PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ren Riyoto (ranked 4321 p4p, 4317 weight class) and Marko Bojkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Riyoto
vs
Bojkovic

170 cm
22
150
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
154
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ren Riyoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marko Bojkovic!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riyoto fails to land with a series of punches.
Bojkovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riyoto tries to bum rush Bojkovic with a series of wild strikes but Bojkovic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bojkovic shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bojkovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bojkovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riyoto moves in looking to clinch but Bojkovic pushes him off.
No luck for Bojkovic with that takedown attempt.
Riyoto is looking for a counter combo.

Riyoto tries to keep at a distance but Bojkovic has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riyoto misses with a hook from the clinch.
Riyoto wants to break the clinch but can't.
Riyoto trying to control the position but instead, Bojkovic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Riyoto into the cage.
Bojkovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Riyoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riyoto is trying to break the clinch but Bojkovic is controlling him.
A head punch on the inside from Riyoto fails to land.
Riyoto trying to stall but Bojkovic improves his position.
Riyoto tries to break the clinch but Bojkovic is controlling the position.

Bojkovic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Riyoto uses from the top position.
Bojkovic seems keen to control Riyoto's posture.
Riyoto wanted to stand there but Bojkovic had control of the position.
Bojkovic pulls Riyoto in close to prevent any damage.

Bojkovic is looking for a triangle but Riyoto pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riyoto would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bojkovic is pulling down on Riyoto's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riyoto fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riyoto lands a jab-cross combination.

Riyoto has Bojkovic up against the cage in a clinch.

Bojkovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bojkovic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Riyoto has Bojkovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Riyoto scores with a shot to the side of Bojkovic's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bojkovic misses with a knee to the head.
Riyoto lands with a light punch inside.

Bojkovic breaks from the clinch.
Bojkovic looks for a takedown but Riyoto sprawls well.
Ren Riyoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marko Bojkovic.

Bojkovic closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Riyoto trying to stall but Bojkovic improves his position.
Bojkovic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Riyoto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Riyoto gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bojkovic.
Riyoto is trying to break the clinch but Bojkovic is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bojkovic blocks an uppercut.
Riyoto trying to stall but Bojkovic improves his position.
Riyoto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Riyoto is trying to stall.
Riyoto taking a breather.
Riyoto has had enough of the clinch but Bojkovic keeps him there for the moment.
Bojkovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Riyoto prevents it.

Bojkovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bojkovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bojkovic fails to land the takedown.
Bojkovic looks to clinch
and Riyoto counters with a series of strikes. Bojkovic will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Riyoto dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Riyoto closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Riyoto tries to clinch up but Bojkovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Riyoto moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBojkovic.
Riyoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bojkovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bojkovic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Bojkovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Riyoto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bojkovic somewhat.
Riyoto lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Riyoto.
Riyoto moves in looking to clinch but Bojkovic pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bojkovic throws a series of punches but Riyoto avoids them all with ease.
Ren Riyoto is winning the standup battle so far.
Riyoto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bojkovic circles away quickly and effectively.
Bojkovic has his takedown stuffed
and Riyoto counters with a three punch combo that has Bojkovic backing up. Bojkovic nods at Riyoto to acknowledge the strikes.
Bojkovic closes the distance and clinches up with Riyoto, looking for a takedown. Bojkovic pushes Riyoto against the cage but Riyoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ren Riyoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marko Bojkovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bojkovic gets a clinch.
Bojkovic has Riyoto pressed against the cage, preventing Riyoto from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bojkovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Riyoto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bojkovic is breathing heavily.
Riyoto has had enough of the clinch but Bojkovic keeps him there for the moment.
Riyoto trying to stall but Bojkovic improves his position.
Bojkovic prevents Riyoto from breaking the clinch.
Riyoto misses with a short punch on the inside.

Bojkovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Riyoto misses with a double jab.
Riyoto moves in looking to clinch but Bojkovic pushes him off.
Bojkovic lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ren Riyoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riyoto doesn't manage to clinch there - Bojkovic circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Riyoto.
Riyoto stalks Bojkovic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bojkovic's face. Bojkovic staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bojkovic has a takedown stuffed.
Bojkovic misses with a leg kick
and Riyoto counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Riyoto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riyoto closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Riyoto throws a nice looking combination but Bojkovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bojkovic throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ren Riyoto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riyoto stuffs the takedown attempt from Bojkovic. Bojkovic gets slowly back to his feet.
Sloppy strikes from Riyoto. Those never looked like landing.
Bojkovic dodges the punch combination from Riyoto.
Riyoto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bojkovic can do to turn this around?
Riyoto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bojkovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bojkovic is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riyoto tries to clinch but Bojkovic is having none of it.
Bojkovic throws a counter combo.
Riyoto tries to clinch up.
Bojkovic tries for a takedown but Riyoto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bojkovic has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Riyoto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bojkovic.
Bojkovic looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Riyoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bojkovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bojkovic has closed the distance and engaged Riyoto in a clinch.

Riyoto's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riyoto wants to clinch.
A left and a right from Riyoto both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bojkovic is defended easily by Riyoto.
Bojkovic darts in looking for a takedown but Riyoto gets double underhooks and turns Bojkovic into the cage.
Bojkovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Riyoto tries to clinch but Bojkovic is having none of it.
Riyoto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riyoto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bojkovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riyoto stalks Bojkovic and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bojkovic's face. Bojkovic staggers backwards, shaken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bojkovic wants to clinch up but Riyoto keeps it at a distance.
Riyoto went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Riyoto throws a combination. Bojkovic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Riyoto dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bojkovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Riyoto.
Riyoto defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bojkovic.
Riyoto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Riyoto throws a combination. Bojkovic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bojkovic tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Riyoto defends well and Bojkovic ends up having to push Riyoto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Riyoto pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bojkovic back to the cage. Riyoto follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bojkovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Riyoto sprawls well. He's pushed Bojkovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ren Riyoto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marko Bojkovic.
Riyoto tries to clinch up.
Riyoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bojkovic tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bojkovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Riyoto swivels and escapes.
Riyoto scores with a one two! Bojkovic had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bojkovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riyoto moves in looking to clinch but Bojkovic pushes him off.
Bojkovic is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Riyoto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riyoto falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bojkovic counters with a low kick, right behind Riyoto 's knee.
Riyoto throws a combination. Bojkovic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Riyoto lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Riyoto throws a series of punches but Bojkovic avoids them all with ease.
Riyoto is working the combinations to good effect here.

Bojkovic moves into the clinch.
Bojkovic wants a takedown.

Bojkovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bojkovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Riyoto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ren Riyoto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riyoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bojkovic dodges the punch combination from Riyoto.

Riyoto tries to keep at a distance but Bojkovic has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bojkovic manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Riyoto looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Riyoto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riyoto scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riyoto moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bojkovic is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Riyoto.
Riyoto pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bojkovic back to the cage. Riyoto follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bojkovic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Riyoto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Riyoto throws a combination. Bojkovic tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bojkovic has a takedown stuffed.
Riyoto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Riyoto wants it to stay on the feet.
Bojkovic is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Riyoto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Riyoto has Bojkovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Bojkovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Bojkovic breaks from the clinch.
Bojkovic throws a body kick that misses
and Riyoto counters with a series of strikes. Bojkovic will be more careful next time no doubt.
Riyoto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Riyoto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bojkovic is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bojkovic is defended easily by Riyoto.
Riyoto appears to be looking for a big counter.
Marko Bojkovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riyoto wants to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ren Riyoto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Riyoto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ren Riyoto!