PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richard Riddick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giovani Gomes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Riddick
vs
Gomes

180 cm
22
175 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

183 cm
22
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Riddick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Giovani Gomes!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riddick rushes Gomes and presses him up against the cage.
Riddick lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Giovani Gomes has been cut.

Riddick has clasped his hands together around Gomes's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gomes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Riddick off and has taken his back!
Gomes tries to get the hooks in deep but Riddick pushed the leg off.

Riddick is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Gomes gets his way!
A lull in the action here.
Gomes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Riddick kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gomes misses with punches from the back.
Gomes struggling to keep hold of the position.
Gomes is not going to allow Riddick to sit and survive in this position.

Riddick is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gomes is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Riddick knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Riddick for a finish.
Gomes keeps control of the position as Riddick tries to break free.
Gomes thows a strike but Riddick uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Riddick as he ends up in Gomes 's guard!
Gomes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Riddick trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gomes looking to control.
Riddick has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gomes.
Riddick is looking to clinch but Gomes is avoiding it.

Gomes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Riddick just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gomes's brow.

Riddick breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Riddick moves into the clinch successfully.
Riddick gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Riddick utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Riddick walks away with a smile on his face. Gomes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Riddick lands a jab to Gomes's midsection.
Gomes shoots in for a takedown but Riddick shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Richard Riddick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovani Gomes.
Gomes looks gassed!
Gomes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gomes misses the jab.
Gomes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riddick circles away.
Nice body punch from Riddick.
Riddick darts in trying to clinch

and Gomes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Riddick wants to get back to full guard.
Gomes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomes blocks the strikes from Riddick.
Gomes blocks the strikes from Riddick.
Riddick is not content to let Gomes control the position.
Riddick slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Gomes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Riddick dives on top into guard.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riddick trying to control but Gomes is working from the bottom.
Gomes trying to control the position.
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 Richard Riddick will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Giovani Gomes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gomes has a takedown stuffed.
Riddick wants to clinch up but Gomes keeps it at a distance.
Riddick tries to clinch but Gomes is having none of it.
Riddick wants to clinch.
Riddick tries to clinch up but Gomes circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Riddick.
Gomes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomes regains half guard.

Riddick wants to work for an arm triangle but Gomes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gomes is holding on to half guard well.
Gomes trying to control here.

Riddick wants to work for an arm triangle but Gomes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gomes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Riddick.
Gomes trying to control here.
Gomes is looking to improve his position.
Riddick is trying to control. Gomes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gomes misses with a takedown

and Riddick counters with a takedown into side control.
Gomes is breathing heavily.
Gomes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Riddick wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Gomes is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Riddick's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Giovani Gomes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gomes wants to get back to full guard.
Gomes trying to control but Riddick postures up.

Riddick is working for a submission of some sort.
Gomes wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riddick is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Riddick prevents Gomes from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Riddick avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Riddick moves away from the strike by Gomes.

Riddick has Gomes up against the cage in a clinch.
Gomes looking for a takedown.
Richard Riddick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Giovani Gomes.
Gomes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Riddick lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gomes backwards.
Gomes jumps guard but Riddick stands there with Gomes around his waist. Gomes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Gomes drags the fight down to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomes controls Riddick momentarily but Riddick frees himself.
Riddick wants to stand but Gomes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Riddick postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riddick wants to control from the top but Gomes keeps moving.
Riddick sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riddick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomes is keeping the position for now.
Gomes working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gomes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Riddick dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Giovani Gomes's cut.
That's time! Riddick's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Riddick shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gomes pinned against the cage. Gomes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gomes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gomes misses with a looping right.
Gomes misses with a hook. Riddick ducked under it nicely.
Riddick tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gomes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gomes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Riddick decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gomes's guard.

Riddick thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riddick trying to control but Gomes is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riddick manages to get himself to full guard.
Gomes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riddick swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gomes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gomes trying to advance position but Riddick counters by regaining guard.
Gomes forces his way into half guard.
Riddick wants to improve his position but Gomes is controlling well.
Gomes thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Riddick to regain full guard.
Giovani Gomes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Riddick's guard.
Gomes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Riddick defending well though.
Gomes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Riddick!

Gomes jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Riddick is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Riddick and Gomes has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Gomes is trying to ground and pound but Riddick uses the momentary lack of control by Gomes to regain half guard.
Gomes throwing shots but Riddick is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomes works his way into side control.
Gomes tries to advance to mount but Riddick instead regains half guard.

Gomes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riddick sees it coming and defends easily.

Gomes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riddick sees it coming and defends easily.
Gomes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gomes tries to pass to full mount but Riddick defends it.

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.
Riddick has his hands clasped together around Gomes's back. He's all about the action.
Gomes is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

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

Riddick is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gomes defends well.
Riddick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Riddick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Riddick has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Riddick!