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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Maricue Russel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Triston Rioka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rioka has chosen Life Is Beautiful as his entrance music. 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.
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| 190 cm
28
200 lbs
14 - 8 - 0 |
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164 cm
30
189 lbs
13 - 1 - 0 |
Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank |
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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
14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maricue Russel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Triston Rioka!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rioka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Russel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rioka avoids the head kick by Russel.
Russel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Russel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Russel trying to control from half guard but Rioka is working away.
Rioka is looking to improve his position.
Russel trying to control the pace.
Rioka looking for submissions off his back.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rioka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rioka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Russel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rioka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Russel pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rioka looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Russel lands strikes from half guard.
Russel wants to work for an arm triangle but Rioka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Russel decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel fails with a takedown attempt.
Russel throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rioka on the side of the head.
Russel misses with a few strikes there.
Rioka swings for the body but Russel moves out of range.
Russel misses with a body kick.
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!
Russel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Russel lands with a right hand.
Rioka drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rioka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rioka throwing strikes but missing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel keeping moving, preventing Rioka from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Russel 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.
Rioka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russel is keeping the position for now.
Rioka wants to control from the top but Russel keeps moving.
Russel trying to control the position.
Rioka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russel is keeping the position for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Russel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rioka tries to avoid it but Russel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rioka to the ground. Rioka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Russel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rioka's guard.
Russel avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rioka keeping moving, preventing Russel from controlling successfully.
Russel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rioka's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Russel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rioka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rioka looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Russel passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Maricue Russel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Russel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rioka thuds a left hand into Russel's body.
Maricue Russel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Russel scores with a three punch combo!
It looks like Triston Rioka has been cut.
Rioka moves out of range as Russel strikes.
Rioka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Russel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Russel misses with a hook. Rioka ducked under it nicely.
Russel connects with a right hand. Rioka shakes it off.
Rioka slips a jab and a cross from Russel.
Russel bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rioka's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Russel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rioka defends it nicely.
Russel is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Russel uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rioka.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel darts in looking for a takedown but Rioka gets double underhooks and turns Russel into the cage.
Rioka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Russel walks away with a smile on his face. Rioka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rioka lands a nice looking body shot.
Russel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rioka. That did some damage!
Maricue Russel is winning the standup battle so far.
Russel moves in looking to clinch but Rioka pushes him off.
Russel lunges at Rioka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rioka's hand.
Russel throws a series of punches but Rioka avoids them all with ease.
Rioka slips under a jab from Russel.
Rioka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rioka dodges the punch combination from Russel.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rioka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rioka wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maricue Russel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Russel lunges at Rioka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rioka's hand.
Russel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Russel is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rioka throws a head kick but Russel moves out of range.
It looks like Russel has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Russel throws a body kick that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russel bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rioka's head backwards.
Rioka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Russel lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Russel.
Russel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rioka swivels and escapes.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rioka slips under a jab from Russel.
Jab from Russel.
Rioka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No luck for Russel with that takedown attempt.
Russel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Russel thuds his shin into the meat of Rioka's side.
Russel misses with an uppercut.
Russel fails to land with a series of punches.
Russel with a poor takedown
and Rioka counters with a left and a right that stings Russel.
No joy there for Russel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rioka tries to avoid it but Russel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rioka to the ground. Rioka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rioka lands a lovely overhand right.
Rioka looks to score with a jab to the body but Russel is just out of range.
Russel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rioka throws out the jab.
Maricue Russel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Rioka does no damage.
A punch combination from Russel misses.
Russel thows a body shot but no joy.
Russel scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Russel shoots in looking for a takedown but Rioka manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Russel's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rioka closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rioka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rioka trying to control the position but Russel is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Maricue Russel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Triston Rioka's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Russel misses with a few strikes there.
Rioka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Russel with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rioka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rioka moves out of range of the body kick.
Rioka jabs at Russel's body.
Rioka avoids a kick to the body.
Russel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rioka sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Russel clinches.
Rioka wants to take the fight to the mat but Russel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Rioka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Russel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rioka has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Russel after a bit of a struggle.
Maricue Russel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Triston Rioka.
Russel tries a body shot but Rioka blocks it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Russel breaks from the clinch.
Rioka shoots in for a takedown but Russel shows good takedown defense.
Russel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Russel swings for the body but Rioka moves out of range.
Rioka slips a jab and a cross from Russel.
Russel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Russel swats away the attempt to clinch by Rioka.
Rioka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rioka connects with an inside leg kick.
Russel has closed the distance and engaged Rioka in a clinch.
Russel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rioka manages to pull guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russel advances position into side control!
Rioka is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Russel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rioka tries to roll over but Russel keeps him under control.
Rioka is in trouble now - Russel has advanced to mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Russel tries to control but Rioka wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rioka is working to get back to half guard.
Rioka tries to hold on but Russel pushes him away.
Rioka working to try and regain half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russel is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rioka can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Maricue Russel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rioka bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Russel wants to sweep but no luck.
Rioka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russel is keeping the position for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russel trying to keep a closed guard but Rioka is proving a slippery customer.
Maricue Russel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Russel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rioka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rioka trying to control but Russel is working from the bottom.
Rioka postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Russel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Rioka, into his guard.
Russel wants to control from the top but Rioka keeps moving.
Triston Rioka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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 fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Maricue Russel.
Well Russel 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maricue Russel!
Our winner, Maricue Russel, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Triston Rioka spoke after the fight, saying 'Not cut out for this I guess.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
67% |
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