PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between ZaDarius Haden (ranked 396 p4p, 225 weight class) and William Riker (ranked 65 p4p, 33 weight class). Haden comes into the arena with Mot�rhead - Orgasmatron blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Riker's choice of entrance music: In The Summertime. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Haden
vs
Riker

198 cm
30
249
18 - 8 - 1

190 cm
29
265
16 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
PWNAGE™

Conquer
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 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, ZaDarius Haden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Riker!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haden misses with a right hand
and Riker counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Haden swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Riker throws a body shot but no joy.
Haden fails with the takedown.
Haden changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Riker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Haden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haden walks into a straight right hand from Riker.
Riker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haden waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Riker.
Haden scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riker.
Haden throws a body punch but Riker moves out of range.
A jab from Haden misses.
Riker takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Haden rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Riker feints the counter takedown.
Haden pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Haden misses with a jab to the body
and Riker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Haden 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.
Riker digs a good body shot into Haden's ribs.
Haden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Riker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Haden.
Haden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riker moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haden throws a sloppy body shot
and Riker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Haden fails with the takedown
letting Riker counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Haden connects with a jab.
Haden slips a straight right by Riker.
Haden on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Haden darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Riker misses with a right hand
and Riker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Riker throws a shot from downtown. Haden moves away and avoids it.
Haden waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Riker.
Haden walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riker wants to clinch up but Haden keeps it at a distance.
Haden fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riker manages to avoid it.
Good exchange - Riker coming out on top.
Riker throws a hook but Haden blocks it.
Haden misses with a hook
and Riker counters with a straight right hand.
Haden moves out of range as Riker strikes.
Riker fails to land with a series of punches.
Haden misses with a body punch
and Riker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

It looks like ZaDarius Haden has been cut.
Riker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Haden manages to avoid it.
Haden takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Haden misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haden closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Riker's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haden trying to control the position from guard on top but Riker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riker looking to control.
Riker being controlled here, momentarily.
Riker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Haden postures up and lands a big shot to Riker's brow.
Riker pulls Haden in close to prevent any damage.
Haden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but William Riker will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on ZaDarius Haden's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Haden works the jab nicely.
Riker moves away from the strike by Haden.
Haden scores with a jab to the body.
Haden scores with a jab to the body.
Haden shoots in for a takedown but Riker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Riker is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Riker feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Haden keeping moving, preventing Riker from controlling successfully.
Riker throwing strikes from guard but Haden blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riker throws an elbow that misses. Haden uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Riker's guard. Nice move by Haden!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden trying to control the position from guard on top but Riker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Riker has his foot on Haden's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Haden works his way back into a safe position though.
Haden stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haden trying to control the position from guard on top but Riker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Haden's guard.

Riker is stalling in the full guard.
Riker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Haden works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riker manages to get himself to full guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Riker is on top in guard.

Haden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riker manages to get himself to full guard.

Haden lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riker is trying to control the position but Haden postures up.
Haden slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Haden lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haden tries to move into full mount but can't pass Riker's legs.
Riker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Haden trying to control the position but Riker is working away.
Riker isn't going anywhere.
ZaDarius Haden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riker is trying to control Haden's posture but Haden avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Haden looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Riker is avoiding damage well.
Haden laying and praying for a moment but Riker takes advantage and regains half guard.
Haden is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Haden thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riker's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haden seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Haden sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Riker defending well though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

ZaDarius Haden dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on ZaDarius Haden's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Riker scores with a jab. Haden acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Riker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Haden swings widly with a right hand
and Riker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riker takes one to the chin there.
Haden throws a body punch but Riker moves out of range.
Jab from Haden.
Haden misses with an uppercut.
Haden tries for a takedown but Riker circles away easily
and Riker counters with a stiff right hand.

Riker drops Haden with a left and a right! Oh, Haden is hurt - Riker dives into side control looking to finish!

Haden is rocked!
Haden 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haden is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Oh Haden is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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.

Riker seems to be looking for submissions.
Haden seems to have got his legs back now.
Riker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Haden is trying to get back to full guard.
Haden is staying active underneath Riker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Haden keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haden holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Riker is nestled in close to Haden, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Haden won't allow Riker to pass to mount.
Haden is looking for a sweep. Riker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riker throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haden is trying to maintain the position but Riker is very close to passing his half guard.

Riker is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Haden doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Riker.
Riker scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Riker looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Riker thows a huge punch but Haden dodges it nicely.
Haden is looking for a sweep. Riker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riker is trying to control the action in half guard but Haden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Riker controlling the pace.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Riker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haden keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Haden missing with a left hand there. Riker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Haden displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Riker throws out the jab.

Riker moves into the clinch.
Haden lands with a light punch inside.
Haden struggles to land a body shot inside as Riker controls his hands.

Haden breaks from the clinch.
William Riker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Haden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden with a hook.
Haden throws a right hand that misses
and Riker cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Haden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Haden. Riker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Haden misses the shot to the body.
Haden takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Riker takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riker throws a jab when Haden was well out of range.
Haden scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Riker walks into a straight right hand from Haden.

And that's the end of the fight!
William Riker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Riker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Riker!
After winning the bout, William Riker thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.