PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kuol Riak (ranked 2169 p4p, 4382 weight class) and Ray Hoola (ranked 228 p4p, 387 weight class). Riak comes to the cage accompanied by Eye Of The Tiger. Hoola is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Alvin & The Chipmunks - Christmas song. This should be a great matchup!

Riak
vs
Hoola

170 cm
26
152
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
152
4 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kuol Riak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ray Hoola!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riak misses with a hook. Hoola ducked under it nicely.
Riak definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hoola darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hoola keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little jabbing left from Hoola on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hoola throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Riak.
Hoola fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hoola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riak.
Riak throws a hook but Hoola avoids it easily.
Riak ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Riak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hoola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Riak was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoola moves away from the strike by Riak.
Hoola let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hoola lands a jab to the head.
Riak misses with an uppercut. Hoola saw that one coming.
Hoola connects with a single shot there.
Hoola wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riak misses with an uppercut.
Hoola looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A swing and a miss from Hoola.
Riak jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riak misses with a takedown attempt - Hoola sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hoola stuns Riak with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hoola keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kuol Riak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hoola tries to clinch but Riak is having none of it.
Riak swats away the attempt to clinch by Hoola.
Riak misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoola moves out of range as Riak strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hoola!

Hoola has closed the distance and engaged Riak in a clinch.
Hoola has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Riak jumps guard but Hoola stands there with Riak around his waist. Riak gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Riak fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kuol Riak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riak tries to pull guard but Hoola forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Riak is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hoola's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Hoola misses with a punch to the body.
Hoola is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Riak is keeping busy.
Riak tries to pull guard but Hoola forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hoola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Riak fails to pull guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riak jumps guard but Hoola stands there with Riak around his waist. Riak gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Riak jumps guard but Hoola stands there with Riak around his waist. Riak gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riak jumps guard but Hoola stands there with Riak around his waist. Riak gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Riak is trying to pull guard but Hoola has him pressed against the cage.
Riak is trying to pull guard but Hoola has him pressed against the cage.
Hoola lands a body punch.
Hoola is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Riak is keeping busy.
Hoola avoiding damage.
Hoola lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Riak backwards.
Hoola tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hoola takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hoola tries to throw a body punch but Riak avoids it by throwing Hoola back against the cage.
Hoola leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hoola is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riak blocks a body shot from Hoola.
Hoola is looking to control Riak's arms but Riak gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hoola has his back to the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ray Hoola.

Riak closes the distance and clinches.
Hoola lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Riak backwards.

Hoola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hoola blocks a jab.
Riak connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hoola. Hoola circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hoola wants to clinch.
Hoola throws a right and a left that Riak avoids nicely.
Riak staying out of range there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hoola dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Riak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hoola.
Hoola doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nice defenses there by Hoola.
As Riak backs off Hoola throws a huge counter combo but Riak manages to avoid it all.
Hoola gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ray Hoola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riak throws a jab but it's blocked by Hoola.
Hoola uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riak.
Hoola tries to clinch there but Riak circles away.
Hoola slips under a jab.
Hoola scores with a jab to the head.
Hoola lands an overhand right.
Hoola swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Riak counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Riak drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hoola manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Riak has Hoola in his guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Riak working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hoola doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hoola manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riak looking for a guillotine here but Hoola defends easily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Riak keeping moving, preventing Hoola from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoola trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Riak manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoola looking to control.
Hoola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Riak trying to control but Hoola is working from the bottom.
Hoola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riak is one step ahead there.

Hoola looking for a guillotine here but Riak defends easily.

Riak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riak drops back looking for a leg! Hoola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hoola manages to kick Riak off! Riak jumps back into Hoola's guard.
Riak trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riak content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hoola pulls Riak in to control the position.

Riak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Riak postures up in Hoola's guard and throws a big left but Hoola blocks it.

Riak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hoola controls Riak momentarily but Riak frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hoola is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Riak is aware though and is defending well.

Riak drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Riak jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riak preventing the sweep.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hoola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Riak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Riak cracks Hoola with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riak postures up and lands a big shot to Hoola's brow.
Hoola working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kuol Riak dominated that second round.
That's time! Riak's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Riak looks to land a left hand but Hoola moved out of range nicely.
Riak looks to land a right hand but Hoola moved out of range.
As Riak backs off Hoola throws a huge counter combo but Riak manages to avoid it all.
Riak is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

Hoola gets caught napping as Riak dives in and scores a takedown. Hoola manages to retain guard.

Riak is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Riak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Riak trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hoola looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Riak drops back looking for a leg! Hoola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hoola manages to kick Riak off! Riak jumps back into Hoola's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoola is trying to control the position but Riak postures up.
Hoola is controlling Riak's posture.

Riak is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hoola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hoola wants to stand but Riak is controlling the position.

Hoola is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Riak is aware though and is defending well.

Riak drops back looking for a leg! Hoola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hoola manages to kick Riak off! Riak jumps back into Hoola's guard.
Riak wants to control from the top but Hoola keeps moving.

Hoola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Riak doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Riak manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Riak moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ray Hoola seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riak misses the jab.

Riak pushes Hoola up against the cage in a clinch.
Riak tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hoola smiles and moves away.
Hoola misses with a double jab.
Hoola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Despite the aggression on Hoola's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hoola enables Riak to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hoola manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Hoola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Riak gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hoola takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hoola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hoola keeping moving, preventing Riak from controlling successfully.
Hoola looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riak is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hoola has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Riak drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Riak jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Riak thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kuol Riak overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riak trying to control but Hoola is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuol Riak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Riak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuol Riak!
Kuol Riak really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Bondi MMA 🏝️ logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.