PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Riddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberto Kim could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Justin Riddle's chin.

Kim
vs
Riddle

190 cm
26
195 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
187 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roberto Kim!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Riddle!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riddle darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Justin Riddle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Riddle 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 Kim has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kim and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Riddle tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.
Riddle looks to throw the jab but Kim is out of range.
Riddle misses the shot to the body.
Kim pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Riddle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kim circles away quickly and effectively.
Riddle tries to clinch but Kim moves out of range.

Kim gets a takedown into half guard.
Riddle felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kim wants to pass to mount but Riddle is defending the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Kim's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are battling for position here. Riddle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kim passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim in side control, throwing shots but Riddle defends.
Kim throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Riddle is not content to let Kim control the position.
Riddle wants to control but Kim postures up.
Kim takes a little break here. Riddle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Riddle is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to control but Riddle is keeping him busy.

Kim is trying to get an arm triangle but Riddle is defending well.
Riddle is trying to control Kim's posture but Kim avoids it.
Riddle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riddle seems a little lost for a moment, as Kim dominates the positioning.
Kim working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim working away.
Kim tries to score with some ground and pound. Riddle controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Riddle is trying to control Kim's posture but Kim avoids it.

Kim tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kim has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kim working the ground and pound.
An elbow from Kim crashes against the mat.
Riddle sneaks back into half guard.
Riddle is not content to let Kim control the position.
Kim slips a nice elbow through Riddle's hands, connecting with Riddle's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddle is staying active underneath Kim, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kim wants to pass the guard but Riddle is defending well.
Riddle wants to control but Kim is keeping busy.
Kim sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Riddle defending well though.
Kim wants to take a breather but Riddle is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riddle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riddle is refusing to be controlled, as Kim sits in half guard.
Kim throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riddle checks the leg kick nicely there.
Riddle throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kim counters with a shoot takedown. Riddle fights it but they end up in guard.
Riddle is looking to sweep but instead, Kim has passed into half guard.
Kim looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kim throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kim throwing shots but Riddle is blocking nicely.
Kim is just content to waste time from the top position. Riddle takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kim stands up over Riddle, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kim wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kim throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle looking to control.
Kim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riddle keeping full guard, as Kim tries to pass.
Kim throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riddle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riddle is trying to control the position but Kim postures up.
Kim looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kim won't allow Riddle to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kim is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Riddle is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Riddle has escaped and now he's on top!
Kim 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.
Riddle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kim is working hard here to advance position.
Riddle stands and throws Kim's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kim looks to move to half guard but instead Riddle has passed into mount! Damn!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim wants to control but Riddle is having none of it.
Riddle wants to control the action but instead Kim gets a body lock and reverses into Riddle's guard! Nice work!
Kim working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Riddle's head.
Kim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kim trying to control but Riddle is working from the bottom.
Riddle keeping full guard, as Kim tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim stands and throws Riddle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Riddle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kim working the head and body with strikes.
Kim in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes there by Kim.
Kim staying calm.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riddle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Kim dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Riddle lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A telegraphed right hand from Riddle misses the target.

Kim throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Riddle tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kim is in Riddle's guard.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riddle looking for a sweep. Not yet Riddle, not yet.
Kim lands a couple of digs.
Kim with a nice head shot there.
Kim working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kim 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kim forces his way into half guard.
Riddle is not content to let Kim control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Riddle is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Kim seems to be looking for submissions.
Kim trying to mount his opponent but Riddle defends it.
Kim is trying to control. Riddle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Riddle is controlling Kim's trapped leg to prevent Kim from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle tries to roll over but Kim keeps him under control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kim is pressing down on Riddle's thigh, looking to free his foot. Riddle is holding on for now.
Kim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riddle keeps working.
Kim wants to pass to mount but Riddle is defending the position.
Riddle manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim trying to control the position from guard on top but Riddle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kim looking to pass the guard.
Kim passes into half guard.
Kim wants to free his trapped foot but Riddle is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Riddle is trying to maintain the position but Kim is very close to passing his half guard.
Kim performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kim throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Riddle because Kim loaded up on that one.
Kim controlling from the full mount.
Kim is trying to control here but Riddle has managed to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Riddle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Kim clearly takes that 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.

Kim keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Riddle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kim manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riddle throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kim counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Riddle's guard now.
Kim wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.
Kim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kim postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kim trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kim pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riddle is keeping the position for now.
Kim wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.
Riddle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim chips away with some ground and pound.
Kim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kim loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riddle looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Kim postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riddle is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kim, into his guard.
Kim controls Riddle momentarily but Riddle frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle won't allow Kim to sweep him here.
Kim working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roberto Kim wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Riddle throws a jab but it's blocked by Kim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle ducks under a wild hook from Kim.
Riddle loads up on a big right hand but Kim slips the punch.
Riddle moves out of range of the leg kick from Kim.
Kim on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Riddle swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kim moves out of range as Riddle strikes.
Kim feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Riddle's calf.
Riddle throws a head kick but Kim moves out of range.
Riddle fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riddle fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kim has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Riddle misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riddle tries to close the distance and clinch but Kim swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Riddle throws a leg kick but Kim moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Riddle is fending him off so far but Kim persists. Nope, Riddle circles away and we're back to standing.
Kim takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Riddle throws a leg kick

so Kim counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kim lands a couple of digs.
Riddle keeping moving, preventing Kim from controlling successfully.
Kim working some strikes from top position.
Riddle is trying to control the position but Kim postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kim stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riddle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kim advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Kim had his way with Justin Riddle in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Riddle misses with a kick to the body.
Riddle throws a sloppy head kick and Kim moves out of range easily.
Riddle swings widly with a right hand

and Kim counters with a nice double leg into side control. Riddle won't be happy with that.
The referee asks Kim politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kim prefers to stall for the moment though.
Riddle is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kim off and has taken his back!
Riddle has the hooks in. Kim is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Kim trying to control the action but Riddle just sinks the hooks in.
Kim tries to escape but Riddle has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kim doesn't escape.
Kim is really stuck here.
Kim trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Kim wants to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim turns into Riddle and is now in his guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kim trying to control but Riddle is working from the bottom.
Kim slips nicely into half guard.
Riddle wants to get back to his feet.
Kim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Riddle knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Riddle is controlling Kim's trapped leg to prevent Kim from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle won't allow Kim to pass to mount.
Kim is nestled in close to Riddle, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Riddle is not content to let Kim control the position.
Kim performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Riddle is pressing down on Kim's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kim missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Riddle keeping full guard, as Kim tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kim throws a strike but Riddle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Justin Riddle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kim lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Riddle!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riddle regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roberto Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kim, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 50:45
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 50:45
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Kim!
Roberto Kim retains his middleweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Roberto Kim thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.