha changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Swano tries to avoid it but Porucha manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Swano to the ground. Swano escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dan Swano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rickson Porucha.
Swano throws a sloppy head kick and Porucha moves out of range easily.
Swano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Porucha to counter with a crisp jab.
Swano throws an off balance right hand
and Porucha counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Porucha was well out of range. Poor timing from Swano.

Porucha shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Swano's guard.
Porucha throws a strike but Swano rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Swano wants to stand but Porucha is controlling his posture from full guard.
Porucha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Swano manages to get himself to full guard.
Porucha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Swano works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swano keeping moving, preventing Porucha from controlling successfully.
Porucha postures up in Swano's guard and throws a big left but Swano blocks it.
Swano keeping full guard, as Porucha tries to pass.
Porucha trying to control but Swano is working from the bottom.
Swano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porucha trying to control but Swano is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rickson Porucha.

Porucha shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Swano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Porucha.
Porucha is trying to control the action in half guard but Swano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Porucha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swano defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porucha tries to pass the half guard into mount. Swano knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Porucha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swano defending well though.
Porucha trying to control the action but Swano is working from the bottom.
Porucha with the ground and pound but Swano uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Porucha wants to control from the top but Swano keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rickson Porucha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Porucha has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickson Porucha!
A very excited looking Rickson Porucha made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
44%

Main event

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Efriam Haldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Triston Rioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rioka has chosen Life Is Beautiful as his entrance music. Efriam Haldi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haldi
vs
Rioka

167 cm
26
144 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

164 cm
27
189 lbs
10 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's All 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Efriam Haldi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Triston Rioka!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rioka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Haldi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rioka misses with a takedown attempt
and Haldi counters with a nice uppercut.
Rioka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Haldi circles away.
Efriam Haldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Triston Rioka.
Rioka shoots and misses
and Haldi counters with a nice leg kick.
Haldi misses with a double jab.
Rioka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haldi avoids it really well and circles away.
Rioka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Haldi swivels and escapes.
Rioka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Haldi counters by clinching up.
Rioka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Haldi pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Haldi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Haldi lands a body punch.
Haldi trying to land knees to the body.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Rioka tries to score a body lock takedown but Haldi shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rioka is working for takedown but Haldi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rioka looks winded!
Haldi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Haldi lands a nice knee to the body.
Haldi lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haldi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haldi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Haldi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Haldi with a knee to the head.
Haldi connects with a knee to the head.
Rioka wants a takedown.
Haldi tries to land knees in the clinch but Rioka avoids the damage to the body.
Haldi connects with a knee to the head.
Haldi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rioka in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haldi lands an elbow inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Haldi.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Haldi.
Rioka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haldi working Rioka over with knees to the body.
Haldi scores a nice knee to the body.
Haldi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rioka blocks it with crossed arms.
Haldi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rioka blocks it with crossed arms.
Rioka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Haldi after a bit of a struggle.
Haldi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Haldi lands a knee to the body.
Haldi lands an elbow that stopped Rioka in his tracks for a moment.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Haldi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haldi lands a nice knee to the body.
Rioka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Haldi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rioka managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haldi gets underhooks to prevent Rioka's takedown attempt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Haldi.
Haldi taking a breather.
Rioka goes for a takedown attempt but Haldi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Haldi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rioka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Haldi counters with an inside leg kick.
Rioka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rioka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haldi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rioka with a poor takedown
and Haldi counters with a leg kick.
Rioka tries for a takedown but Haldi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rioka misses with a takedown

and Haldi counters by moving into the clinch.
Haldi lands an elbow inside that Rioka shrugs off.
Rioka has Haldi pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Haldi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rioka can't get the takedown.
Haldi taking a breather.
Rioka takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haldi stops a takedown attempt from Rioka.
Haldi lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Triston Rioka has been cut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rioka blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Haldi misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efriam Haldi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Triston Rioka's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rioka with a poor takedown

and Haldi counters by clinching up.
Haldi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Efriam Haldi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Haldi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rioka blocks it with crossed arms.
Rioka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Haldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Efriam Haldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Triston Rioka.
Rioka managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Rioka has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Haldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Haldi working Rioka over with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Haldi.
Rioka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Haldi holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Haldi lands a nice knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haldi wants to stall.
Haldi landing knees to the body.
Rioka is breathing heavily.
Haldi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Haldi stalling the fight.
Haldi lands a body shot in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi lands a damaging elbow.
Rioka managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Rioka goes for a takedown attempt but Haldi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Haldi misses with a few strikes there.
Rioka shoots for a takedown but Haldi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rioka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Haldi makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Triston Rioka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rioka with a poor takedown
and Haldi counters with a good low kick that Rioka was not able to check.
Rioka fails with the takedown
and Haldi counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haldi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Haldi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Efriam Haldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rioka misses with a takedown
enabling Haldi to counter with a crisp jab.
Good exchange - Haldi coming out on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haldi throws a good cross that connects.
Rioka shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Haldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rioka blocks a head kick by Haldi.
Nice takedown defense from Haldi. No joy for Rioka on that attempt.
Haldi lands a really nice looking cross but Rioka seems unphased.
Rioka tries for a takedown but Haldi circles away easily
letting Haldi counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rioka doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Haldi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Haldi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rioka can do to turn this around?
Haldi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Nice shot lands for Haldi.
Haldi moves into range and connects with a jab.

Rioka is rocked!
Rioka tries for a takedown but Haldi circles away easily
enabling Haldi to counter with a crisp jab.
Rioka is still on wobbly legs! Can Haldi finish him?
Haldi shakes his hands by his side, trying to relax. Rioka takes his eyes off the ball for a moment - Haldi sees the opportunity and cracks him with a massive hook! Rioka bends double and collapses on top of himself - he's out! The crowd are going absolutely nuts! Wow, what a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Efriam Haldi!
Efriam Haldi is the new super heavyweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Efriam Haldi thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.