PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between William Riker (ranked 438 p4p, 1206 weight class) and Spinning Fire (ranked 71 p4p, 181 weight class). Riker comes to the cage accompanied by In The Summertime. William Riker could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Spinning Fire's chin.

Riker
vs
Fire

190 cm
28
265
13 - 8 - 0

209 cm
30
290
20 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conquer
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

HELLBENT

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Riker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Spinning Fire!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Winston Howard and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Riker swings for the body but Fire moves out of range.
Fire changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Fire slips under a jab from Riker.
Fire drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Riker defends it well.
Riker lands a lovely overhand right.
Riker scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riker misses with a wild body shot.
Riker throws a lazy right hand but Fire sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fire drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Riker defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fire manages to avoid it.
Fire with the counter takedown but Riker avoids it easily.
Fire moves out of range as Riker strikes.
Fire takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Riker misses with a straight right.

Riker clinches up with Fire and pushes him back against the cage.
Riker lands with a light punch inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riker working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fire.
Fire blocks a body shot from Riker.

Fire lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Riker desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Riker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fire is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fire seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fire lands strikes from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fire is working away from the top position though.
Fire is trying to control. Riker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riker tries to get to full guard but Fire has control of the leg.
Riker keeping control of the position.

Riker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fire not doing much here.
Fire landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Riker is looking to control Fire's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Riker avoid being mounted?

Riker is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fire pulls his head out easily.
Riker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fire's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fire's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riker avoiding Fire 's attempts to control his hands.
Riker missing with punches from the back.
Fire rolls, trying to escape but Riker keeps control of the position.
Riker scores with punches from the back.
Riker throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Fire prevents Riker from getting a body triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riker cracks Fire with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Fire from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Fire manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Fire.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William Riker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Riker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And Fire tries to counter it with a takedown but Riker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Riker lands with a good body shot.
Riker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Riker throws a hook but Fire blocks it.
Fire is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fire moves out of range as Riker strikes.
Riker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Fire drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Riker defends it well.
Fire gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Riker.
Riker swings widly with a right hand

and Fire counters with a nice double leg into side control. Riker won't be happy with that.
Fire landing a few strikes.
Fire moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Riker avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Fire.
Spinning Fire has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fire throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riker dodges the ground and pound from Fire.
Riker can't do much from the bottom here.
Fire working the body and head with strikes.
Fire grinds an elbow into Riker's temple.
Fire cracks Riker with a big elbow.
Fire working the body and head with strikes.
Riker manages to work his way to half guard, despite Fire's best efforts.
Fire working the head and body with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riker wants to control but Fire is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Riker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fire trying to mount his opponent but Riker defends it.
Fire wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riker keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fire winds up and cracks Riker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Riker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Riker tries to roll over but Fire keeps him under control.
Riker controlling the position well.
Fire lands strikes from half guard.
Riker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fire lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fire wants to control from the top but Riker keeps moving.

Riker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fire's guard.

Riker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riker stands and throws Fire's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Riker wants to control but Fire is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riker tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that William Riker will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riker throws an off balance right hand

and Fire counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Riker!
Fire throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Riker struggling a bit here.
Riker 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.
Fire is looking to take a break and control but Riker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Riker is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Fire off and has taken his back!
Riker looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Riker wants to control but Fire manages to buck him off and is now in Riker's guard! Nice work there by Fire!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riker trying to keep a closed guard but Fire is proving a slippery customer.
Riker wants to sweep here but Fire controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riker seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Fire controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Riker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fire defends it easily.
Fire with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Riker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fire.

Riker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fire defends it easily.
Fire looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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.
Fire working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fire content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fire scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fire looking to sit in guard and control but Riker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Riker throws a big right hand that misses.
Riker connects with a couple of short punches.
Fire seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fire trying to keep a closed guard but Riker is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riker landing some decent shots from guard.
Riker trying to control the position from guard on top but Fire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riker with a flurry of punches that miss.
William Riker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riker throwing strikes but missing.
Riker looking to sit in guard and control but Fire gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fire content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Riker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fire gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fire postures up.
Spinning Fire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Riker has momentary wrist control but Fire slips an elbow through the middle.
Fire throwing strikes from guard but Riker blocks nicely.
Riker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Riker is trying to control the position but Fire postures up.
Fire throwing strikes but missing.
Riker pulls Fire in close to his closed guard and prevents Fire from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Spinning Fire.
I think Riker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... William Riker!
An out of breath William Riker thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Spinning Fire spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll back stronger'.