PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between MP Almanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Crime Rider (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.

Almanez
vs
Rider

198 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, MP Almanez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Crime Rider!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jonathan Paton and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rider with a lazy takedown attempt
and Almanez counters with a straight right hand.

Almanez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Almanez prevents Rider from escaping the position.
Almanez remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rider pushes Almanez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Almanez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
An elbow from Almanez crashes against the mat.
Almanez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rider trying to remain calm as Almanez controls from the top position.
Almanez cracks Rider with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Almanez stands up and beckons Rider to his feet.
Rider shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Almanez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rider's guard.
Almanez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Almanez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rider has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Almanez has managed to get both his arms back between Rider's legs - danger averted.
Rider looks gassed!
Almanez controls from within his opponent's guard.

We're going to have a standup here because MP Almanez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rider doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Almanez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rider's guard.
MP Almanez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Crime Rider.
Rider looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rider being controlled here, momentarily.
Almanez postures up in Rider's guard and throws a big left but Rider blocks it.
Almanez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because MP Almanez just wasn't active enough.

Almanez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rider napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Almanez controls the position from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Almanez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rider, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider trying to remain calm as Almanez controls from the top position.
Almanez's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Rider is looking for a sweep.
Rider trying to remain calm as Almanez controls from the top position.
Almanez throws a strike aimed at the side of Rider's head but Rider avoids it well.
Almanez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four 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.

We're going to have a standup here because MP Almanez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rider tries to clinch but Almanez moves away

and Almanez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Almanez is trying to work for a kimura but Rider is defending well.
Almanez is taking a breather. Rider says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Almanez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rider for as long as he can get away with.
Almanez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Almanez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rider wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MP Almanez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Almanez shoots in and gets a takedown into Rider's guard.
Almanez stays in close to Rider's body and controls the position.
MP Almanez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Almanez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

We're going to have a standup here because MP Almanez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Almanez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Almanez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rider is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Rider is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Almanez is looking to work some ground and pound but Rider has wrist control.
Almanez thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Almanez postures up.
Almanez landing with the ground and pound.
Almanez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Almanez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Almanez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Almanez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. MP Almanez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rider looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Almanez fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rider sprawls well initially but Almanez persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Almanez passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rider is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Almanez controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almanez landing strikes from the mount.
Almanez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rider is in a horrible position here. Almanez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Almanez landing punches.
Almanez lands a nice shot to the head.
Almanez postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rider looks a forlorn figure.
Almanez controlling from mount.
Almanez looking to finish Rider with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rider!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

MP Almanez dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Almanez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Almanez controlling the action here.
Rider avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Almanez.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almanez thows a huge punch but Rider dodges it nicely.
Almanez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rider trying to hold on to Almanez's head to control him but Almanez postures up.
Almanez stalling.

We're going to have a standup here because MP Almanez wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Rider misses with a combination

and Almanez counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rider takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Almanez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Almanez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. MP Almanez wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rider tries for a takedown but Almanez circles away easily

and Almanez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rider's guard.
Almanez controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because MP Almanez just wasn't active enough.

Almanez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Rider's half guard.
Almanez trying to control the pace.
Rider tries to kick Almanez off but Almanez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rider has hold of Almanez's hands but Almanez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Almanez is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rider on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Almanez controlling the action here.

Almanez seems to be working for a kimura but Rider defends the submission attempt.
Almanez lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rider wants to get back to his feet.
Almanez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Almanez content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Almanez looking to finish Rider with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rider!
Almanez controlling his opponent.
Rider takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Almanez controlling from mount.
Crime Rider has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
MP Almanez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rider takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
MP Almanez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Almanez 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:25
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:24
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... MP Almanez!