PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Justin Riddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heng Jiang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jiang has chosen Volbeat - A Warrior's Call 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.

Riddle
vs
Jiang

172 cm
24
160 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

174 cm
24
161 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Riddle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Heng Jiang!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, David Schapiro and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jiang looks to score with a jab to the body but Riddle is just out of range.
Jiang goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Jiang lands a big head kick that sends Riddle tumbling to the mat! Jiang takes a step backwards and waves Riddle back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Jiang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riddle looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Jiang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jiang thows a left - swing and a miss!
Riddle blocks a head kick by Jiang.
Riddle feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jiang's calf.

Jiang moves into the clinch.
Riddle lands with a light punch inside.
Riddle scores with a shot to the side of Jiang's head.
Jiang wants to stall.
Riddle stalls.
Riddle lands a right hand.
Jiang stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jiang misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Riddle has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jiang looking to slow down the pace here.
A head punch on the inside from Riddle fails to land.

Jiang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jiang misses with a looping right.
Jiang plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Jiang is looking to clinch but Riddle is avoiding it.
Riddle turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Riddle tries to bum rush Jiang with a series of wild strikes but Jiang uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jiang cracks Riddle with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jiang throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Riddle.
A head kick misses from Jiang.
Jiang takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Riddle connects with a jab.

It looks like Heng Jiang has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riddle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jiang was well out of range. Poor timing from Riddle.
Jiang rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Riddle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Jiang is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Jiang.
Jiang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Heng Jiang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riddle misses with a hook. Jiang ducked under it nicely.
Riddle moves out of range as Jiang strikes.
Jiang misses with a head kick.
Riddle avoids the head kick by Jiang.
Jiang darts in trying to clinch
and Riddle counters with a thumping low kick.
Riddle throws the left hand but Jiang avoids the punch easily.
Riddle slips under a jab.
Jiang uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riddle.
Jiang takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Jiang.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jiang looks to land a left hand but Riddle moved out of range nicely.

Riddle has Jiang up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jiang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right from Riddle.
Jiang prevents a body shot from Riddle.
The referee is keeping an eye on Riddle - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Riddle lands a left hand.
Riddle throws a head punch that misses.
Jiang is trying to force a seperation but Riddle has the dominant position.
Jiang lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Jiang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riddle tries a head kick but it misses.
Jiang looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jiang tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Riddle counters with a body kick that stops Jiang in his tracks momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jiang checks a leg kick nicely.
Riddle misses with a hook
and Jiang counters with a nice body kick.
Riddle takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Jiang throws an overhand right that lands on Riddle's shoulder, as Riddle tries to avoid the shot.
Riddle slips a jab from Jiang.
Riddle takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Riddle fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jiang lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jiang has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Riddle.
Riddle throws a body punch but Jiang moves out of range.
Jiang blocks a jab.
A little jabbing left from Jiang on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Riddle jabs Jiang right on the nose. Jiang blinks but takes it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Heng Jiang will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Heng Jiang's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Riddle lands a leg kick that knocks Jiang off balance momentarily.
Riddle ducks under a wild hook from Jiang.
Riddle misses with a looping left.
Riddle takes a swing at Jiang's ribcage but misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Riddle.
Riddle connects with a solid leg kick.
Jiang throws a low kick but Riddle avoids it.
Riddle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jiang was well out of range. Poor timing from Riddle.
Riddle connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jiang sizes up Riddle with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jiang waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Riddle.
Riddle tried to score with a low kick but Jiang checks it.
It seemed like Jiang was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Jiang fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Riddle looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Riddle drops his hands momentarily and Jiang takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Riddle.
Jiang's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Jiang, right into the meat.
Heng Jiang seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jiang scores with a punch to the head.
Riddle gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jiang.
Riddle throws a hook but Jiang blocks it.
Riddle blocks a head kick by Jiang.
Jiang scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Jiang throws a head kick that misses.
Riddle staying out of range there.
Riddle keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jiang.
Jiang goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riddle moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jiang misses with a two punch combination.
Riddle takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle misses with a double jab.
Jiang throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jiang shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Jiang has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riddle misses with a leg kick.
Jiang throws a head kick but Riddle moves out of range.
Riddle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jiang.
Jiang throws a push kick but Riddle slaps the foot to one side.

Jiang has taken the fight to the clinch.
Riddle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jiang has him pressed against the cage.
Jiang just leaning against Riddle, taking a breather.
Riddle misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jiang's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Jiang blocks a body shot from Riddle.
Jiang tries a body shot but Riddle blocks it.
Riddle tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jiang blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jiang trying to control the position but instead, Riddle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jiang into the cage.
Riddle working aggressively here.
Jiang is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jiang breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Jiang gets a clinch.
Riddle blocking some punches.
Riddle looking to stall.
Jiang misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Justin Riddle has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Riddle throws a head punch that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Riddle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Riddle.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Jiang in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Jiang missing with knees to the body.
Riddle pushes Jiang back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Riddle has a couple of punches blocked by Jiang.

Riddle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riddle gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riddle lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jiang backwards.
Jiang is trying to break free.
Riddle scores with a shoulder strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riddle scores with a shoulder strike.
Riddle throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Riddle is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jiang is defending well for now.
Jiang avoiding damage as Riddle throws knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Riddle.
Jiang avoiding damage.

Jiang's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riddle just misses with a punch to the body.
Jiang throws a hook but Riddle avoids it easily.
Jiang throws a nice inside leg kick.
Riddle ducks under a wild hook from Jiang.
It looked like Riddle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Heng Jiang will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Heng Jiang's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jiang blocks a low kick nicely.
Riddle throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick from Jiang lands but Riddle takes it in his stride.
Riddle is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jiang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jab from Riddle.
Riddle throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jiang scores with a kick to the midsection.
Jiang tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Riddle manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jiang falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Riddle to counter with a crisp jab.
Jiang tries to clinch but Riddle moves away
and Riddle makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Jiang misses with a body shot.
A jab lands there for Riddle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jiang pulls out of a head kick attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Jiang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riddle lands with an uppercut that bounces Jiang off the cage and back into range.
Jiang moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Jiang is still on wobbly legs! Can Riddle finish him?
Riddle swats away the attempt to clinch by Jiang.
Riddle pounces like a tiger and cracks Jiang with a vicious hook! Jiang is down but not out! Riddle follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Justin Riddle!
In his post fight interview, Justin Riddle started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.