PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arne Riseman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thad Backer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Backer has chosen Hell Yeah as his entrance music. Thad Backer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Riseman
vs
Backer

189 cm
30
280 lbs
18 - 13 - 1

191 cm
23
260 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arne Riseman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thad Backer!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riseman lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Riseman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Riseman looks to land a combination but Backer avoids it well.
Arne Riseman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riseman moves out of range of the body kick.
Riseman moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Riseman comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
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!
Riseman fails to land with a series of punches.

Riseman lands a left and a right that send Backer crashing to the mat, dazed. Riseman thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Thad Backer has been cut.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Riseman lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Backer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Backer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Backer slips a jab and a cross from Riseman.
Riseman jabs Backer to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Backer slips a jab and a cross from Riseman.
Backer avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Riseman.
Backer tries to clinch up.
Riseman throws a nice looking combination but Backer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Riseman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Backer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Backer.
Backer lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Arne Riseman has been cut.
Backer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Riseman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Backer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Riseman takes a knee right on the jaw!

Riseman breaks from the clinch.
Riseman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riseman keeps the fight on the outside.
Riseman fails to land with a series of punches.
Riseman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riseman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Riseman looks to land a combination. Backer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Riseman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Backer on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A head kick by Backer misses
enabling Riseman to counter with a crisp jab.
Riseman misses with a series of wild punches.
Backer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Riseman paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riseman looks to land a combination but Backer avoids it well.

Backer gets a clinch.
Backer tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Backer misses with the head strike.
Riseman tries to stall but Backer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Riseman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riseman wants to slow Backer down by chopping away at his legs.
Riseman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Backer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Riseman misses with a kick to the body

and Backer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Backer.
Riseman blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Backer.
Backer tries a knee to the head but Riseman blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Backer.
Riseman is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Backer misses with a knee strike.
Backer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Backer lands an uppercut.
Backer looking to throw knees to the head but Riseman is blocking nicely.
Backer lands a good knee to the midsection. Riseman won't want to take too many of those.
A right hand to the body from Backer.
Riseman avoids a wild elbow strike from Backer.
A knee to the head by Backer.
Backer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riseman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice elbow from Backer.
Backer crunches a lovely knee into Riseman's ribcage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Backer with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Backer lands a knee to the body.
Backer trying to land knees to the body.
Backer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Riseman blocks it with crossed arms.
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 Arne Riseman will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Riseman walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Backer checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Riseman looks to land a combination. Backer sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Riseman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Backer takes one to the side of the head.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Riseman lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Backer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Backer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Riseman misses with a straight right.
Backer doesn't manage to clinch there - Riseman circles away.
Backer tries to clinch up but Riseman circles away and keeps his distance.
Riseman throws a nice looking combination but Backer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Riseman goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Backer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Riseman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backer wants to stand but Riseman has his arm trapped.
Riseman holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Backer wants to stand but Riseman has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Riseman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Riseman postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Backer to stand up.
Riseman misses with a wild combination.
Riseman tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Backer was well out of range. Poor timing from Riseman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Riseman.
Backer tries to clinch but Riseman is having none of it.
Backer tries to clinch but Riseman is having none of it.
Backer avoids a punch combination nicely.
Riseman throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Riseman connects with the punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Left hook, right uppercut from Riseman.
Riseman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Riseman lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riseman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Arne Riseman is winning the standup battle so far.
Backer tries a head kick but it misses.
Riseman fails to land with a series of punches.
Arne Riseman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Riseman scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Riseman looks to land a combination but Backer avoids it well.
Riseman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Riseman stalks Backer and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Backer's face. Backer staggers backwards, shaken.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riseman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Backer counters with a nice body kick.
Riseman throws a right hand that Backer ducks under and follows up with a left that Backer also avoids with ease.
Riseman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Backer tries to close the distance and clinch but Riseman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riseman misses with a looping left.
Riseman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arne Riseman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riseman misses with a kick to the body.
Backer darts in trying to clinch
and Riseman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riseman scores with a jab.
Riseman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riseman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arne Riseman dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Riseman swats away the attempt to clinch by Backer.
Riseman misses with a wild body shot.
Backer wants to clinch up but Riseman keeps it at a distance.
Riseman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Riseman attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Riseman ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Riseman thumps Backer with a low kick.
Riseman misses with a low kick as Backer jumps back.
Backer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Riseman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Backer is looking to clinch but Riseman is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riseman's corner calls for a 1-2. Riseman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Riseman throws a nice looking combination but Backer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Riseman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Backer circles away quickly and effectively.
Riseman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Backer tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Riseman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riseman swinging wildly here.
Backer lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riseman. Backer does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backer tries to clinch
and Riseman counters with a two punch combo.
Riseman throws a series of punches but Backer moves out of range.
Riseman lands a jab to Backer's midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riseman lands with a shot to the body.
Riseman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Backer.
Riseman scores with a one two! Backer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Backer throws the left hand but Riseman avoids the punch easily.
Backer tried to score with a low kick but Riseman checks it.

Oooooh!!! Riseman has knocked Backer down with a huge combo! Riseman steps away and waves a wobbly Backer back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Backer is rocked!
A jab from Riseman finds it's way through Backer's defenses.
Backer is still on wobbly legs! Can Riseman finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Backer gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Riseman gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arne Riseman!