PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Triston Rioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Ellis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rioka's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Life Is Beautiful. Alexander Ellis has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rioka
vs
Ellis

164 cm
20
189 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

185 cm
28
195 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Triston Rioka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alexander Ellis!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rioka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ellis.

Rioka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ellis sprawls well initially but Rioka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rioka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ellis's head.
Rioka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rioka throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ellis to regain full guard.
Rioka might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rioka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rioka throwing strikes but missing.
Rioka throws an elbow that misses. Ellis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rioka's guard. Nice move by Ellis!
Rioka pulls Ellis in close to prevent any damage.
Ellis wants to control from the top but Rioka keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ellis is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rioka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rioka has escaped and now he's on top!
Rioka stopping the sweep attempt from Ellis.
Rioka throwing strikes from guard but Ellis blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellis keeping full guard, as Rioka tries to pass.
Rioka 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.
Rioka postures up in Ellis's guard and throws a big left but Ellis blocks it.
Rioka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rioka works over Ellis with some ground and pound from guard.
Ellis controlling Rioka's posture.
Rioka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rioka trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ellis is trying to keep Rioka in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ellis is pulling down on Rioka's head. It's preventing any offense from Rioka, at least for the moment.
Rioka throws a big elbow that misses.
Rioka won't allow Ellis to sweep him here.
Ellis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rioka manages to get himself to full guard.
Ellis trying to control the position from guard on top but Rioka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rioka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ellis blocks a jab.
Rioka misses the jab.
Ellis swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rioka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Rioka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ellis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ellis trying to keep a closed guard but Rioka is proving a slippery customer.
Rioka content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Triston Rioka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A bone on bone clash there as Ellis blocks the leg kick.
Ellis fails with a takedown attempt.
Rioka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rioka checks a leg kick.
Ellis lands the left hand.
Rioka avoids the body shot from Ellis.
Ellis misses with a low kick.
Rioka ducks under a wild hook from Ellis.
Rioka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ellis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ellis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rioka walks into a straight right hand from Ellis.
Rioka checks the leg kick nicely there.

Rioka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ellis was covering up waiting for the punch and Rioka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ellis trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rioka throwing strikes from guard but Ellis blocks nicely.
Ellis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rioka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rioka stopping the sweep attempt from Ellis.
Ellis keeping full guard, as Rioka tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ellis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rioka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rioka is looking to work some ground and pound but Ellis has wrist control.
Rioka throwing strikes from guard but Ellis blocks nicely.
Rioka lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rioka throws a big elbow that misses.
Rioka throwing strikes from guard but Ellis blocks nicely.
Rioka wants to pass the guard but Ellis is keeping the position.
Rioka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rioka trying to control the position from guard on top but Ellis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rioka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rioka lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rioka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rioka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rioka working some strikes from top position.
Ellis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ellis looking for a sweep. Not yet Ellis, not yet.

Ellis is working an open guard so Rioka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ellis slips a jab from Rioka.
Ellis misses with a looping left.
Ellis moves out of range as Rioka strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ellis fails with the takedown.

Ellis gets caught flat footed, as Rioka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rioka postures up in Ellis's guard and throws a big left but Ellis blocks it.
Rioka throws a strike but Ellis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rioka seems keen to control Ellis's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rioka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Triston Rioka dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ellis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rioka.
Rioka throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ellis's waist but Ellis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rioka off to one side.
Rioka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rioka throws a sloppy head kick and Ellis moves out of range easily.
Rioka moves away from the strike by Ellis.
Rioka swings for the body but Ellis moves out of range.
Ellis cracks Rioka with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ellis is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rioka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ellis backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rioka obliges.
Rioka changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ellis fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ellis throws a big shot that misses.
Ellis throws a body punch but Rioka moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rioka keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Ellis looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rioka keeping moving, preventing Ellis from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Rioka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Ellis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Nice uppercut there from Rioka.
Rioka moves away from the strike by Ellis.
Rioka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ellis.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rioka.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Triston Rioka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ellis shoots in but no luck this time.
Alexander Ellis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ellis shoots in and bounces Rioka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ellis looking to pass the guard.
Ellis trying to control the position from guard on top but Rioka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ellis drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rioka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rioka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rioka!
Rioka working the strikes but Ellis uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Rioka is looking for a kimura but Ellis is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rioka to get the leverage.
Rioka throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ellis to regain full guard.
Rioka tries to free his leg and advance position but Ellis is retaining full guard.
Rioka throws a big elbow that misses.
Rioka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ellis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rioka working some strikes from top position.
Rioka with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rioka throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ellis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ellis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rioka is looking to work some ground and pound but Ellis has wrist control.
Ellis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ellis 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.
Ellis working a defensive guard here.
Alexander Ellis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Triston Rioka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ellis pulls Rioka in close to his closed guard and prevents Rioka from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Triston Rioka.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rioka, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Triston Rioka!
Triston Rioka decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.