PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Riddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dai has chosen Dignity as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Riddle
vs
Dai

189 cm
18
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chuck Riddle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Dai!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dai is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Riddle's half guard.

Dai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Dai is working for a submission of some sort.
Riddle won't allow Dai to pass to mount.
Riddle trying to control but Dai postures up.

Riddle is defending against the submission attempts here by Dai.
Riddle wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Riddle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Riddle tries to get out of the position.

Dai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Riddle defends it well.

Dai is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dai looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Riddle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Riddle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dai on the ground.

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

Dai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Riddle gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Riddle looking to pass the guard.
Riddle trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dai's guard.
Riddle wants to control from the top but Dai keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riddle is looking to work some ground and pound but Dai has wrist control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Riddle distracts Dai with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Dai is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Riddle is aware though and is defending well.
Riddle won't allow Dai to sweep him here.
Riddle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Riddle advances position into side control!
Dai is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Riddle sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dai is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Riddle's best efforts.

Riddle is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Dai is defending against the submission attempts here by Riddle.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dai manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Riddle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dai keeping moving, preventing Riddle from controlling successfully.
Dai has a closed guard, preventing Riddle from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Riddle misses with a jab, cross combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Riddle misses the target.
Dai fails with the takedown.
Dai slips a straight right by Riddle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riddle throws a solid leg kick but Dai takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Riddle.
Dai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Riddle sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dai somewhat.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dai.
Chuck Riddle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Dai blocks a leg kick.
Riddle lands a nice shot that snaps Dai's head back.
Riddle stuffs the takedown.
Dai avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle stuffs the takedown attempt from Dai. Dai gets slowly back to his feet.
Riddle misses with a body kick.
Dai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Riddle avoids it really well and circles away.
Riddle throws a right hand that Dai ducks under and follows up with a left that Dai also avoids with ease.
Riddle scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riddle misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dai ducks under a wild hook from Riddle.
Riddle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dai manages to avoid it.
Riddle slaps away a takedown attempt from Dai, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Riddle as he avoids it easily.
Riddle throws a sloppy head kick and Dai moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dai moves out of range as Riddle throws a body kick.
Chuck Riddle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Riddle is fending him off so far but Dai persists. Nope, Riddle circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck for Dai with that takedown attempt.
Dai is breathing heavily.
Dai has a takedown stuffed.
Dai dodges the punch combination from Riddle.
Riddle throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Riddle dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Riddle misses the jab.
Horrible takedown by Dai or perhaps it was just good defense by Riddle which made him look bad.
Riddle rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A leg kick checked by Dai.
Dai takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Riddle looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dai slips a straight right by Riddle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dai.
Chuck Riddle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Dai.
Riddle misses the shot to the body.
Chuck Riddle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dai blocks a head kick by Riddle.
Chuck Riddle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riddle misses with a hook. Dai ducked under it nicely.
Dai shoots in but Riddle avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Dai feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dai drops back looking for a leg! Riddle is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Riddle manages to kick Dai off! Dai jumps back into Riddle's guard.
Dai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riddle can't keep his opponent in guard - Dai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dai prevents Riddle from improving his position.
Riddle trying to control but Dai postures up.

Dai is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai wants to pass to mount but Riddle is defending the position.

Dai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Dai wants to free his trapped foot but Riddle is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Riddle wants to control but Dai is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Riddle throws a right and a left that Dai avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Riddle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dai circles away quickly and effectively.
Dai shoots for a double leg takedown but Riddle sprawls well. He's pushed Dai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Riddle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dai circles away quickly and effectively.
Riddle tries to bum rush Dai with a series of wild strikes but Dai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Riddle looks to land a body kick but Dai moved away.
Dai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Riddle as he avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dai shoots for a double leg takedown but Riddle sprawls well. He's pushed Dai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chuck Riddle.
I think Riddle 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chuck Riddle!
Chuck Riddle is the new light heavyweight champion!