PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between William Riker (ranked 296 p4p, 654 weight class) and Daniel Spong (ranked 43 p4p, 89 weight class). Riker comes to the cage accompanied by In The Summertime. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Daniel Spong was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Riker
vs
Spong

190 cm
30
265
17 - 10 - 0

179 cm
29
232
12 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Conquer

Bondi MMA 🏝️
AVALON

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Riker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Spong!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riker misses with a straight right.
Spong tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A telegraphed right hand from Spong misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Riker.

Spong shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Riker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spong is working away from the top position though.
Riker keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Spong is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Riker defends it well.
Riker has hold of Spong's hands but Spong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spong lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Riker trying to control but Spong postures up.
Riker definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Spong drops an elbow to the side of Riker's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riker is looking to improve his position.
Spong lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Spong is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Riker has managed to free his arm - good work.
Riker is pressing down on Spong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Spong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Riker looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spong throwing strikes from guard but Riker blocks nicely.
Spong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riker keeping moving, preventing Spong from controlling successfully.
Spong sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Riker's guard.
Spong throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Spong scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Riker holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Spong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riker's head.
Spong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Riker defending well though.

Riker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Spong pulls his head out easily.
Riker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spong is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong trying to advance position but Riker counters by regaining guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spong's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Spong lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Riker has his foot on Spong's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spong works his way back into a safe position though.
Spong postures up.
Spong preventing the sweep.
Spong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Spong lands a couple of digs.
Riker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Spong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Spong throwing strikes from guard but Riker blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Spong throws a big elbow that misses.
Spong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Spong wants to control from the top but Riker keeps moving.

Riker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Spong scoring with punches to the head and body.

Riker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spong landing some decent shots from guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Spong dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spong drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Riker struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riker is looking to reverse the position.

Spong tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Riker is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Spong off and has taken his back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riker has the hooks in. Spong is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Spong rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Spong wants to improve his position but Riker is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong is in trouble now - Riker has advanced to mount!
Riker landing punches.
Spong wants to hold on but Riker pushes him away.
Daniel Spong has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riker dominating with strikes here.
Spong tries to lock up and control but Riker gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Riker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Riker dominating with strikes here.
Spong really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Spong takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Riker breaks from Spong's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Riker! Spong is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). William Riker!
After winning the bout, William Riker thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.