PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wave Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Hapaloua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rider
vs
Hapaloua

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

201 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Wave Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Travis Hapaloua!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rider shoots in looking for a takedown. Hapaloua tries to sprawl out of it but Rider keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hapaloua manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hapaloua rushes Rider and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hapaloua leaning against his opponent.
Rider tries to pull guard but Hapaloua holds him up against the cage and eventually Rider drops back down to his feet.
A right handed body shot lands from Hapaloua.

Rider's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rider misses with a takedown attempt - Hapaloua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wave Rider. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hapaloua misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hapaloua has managed to clinch.
Rider is trying to pull guard but Hapaloua has him pressed against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hapaloua creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Hapaloua.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rider fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rider is trying to pull guard but Hapaloua turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hapaloua.

It looks like Wave Rider has been cut.
Rider is breathing heavily.
Hapaloua lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hapaloua manages to break the clinch.
Hapaloua looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Hapaloua pushes Rider up against the cage in a clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Rider has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hapaloua.
Rider looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hapaloua throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Riders head.
Hapaloua is stalling here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hapaloua creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Rider is rocked!
Hapaloua works on Rider's body with a couple of short punches.
Oh Rider is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hapaloua lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Rider to his knees! Hapaloua keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Travis Hapaloua!