PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riccardo Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Riley
vs
Rodriguez

172 cm
19
142 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

175 cm
22
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Riccardo Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Riley looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Riley blocks a head kick by Rodriguez.
Riley shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rodriguez as he avoids it easily.
Rodriguez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

A head kick lands from Rodriguez that sends Riley to the canvas. Riley tries to scramble back to his feet but Rodriguez brings him back down into side control.
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!
Rodriguez tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura but Riley is defending well.

Rodriguez working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Rodriguez is trying to get an arm triangle but Riley is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodriguez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Riley knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez throws an elbow but Riley slips to the side and avoids it well.
Riley is not content to let Rodriguez control the position.

Rodriguez tries for a kimura but Riley is defending well.

Rodriguez is trying to get an arm triangle but Riley is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez advances to full mount.
Riley keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Riley tries to hold on but Rodriguez postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Rodriguez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rodriguez trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Rodriguez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Riley has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Rodriguez is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Riley can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Riley is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Rodriguez has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez gets his hands free as Riley looks to control.
Riley has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Rodriguez.
Riley trying to control but not successfully.

Riley defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rodriguez's arms.
You can see the frustration on Riley's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rodriguez throwing wild punches that miss their target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riccardo Rodriguez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Riley avoids the head kick by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tries to close the distance and clinch but Riley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riley takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rodriguez lands a head kick. Riley smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rodriguez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riley moves out of range of the strikes.
Riccardo Rodriguez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rodriguez throws a nice head kick!
Rodriguez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A slapping body kick lands there for Rodriguez.
A head kick from Rodriguez lands but Riley takes it in his stride.
Riley is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rodriguez misses with a series of wild punches.
Riccardo Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Riley is looking to clinch.
Rodriguez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Riley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rodriguez. Riley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Riley darts in and clinches Rodriguez up against the cage.
Rodriguez tries to circle away but Riley has him pinned against the cage.
Rodriguez wants to break free but Riley has control.
Riley swings wildly with an uppercut but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rodriguez is looking to break free of the clinch but Riley has double underhooks.
Riley throws a punch but it's blocked by Rodriguez.
A knee to the head by Rodriguez.
Riley scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch but Riley keeps him there for the moment.
Riley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rodriguez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riley just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rodriguez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Riley is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Riley keeps control of Rodriguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodriguez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rodriguez fails to pull guard.
Rodriguez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Riley walks away with a smile on his face. Rodriguez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Billy Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riccardo Rodriguez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rodriguez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Riley's head.
Rodriguez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rodriguez scores with a leg kick.
Rodriguez scoring well with a low kick there.
Riley throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Some wild striking there from Rodriguez.

Riley shoots in and bounces Rodriguez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Riley scoring with punches to the head and body.

Riley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Riley cracks Rodriguez with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Riley defends it easily.

Rodriguez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Riley defends it easily.
Riley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rodriguez is keeping the position for now.
Riley throwing strikes from guard but Rodriguez blocks nicely.
Rodriguez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riley throwing strikes but missing.
Rodriguez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riley is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riley drops back looking for a leg! Rodriguez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rodriguez manages to kick Riley off! Riley jumps back into Rodriguez's guard.
Riley wants to control from the top but Rodriguez keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rodriguez is on top in guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Riley is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rodriguez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rodriguez, into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riccardo Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Riley slips a jab and a cross from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez throws a combination that misses

and Riley counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Riley swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rodriguez is now in Riley's guard. A big mistake from Riley there, giving up the dominant position!
Rodriguez looking to pass the guard.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a leg! Riley is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Riley manages to kick Rodriguez off! Rodriguez jumps back into Riley's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riley pulls Rodriguez in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Riley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodriguez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rodriguez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Riley keeping full guard, as Rodriguez tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rodriguez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Riley was well out of range. Poor timing from Rodriguez.

Riley scores a takedown into full mount!
Riley won't let Rodriguez get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rodriguez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Riley pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rodriguez regains half guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Riley postures up.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Riley keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Riley seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rodriguez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodriguez gets back to full guard.

Riley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle but Riley pushes his legs off easily.

Riley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodriguez trying to control the position.

Rodriguez is looking for a triangle but Riley pushes his legs off easily.
Billy Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riccardo Rodriguez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Riley is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rodriguez is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rodriguez has escaped and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Riccardo Rodriguez.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riccardo Rodriguez!