PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gator Bait (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bait
vs
Riley

186 cm
18
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite 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 Montreal, Gator Bait!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ethan Riley!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bait is looking to clinch but Riley is avoiding it.
Riley looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bait is fending him off so far but Riley persists. Nope, Bait circles away and we're back to standing.
Bait tries a head kick but it misses.

Bait moves into the clinch.
Bait has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Riley is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Riley prevents a takedown attempt there.

Bait has hold of one of Riley's legs. Riley is fighting the takedown attempt but Bait gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Bait is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Riley wants to get back to his feet but Bait is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Riley keeping full guard, as Bait tries to pass.

Riley wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riley forces Bait back against the cage and clinches.

Bait works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bait preventing the sweep.

Riley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bait looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Riley has his foot on Bait's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bait works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bait stands and steps away. Riley gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Bait bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bait landing strikes.
Bait scoring with punches from side control.
Riley is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Bait wants to stand but Riley has his arm trapped.
Riley trying to remain calm as Bait controls from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bait working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Bait is looking to take a break and control but Riley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Bait goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Riley rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bait's guard! Nice work there by Riley!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley trying to control but Bait is working from the bottom.
Bait is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riley is controlling him.
Bait keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Riley drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bait looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bait looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bait!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bait tries to stand but Riley is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gator Bait dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bait fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Riley sprawls well initially but Bait persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Riley tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bait throwing shots but Riley is blocking nicely.
Bait uses his free foot to push down on Riley's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Riley.
Bait tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Bait swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Riley is now in Bait's guard. A big mistake from Bait there, giving up the dominant position!
Riley is fighting to break Bait's control of his arms but Bait is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bait bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riley's guard.
Bait would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Bait drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Riley dives on top into guard.
Riley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Riley won't allow Bait to get back to his feet.
Riley tries to stand but Bait is controlling from the bottom.
Riley trying to control the position from guard on top but Bait is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riley trying to control but Bait is working from the bottom.
Riley looking to sit in guard and control but Bait gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bait accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bait controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Riley fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bait.
Riley fails with a takedown attempt.
Riley is breathing heavily.
Bait closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riley circles away.

Bait forces Riley back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley can't get the takedown.
Gator Bait has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Riley.

Bait breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bait fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Riley is out of range.

Bait drives through and clinches with Riley against the cage.
Bait gets underhooks to prevent Riley's takedown attempt.
Bait jumps guard but Riley turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Riley is looking for a takedown.

Bait gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bait wants to stand but Riley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gator Bait dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bait leaves Riley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bait looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bait closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Riley quickly recovers to half guard.
Riley is trying to stand back up but Bait is controlling him
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bait lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bait is taking a breather. Riley 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.

Bait is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Riley is just riding it out for now. Bait eventually gives up the hold.
Riley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riley is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bait wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riley keeps working.

Bait is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ethan Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bait is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Riley looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bait drops an elbow to the side of Riley's head.
Bait moves into full mount! Riley won't be happy about that!
Bait breaks from Riley's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bait with a couple of short strikes.
Bait tries to control but Riley wriggling away.

Bait looking to secure an arm triangle but Riley defends it well.
Riley is working to get back to half guard.
Bait lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to control but Bait is having none of it.

Bait is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Bait shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Riley as he jumps to the side.
Bait throws a head kick that misses.
Bait scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bait has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gator Bait. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riley shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bait as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gator Bait showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bait 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gator Bait!