PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lawrence Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cohen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Season in the Abyss. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rider
vs
Cohen

175 cm
27
183 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

178 cm
26
178 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Sublime Supplements
Virtual Fighter Clothing

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lawrence Cohen!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cohen takes a swing at Rider's ribcage but misses.
Cohen misses with a hook to the body
and Rider counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cohen thinking.
Cohen loads up on a big right hand but Rider slips the punch.

Cohen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rider's guard.
Cohenis looking to pass into half guard but Rider pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rider is in guard.
Cohen trying to keep a closed guard but Rider is proving a slippery customer.
Rider in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rider accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rider trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cohen looking for a sweep. Not yet Cohen, not yet.
Rider throwing strikes from guard but Cohen blocks nicely.
Rider postures up in Cohen's guard and throws a big left but Cohen blocks it.
Rider loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider distracts Cohen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cohen is pulling down on Rider's head to control his posture.
Rider trying to control but Cohen is working from the bottom.
Cohen keeping full guard, as Rider tries to pass.
Rider postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rider makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rider accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cohen trying to keep a closed guard but Rider is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rider loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Cohen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rider can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rider postures up in Cohen's guard and throws a big left but Cohen blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider throwing strikes from guard but Cohen blocks nicely.
Cohen wants to sweep but no luck.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cohen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cohen is trying to control the position but Rider postures up.
Cohen 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.
Rider postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cohen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Rider from controlling successfully.
Rider throwing strikes but missing.
Rider landing some decent shots from guard.
Rider prevents Cohen from getting back to his feet.
Cohen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cohen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cohen seems keen to control Rider's posture.
Rider throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider won't allow Cohen to sweep him here.

Rider got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cohen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rider has managed to get both his arms back between Cohen's legs - danger averted.
Rider has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rider throws and elbow that misses. Cohen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rider's guard. Nice move by Cohen!
Rider is pulling down on Cohen's head. It's preventing any offense from Cohen, at least for the moment.
Cohen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rider is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cohen wants to control from the top but Rider keeps moving.
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 Ryan Rider will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cohen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rider paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rider lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cohen checks the leg kick.
Rider uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cohen.
Cohen misses the jab.
Cohen avoids the body shot from Rider.
Cohen throws a big shot that misses.
Rider works the jab nicely.
Cohen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cohen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cohen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rider was covering up waiting for the punch and Cohen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rider is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cohen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rider is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rider has escaped and now he's on top!
Rider lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rider's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rider lands a couple of elbows.
Rider working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rider trying to control but Cohen is working from the bottom.
Rider connects with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rider lands a couple of elbows.

Cohen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rider stands and throws Cohen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cohen is looking for a sweep.
Cohen has one of Rider's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rider landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Ryan Rider overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cohen is looking to reverse the position.
Cohen can't do much from the bottom here.
Cohen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rider is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rider trying to pass the guard but Cohen defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rider throwing strikes from guard but Cohen blocks nicely.
Rider thows a big elbow that misses.
Rider wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cohen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rider defends well.
Rider trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cohen is trying to control the position but Rider postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Rider dominated that second round.
That's time! Rider's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cohen misses with a straight right.
Cohen shoots for a takedown but Rider saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice sprawl there from Cohen as Rider shoots in.
Rider closes the distance and clinches up with Cohen, looking for a takedown. Rider pushes Cohen against the cage but Cohen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rider shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cohen pinned against the cage. Cohen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Rider. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cohen misses the shot to the body.
Cohen dives in and grabs Rider's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rider pushes down on Cohen's head and hops out.
Rider shoots in but no luck this time.
Cohen looks to land a left hand but Rider moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider throws a right hand that misses
and Cohen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Rider closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cohen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Cohen passes to side control.
Rider trying to control but Cohen flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Cohen looking for the RNC.
Cohen scores with punches and elbows.
Ryan Rider is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cohen working for a choke but Rider reverses nicely into Cohen 's guard.
Cohen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rider is one step ahead there.
Cohen looking to control.
Rider trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cohen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rider is one step ahead there.
Cohen trying to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Cohen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cohen misses with a looping right.
Cohen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rider tries to work over Cohen's front leg with a kick but Cohen checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rider closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cohen's guard.
Cohen keeping moving, preventing Rider from controlling successfully.
Rider tries to free his leg and advance position but Cohen is retaining full guard.
Rider is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rider wants to control from the top but Cohen keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Cohen working for submissions but it's allowed Rider to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rider is trying to control. Cohen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lawrence Cohen.
I think Rider 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Rider!