PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Uij Ustj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonathan Riseman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Jonathan Riseman enters the cage!

Ustj
vs
Riseman

180 cm
24
180 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

181 cm
23
186 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Uij Ustj!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonathan Riseman!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Riseman.

Riseman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ustj to the mat! Ustj manages to get full guard.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Ustj keeps moving.
Riseman looking to sit in guard and control but Ustj gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ustj trying to control the position from guard on top but Riseman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ustj is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ustj pushes down on Riseman's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ustj is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riseman sees it coming and defends easily.
Ustj perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ustj is trying to control. Riseman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Riseman is trying to stand up here but Ustj is controlling him well.

Ustj is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ustj prevents Riseman from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Riseman wants to control but Ustj is keeping busy.
Ustj thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riseman's head.
Riseman is looking for a sweep. Ustj is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ustj with a lazy takedown attempt

and Riseman holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Riseman lands a nice shot to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Riseman.

Ustj is trying to trip Riseman. He has hold of a leg but Riseman is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ustj persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Riseman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ustj postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riseman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ustj, into his guard.
Ustj is breathing heavily.
Riseman trying to control but Ustj is working from the bottom.
Ustj trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Ustj working for a triangle but Riseman defends it easily.
Riseman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ustj works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Riseman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Riseman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Ustj escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Riseman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ustj keeping moving, preventing Riseman from controlling successfully.
Riseman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Ustj looking for a guillotine here but Riseman defends easily.
Riseman lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Uij Ustj will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Riseman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ustj with a poor takedown

and Riseman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Riseman.
Riseman trying to control the position from guard on top but Ustj is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riseman is in close to Ustj's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Ustj looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Riseman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ustj's head.
Riseman stands up over Ustj, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Ustj keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riseman throwing strikes but missing.
Ustj looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riseman is one step ahead there.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Ustj keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riseman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Riseman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ustj has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Riseman has managed to get both his arms back between Ustj's legs - danger averted.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Ustj keeps moving.
Riseman is in close to Ustj's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Riseman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ustj keeping moving, preventing Riseman from controlling successfully.
Jonathan Riseman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riseman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riseman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ustj bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riseman's guard.

Ustj drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Riseman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ustj has Riseman in his guard.
Riseman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Riseman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riseman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Riseman sitting in guard here, content to control.

Ustj has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riseman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Riseman is pushing down on Ustj's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ustj is fighting to maintain full guard but Riseman has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riseman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ustj keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Riseman is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Riseman is trying to control. Ustj wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ustj trying to hold on to Riseman's head to control him but Riseman postures up.
Riseman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ustj keeps working.
Riseman thows a huge punch but Ustj dodges it nicely.
Riseman working the head and body with strikes.
Ustj is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Riseman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Riseman's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riseman just trying to survive but Ustj is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Ustj thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

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.
I really don't envy Riseman right now.

Ustj working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Riseman tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Ustj swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Riseman is now in Ustj's guard. A big mistake from Ustj there, giving up the dominant position!
Riseman working some strikes from top position.
Riseman is pushing down on Ustj's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ustj is fighting to maintain full guard but Riseman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Riseman winds up and cracks Ustj with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Riseman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Riseman closes the distance and pushes Ustj back into the cage.

Riseman turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Riseman manages to end up in side control.
Ustj is not content to let Riseman control the position.
Riseman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ustj kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Riseman scoring with punches and elbows.
Riseman cracks Ustj with a big elbow.
Riseman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ustj. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ustj is trying to improve his position.

Riseman stands up and beckons Ustj to his feet.
Ustj fails with the takedown
and Riseman counters with a nice leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riseman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ustj's half guard.
Riseman wants to control but Ustj is keeping him busy.

Ustj is defending against the submission attempts here by Riseman.
Ustj is pressing down on Riseman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Ustj is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Riseman rolls with it to try and escape but Ustj cranks on the arm and Riseman is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Uij Ustj!