PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ruben Flijers (ranked 22901 p4p, 5659 weight class) and Math Riddle (ranked 551 p4p, 516 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Flijers
vs
Riddle

188 cm
31
200
5 - 16 - 1

192 cm
28
201
4 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

High Peak Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Ruben Flijers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Math Riddle!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riddle lands a jab to Flijers's midsection.

Riddle has taken the fight to the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Flijers.
Riddle putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Flijers in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but Flijers blocks with his arms.
Riddle with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Flijers tries a knee to the head but Riddle blocks it.
Riddle connects with a nasty looking knee right to Flijers's face.

It looks like Ruben Flijers has been cut.
Riddle lands a nice uppercut.
Riddle misses with a knee strike.
Riddle looking to throw knees to the head but Flijers is blocking nicely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Flijers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Riddle scores with a nice hook to the head.
Riddle blocking some punches.
Riddle managing to block the knees to the body from Flijers.
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but Flijers blocks with his arms.
Flijers throws a head punch that misses.
Riddle trying to control the position but instead, Flijers has worked for underhooks and has pushed Riddle into the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Riddle has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Flijers doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flijers tries to throw a body punch but Riddle avoids it by throwing Flijers back against the cage.
Flijers is trying to pull guard but Riddle has him pressed against the cage.
Riddle throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Flijers blocks it with crossed arms.
Flijers is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Riddle to keep the fight standing.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Riddle creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Flijers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Flijers looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Riddle controlling the action here for a moment.

Flijers jumps guard and drags Riddle to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Flijers pulls Riddle in close to prevent any damage.
Riddle postures up and lands a big shot to Flijers's brow.
Riddle preventing the sweep.
Flijers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flijers is looking to take a break and control but Riddle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Flijers is really struggling to control Riddle but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Riddle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Flijers pulls his head out easily.
Flijers prevents Riddle from improving his position.

Riddle looking for submissions off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Flijers is pressing down on Riddle's thigh, looking to free his foot. Riddle is holding on for now.
Riddle trying to control from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Flijers seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flijers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Riddle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Riddle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Flijers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Flijers controlling from the top position.
Flijers stands and throws Riddle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Riddle manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Riddle working over Flijers with some ground and pound. Flijers looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flijers trying to control from the bottom.
Riddle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Flijers knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Flijers wants to improve his position but Riddle is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddle not doing much here.

Riddle is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Flijers doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Riddle.
Riddle is just content to waste time from the top position. Flijers takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Riddle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Flijers is trying to keep Riddle in close.

Riddle drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Riddle jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Riddle is looking to work some ground and pound but Flijers has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Math Riddle dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ruben Flijers's cut.
That's time! Flijers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Flijers swings for the body but Riddle moves out of range.
Flijers misses the shot to the body.
Flijers throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Riddle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Flijers listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Flijers takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Flijers on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Flijers thuds a left hand into Riddle's body.
Riddle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Flijers wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Riddle throws a leg kick which misses Flijers's front leg but catches the back leg as Flijers tries to avoid it.
Ruben Flijers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flijers sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Nice cross by Flijers.
Riddle scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Flijers misses.
Riddle misses with a two punch combination.
Flijers cracks Riddle with a right hand to the side of the head.
Riddle takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Flijers scores with a nice right hand.
Flijers looks to throw the jab but Riddle is out of range.
Flijers looks to throw the jab but Riddle is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riddle clinches up with Flijers and pushes him back against the cage.
Riddle with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Flijers throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Flijers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Riddle smiles and moves away.
Riddle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Flijers is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riddle.
Riddle misses with a head kick.
Flijers avoids the head kick by Riddle.
Riddle throws a hook but Flijers blocks it.
Riddle tries a head kick but it misses.
Riddle connects with a solid leg kick.
Ruben Flijers is winning the standup battle so far.
Flijers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Riddle throws out a counter right but Flijers avoids it with no problem.
Flijers checks a leg kick.
Flijers swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good exchange - Flijers coming out on top.
Good work by Flijers as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flijers throws a hook but Riddle blocks it.
A little jabbing left from Riddle on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Riddle connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riddle ducks under a wild hook from Flijers.
Riddle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Flijers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Riddle moves into the clinch.
Riddle stalls.
Riddle softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Riddle connects with a nasty looking knee right to Flijers's face.
Riddle lands a shoulder strike.
Flijers tries to stall but Riddle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Flijers using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riddle has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Riddle as Flijers tries to tie him up.
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Flijers.
Flijers trying to stall but Riddle improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flijers misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riddle.
Riddle misses with a knee strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Riddle.
Riddle lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Math Riddle seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Flijers can't find room to land a body shot as Riddle controls the action.
Riddle misses with a knee strike.
Flijers on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Flijers misses with a knee strike.
Riddle tries a body shot but Flijers blocks it.
Riddle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Riddle pushes Flijers back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Riddle misses with a knee to the head.
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but Flijers blocks with his arms.
Riddle is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Flijers is keeping busy.
Flijers scores a nice knee to the body.
Riddle is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Flijers.
Flijers makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Flijers throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Riddle digs a right hand into Flijers's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Flijers's gas tank.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flijers lands a body shot in the clinch.
Flijers gets through Riddle's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Flijers tries to land a knee to the head but Riddle blocks with his arms.
Still in the clinch, Flijers scores with a nice short uppercut.
Flijers is trying to pull guard but Riddle has him pressed against the cage.
Flijers scores with a nice hook to the head.
Riddle with a knee to the head.
Flijers is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Flijers drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flijers lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Flijers trying to control the position from guard on top but Riddle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ruben Flijers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ruben Flijers's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Flijers sizes up Riddle with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Flijers throws a body punch but Riddle moves out of range.
Riddle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Flijers was well out of range. Poor timing from Riddle.
Flijers tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Flijers takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Riddle has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Flijers finds it's way round the side to connect with Riddle's head.
Flijers throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riddle tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Riddle missing with a left hand there. Flijers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riddle misses with a body kick.
Riddle pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Riddle.
Flijers waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Riddle.
Riddle let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Flijers. Riddle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riddle tries to clinch but Flijers is having none of it.
Flijers scores with a hook.
Riddle throws a leg kick but Flijers sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Flijers lands.
Flijers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Flijers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riddle wants to clinch.
Flijers throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Flijers does it's job there.
Flijers misses with a head kick.
Riddle keeps Flijers at a distance using the push kick.
Riddle tries to clinch but Flijers moves out of range.
Flijers uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riddle.
A thudding body kick lands there by Riddle!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Riddle takes the fight into the clinch.
Flijers is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Riddle tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle lands a right hand that snaps the head of Flijers backwards.
Flijers cracks Riddle with a nice body shot.
Riddle misses with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Flijers is trying to stall.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Flijers.
A shot in the inside from Riddle.
Flijers throws a punch but it's blocked by Riddle.
Riddle with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Flijers swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Flijers lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Riddle backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Flijers.
Flijers stalling in the clinch but Riddle improves position.
Flijers tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Riddle scores with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle throws a knee to the head but misses.
Riddle softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Flijers struggles to land a body shot inside as Riddle controls his hands.
Riddle misses with a knee to the head.
Riddle lands a body shot.
Flijers is trying to stall.
Flijers takes a knee right on the jaw!
Flijers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Riddle with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Flijers throws a punch but it's blocked by Riddle.
A knee to the head by Riddle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Flijers.
Riddle misses with a knee to the head.
Flijers missing with knees to the body.
Riddle pushes Flijers back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flijers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Riddle avoids it.
Flijers lands with a right to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Riddle controlling the action here for a moment.
Flijers leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Riddle.
Flijers misses with a body punch.
Flijers crunches a lovely knee into Riddle's ribcage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Riddle working aggressively here.
Riddle lands an elbow that stopped Flijers in his tracks for a moment.
Flijers misses with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Math Riddle.
I think Riddle 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Math Riddle!