PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Riker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Orlando Tucker (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.

Riker
vs
Tucker

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rodney Riker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Orlando Tucker!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tucker tries to clinch up

and Riker counters with a shoot takedown. Tucker fights it but they end up in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Riker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Riker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tucker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tucker wants to stand up but Riker is controlling him.

Tucker manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker closes the distance looking to clinch

and Riker counters by moving into the clinch.
Tucker putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Riker in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Riker tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tucker lands an elbow just above Riker 's eye.
Tucker gets underhooks to prevent Riker's takedown attempt.
Riker is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Riker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riker tries to stall but Tucker uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Riker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tucker lands an elbow inside.
Riker wants to take the fight to the mat but Tucker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Riker wants a takedown.
Tucker is looking to break free of the clinch but Riker has double underhooks.
Tucker tries a body shot but Riker blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riker takes an elbow to the forehead.

Riker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tucker wants to clinch

and Riker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tucker's guard now.
Riker is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riker stops Tucker from standing up.
Tucker looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Riker trying to control but Tucker is working from the bottom.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Riker wants to stand but Tucker is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tucker doesn't manage to clinch there - Riker circles away.
Orlando Tucker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tucker swivels and escapes.
Riker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch but Riker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Some wild striking there from Tucker.
Riker swats away the attempt to clinch by Tucker.
Tucker is trying hard to land a takedown here. Riker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riker fails with a takedown attempt.

Tucker looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Riker!
Riker takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tucker landing punches.
Riker wants to hold on but Tucker pushes him away.
Tucker throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Riker is trying desperately to improve position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tucker with a couple of short strikes.
Riker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Orlando Tucker 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.

Tucker tries to close the distance and clinch but Riker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riker throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tucker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tucker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Riker tries to avoid it but Tucker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Riker to the ground. Riker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Riker tries for a takedown but Tucker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tucker looks to clinch
and Riker counters with a two punch combo.
Horrible takedown by Tucker or perhaps it was just good defense by Riker which made him look bad.
Riker shoots in looking for a takedown. Tucker tries to sprawl out of it but Riker keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tucker manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tucker tries to clinch up.
Tucker tries to clinch up

and Riker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tucker won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker regains half guard, as Riker was trying to land strikes.
Riker throwing shots but Tucker is blocking nicely.
Tucker is trying to maintain the position but Riker is very close to passing his half guard.
Tucker is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker is not content to let Riker control the position.
Riker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tucker is trying to stand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Riker connects with a body shot.
Riker shoots for a takedown but Tucker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodney Riker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Riker shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tucker is trying to defend but Riker finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Riker is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riker wants to free his trapped foot but Tucker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Riker controlling the pace.
Riker is trying to control. Tucker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Riker is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Tucker manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riker wants to control from the top but Tucker keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rodney Riker wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Tucker takes a kick to the side of the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riker.
Riker shoots for a takedown but Tucker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tucker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Riker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tucker somewhat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tucker closes the distance and clinches up with Riker, looking for a takedown. Tucker pushes Riker against the cage but Riker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodney Riker dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tucker tries to keep at a distance but Riker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Riker can't find room to land a body shot as Tucker controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Riker as Tucker tries to tie him up.
Tucker pushes off an throws an elbow but Riker leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Riker jumps guard.
Tucker being controlled here momentarily.
Riker trying to control the position.
Riker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tucker on the ground.
Tucker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Riker's guard.
Tucker won't allow Riker to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker trying to control but Riker is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Rodney Riker wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Riker sprawls well. Riker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tucker gets slowly back to his feet.
Tucker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tucker wants to clinch

and Riker counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Riker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riker wants to stand but Tucker is controlling his posture from full guard.
Riker looking to sit in guard and control but Tucker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tucker is aware though and is defending well.
Tucker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riker has a closed guard, preventing Tucker from standing up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tucker prevents Riker from getting back to his feet.

Riker manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tucker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown but Riker shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Tucker as Riker shoots in.
Tucker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rodney Riker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Orlando Tucker.

Riker shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Riker connects with a nice short shot to Tucker's temple.
Tucker controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Tucker is staying active underneath Riker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riker seems to be looking for submissions.
Riker is taking a breather. Tucker 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riker wants to stand up but Tucker has a hold of him and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodney Riker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Riker 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodney Riker!