PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Waldo Claudiano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kendall Rison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waldo Claudiano has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Claudiano
vs
Rison

160 cm
18
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Waldo Claudiano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kendall Rison!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rison moves away from the strike by Claudiano.
Claudiano tried to score with a low kick but Rison checks it.
Claudiano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rison slips under a jab from Claudiano.
Rison pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A slow jab from Claudiano misses its intended target.
Rison scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Waldo Claudiano has been cut.

Rison shoots in and gets a takedown into Claudiano's guard.
Rison preventing the sweep.
Rison is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano controls Rison momentarily but Rison frees himself.
Rison working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Claudiano's head.
Claudiano on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Claudiano tries to get out of the position.
Claudiano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Claudiano wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Claudiano is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rison moves in looking to clinch but Claudiano pushes him off.
Claudiano displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rison throws out the jab.
Claudiano looks to throw the jab but Rison is out of range.
Waldo Claudiano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Claudiano tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rison was well out of range. Poor timing from Claudiano.

Rison shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Claudiano manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rison passes into half guard.
Rison trying to mount his opponent but Claudiano defends it.
Claudiano might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rison is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Claudiano wants to control but Rison is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rison perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Rison is looking for a kimura but Claudiano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rison to get the leverage.
Claudiano is trying to control but can't.
Claudiano knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rison on the ground.
Claudiano tries to roll over but Rison keeps him under control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rison working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.

Claudiano is defending against the submission attempts here by Rison.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claudiano tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Rison has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rison controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Claudiano tries to reverse the position but Rison maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Rison dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Waldo Claudiano's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Claudiano misses with an uppercut.
Rison uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Claudiano.
Rison has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Rison tries to keep at a distance but Claudiano has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rison wants to take the fight to the mat but Claudiano manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Claudiano.
Claudiano throws a head punch that misses.
Claudiano fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Claudiano throws a head punch that misses.
Claudiano can't find room to land a body shot as Rison controls the action.
Claudiano is pushing Rison up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rison has clasped his hands together around Claudiano's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Rison thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rison lands an elbow.
A lull in the action here.
Rison trying to control the position but Claudiano is working away.
Rison content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Claudiano is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rison takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rison is taking a breather. Claudiano 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.
Claudiano won't allow Rison to pass to mount.
Claudiano wants to improve his position but Rison is controlling well.
Rison content to control rather than advance.

Rison stands up out of the half guard.
Rison avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rison moves away from the strike by Claudiano.
Claudiano could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Claudiano misses with a low kick.
Rison stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Claudiano.
Claudiano wants to clinch up but Rison keeps it at a distance.
Rison cracks Claudiano with a good jab.
Claudiano throws a body kick that misses.
Claudiano throws the left hand but Rison avoids the punch easily.
Claudiano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Claudiano misses with an uppercut.
Claudiano rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Rison counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Claudiano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Claudiano 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.
Rison is working Claudiano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rison looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Claudiano 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.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rison has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Claudiano is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rison controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rison's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendall Rison showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Waldo Claudiano's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rison wants to clinch but Claudiano slips to the side

and Claudiano counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rison wants to take the fight to the mat but Claudiano manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Claudiano prevents the takedown attempt.
Claudiano is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Rison's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Claudiano misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rison is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Claudiano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Claudiano will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Rison up against the cage.
Claudiano tries a body shot but Rison blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rison breaks from the clinch.
Claudiano will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rison tries to clinch there but Claudiano circles away.
Rison throws a series of punches but Claudiano moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claudiano throws a low kick but Rison moves out of range easily.
Claudiano misses with a right hand

so Rison counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rison is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Rison is pushing down on Claudiano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Claudiano is fighting to maintain full guard but Rison has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rison is controlling the pace.
Claudiano trying to control here.
Claudiano is looking to improve his position.
Waldo Claudiano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rison is thwarting Claudiano's attempts to control the position.

Rison is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Claudiano is just riding it out for now. Rison eventually gives up the hold.
Claudiano tries to get to full guard but Rison has control of the leg.
Rison seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rison has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rison content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rison has hold of Claudiano's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Claudiano manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rison is landing with some decent strikes but Claudiano is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rison content just to control the position here.
Claudiano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rison controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rison pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendall Rison comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rison winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendall Rison!