PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Scott Riley looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Garcia
vs
Riley

216 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

184 cm
25
201 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Scott Riley!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Riley looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Garcia instigates a clinch.
Garcia missing with knees to the body.
Riley leaning against his opponent.
Garcia fails to pull guard.
Riley is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Garcia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Riley smiles and moves away.

Riley shoots in and gets a takedown into Garcia's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Garcia wants to improve his position but instead Riley has moved into half guard.

Garcia has one foot on Riley's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia misses with a head kick.

Garcia tries to sprawl but Riley drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Riley trying to control the action but Garcia is working from the bottom.
Garcia keeping control of the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Riley working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Garcia is pressing down on Riley's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Garcia tries to strike from the bottom.
Garcia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.
Garcia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Garcia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Garcia has Riley pulled in close to control his posture.
Garcia 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.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Riley is proving a slippery customer.

Riley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Garcia striking off his back but it's not causing Riley any problems.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Riley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Riley stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.

Garcia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Riley gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Garcia throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Garcia wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garcia is on top in guard.

Garcia with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riley controls Garcia momentarily but Garcia frees himself.
Garcia is looking to work some ground and pound but Riley has wrist control.

Garcia drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Riley dives on top into guard.

Garcia 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Riley trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garcia looking for a sweep. Not yet Garcia, not yet.
Riley postures up.
Garcia will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Riley trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Garcia is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joe Garcia will probably get the nod.
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.

Garcia tries to clinch up.

Riley rushes Garcia and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Riley crunches a lovely knee into Garcia's ribcage.
Garcia has Riley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Riley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Riley breaks the clinch.
Garcia throws a nice looking combination but Riley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As Garcia backs off Riley throws a huge counter combo but Garcia manages to avoid it all.

Riley throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Garcia was covering up waiting for the punch and Riley finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Garcia controlling Riley's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riley manages to get himself to full guard.

Garcia passes into half guard.
Joe Garcia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garcia is nestled in close to Riley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Garcia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Riley won't allow Garcia to pass to mount.
Riley is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Riley is looking to improve his position.
Garcia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Garcia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Garcia is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riley sees it coming and defends easily.

Garcia is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley trying to control from the bottom.
Riley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Riley is trying to get back to full guard.
Riley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Garcia is working away from the top position though.
Riley is looking for a sweep. Garcia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garcia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Garcia not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Garcia is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Garcia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Riley makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Riley.
Riley has Garcia pulled in close to control his posture.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Garcia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Garcia 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. This is the final round!

Garcia moves into range and clinches up with Riley.

Riley gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Riley stops Garcia from getting back to his feet.
Garcia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Garcia looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Garcia is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Riley presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia is trying to push Riley away but Riley has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Garcia jumps guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Garcia is working an open guard so Riley takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley looks to land a combination but Garcia avoids it well.

Riley manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Garcia on his heels. He'll look to pass Garcia's guard now, I'm sure.
Garcia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Garcia looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riley is one step ahead there.
Garcia pulls Riley in close to prevent any damage.
Riley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Garcia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Riley wants to stand but Garcia is controlling the position.

Garcia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Garcia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia with a flurry of punches that miss.

Riley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Garcia is aware though and is defending well.

Riley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garcia defends well.
Riley trying to control the position.

Garcia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Garcia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Garcia throws an elbow that misses. Riley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Garcia's guard. Nice move by Riley!

Garcia 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Riley is controlling him.
Garcia keeping full guard, as Riley tries to pass.

Garcia kicks Riley off and gets to his feet.
Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garcia wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riley closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Garcia tries to improve position but can't.

Riley stands up.

Garcia darts in and clinches Riley up against the cage.
Garcia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Scott Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Garcia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Garcia manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Garcia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Garcia, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Garcia!