PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan O Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Caldwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shane Caldwin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

O Riley
vs
Caldwin

180 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
26
221 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan O Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shane Caldwin!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caldwin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

O Riley feints and as Caldwin raises his hands in defense, O Riley changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

O Riley decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Caldwin, up you get!

Caldwin clinches.
Caldwin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Ryan O Riley has been cut.
O Riley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Caldwin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Caldwin with a knee to the head.
Caldwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Caldwin misses with a knee strike.
O Riley is trying to break free.
O Riley takes a knee right on the jaw!

O Riley breaks the clinch.
O Riley throws a hook but Caldwin avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Caldwin. O Riley does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shane Caldwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Caldwin.
O Riley slaps away a takedown attempt from Caldwin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Caldwin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and O Riley is able to avoid easily.

O Riley moves into the clinch.
Caldwin misses with a knee to the head.
Caldwin trying to land knees to the body.
O Riley avoiding damage as Caldwin throws knees to the body.
Caldwin looks gassed!
Caldwin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
O Riley fails to pull guard.
Caldwin trying to stall but O Riley improves his position.
O Riley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
O Riley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Riley is trying to force a seperation but Caldwin has the dominant position.
Caldwin connects with a knee to the head.
O Riley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Caldwin tries to stall but O Riley uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
O Riley misses with an elbow over the top.

O Riley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Caldwin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Caldwin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from O Riley.
Caldwin wants to clinch up but O Riley keeps it at a distance.

Caldwin gets in close and instigates a clinch.

O Riley manages to break the clinch.
Caldwin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Caldwin moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
O Riley tries to circle away but Caldwin has him pinned against the cage.
O Riley tries to break free but Caldwin pushes him back against the cage.

O Riley manages to pull guard.
Caldwin won't allow O Riley to sweep him here.

O Riley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

O Riley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

O Riley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Caldwin stands up and waves to O Riley to follow him.
Caldwin doesn't manage to clinch there - O Riley circles away.
A head kick misses from Caldwin.
Danga de danga de dang - Caldwin scores with a four punch combination!
Caldwin tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Riley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Caldwin is trying hard to land a takedown here. O Riley sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ryan O Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shane Caldwin.
O Riley tries to clinch
and Caldwin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Caldwin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
O Riley throws an overhand right that lands on Caldwin's shoulder, as Caldwin tries to avoid the shot.

Caldwin forces O Riley back against the cage and clinches.
Caldwin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
O Riley tries to circle away but Caldwin has him pinned against the cage.
O Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Caldwin.
Caldwin comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
O Riley can't break the clinch.
O Riley blocks an elbow strike.
O Riley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
O Riley tries to break free but Caldwin pushes him back against the cage.

O Riley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Caldwin wants to clinch up but O Riley keeps it at a distance.
Caldwin doesn't manage to clinch there - O Riley circles away.
Caldwin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Caldwin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from O Riley.
Caldwin tries to clinch but O Riley moves away
and O Riley counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Caldwin closes the distance but O Riley moves to the side
enabling O Riley to counter with a crisp jab.
Caldwin lands a high kick!

O Riley is rocked!

Ryan O Riley's cut is getting worse.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Caldwin clinches.
Oh O Riley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Caldwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to O Riley's face.
Caldwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to O Riley's face.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Caldwin looking to throw knees to the head but O Riley is blocking nicely.
Caldwin with a knee to the head.
Caldwin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Caldwin lands an elbow inside that O Riley shrugs off.
Caldwin misses with a knee strike.
Caldwin is stalling here.
Caldwin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Caldwin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Caldwin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but O Riley has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Caldwin misses with a knee to the head.
O Riley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
O Riley is trying to push Caldwin away but Caldwin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Caldwin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for O Riley.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Caldwin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Caldwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Caldwin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Caldwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
O Riley wants to break free but Caldwin has control.
A short left from Caldwin.
O Riley tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Caldwin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan O Riley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

O Riley is trying hard to land a takedown here. Caldwin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Caldwin wants to clinch.
O Riley seems to have got his legs back now.
Caldwin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Caldwin throws a head kick that misses.
Caldwin tries to close the distance and clinch up but O Riley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Caldwin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caldwin shoots in but O Riley avoids the takedown attempt easily.
O Riley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Caldwin takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

O Riley clinches with his opponent.
Caldwin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Caldwin is breathing heavily.

O Riley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Caldwin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Caldwin misses with a wild body shot.
Caldwin throws a hook but O Riley avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
O Riley lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caldwin wants to clinch but O Riley slips to the side
and O Riley counters with a stiff right hand.

O Riley bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Caldwin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

O Riley stands up and we're back to a striking position.
O Riley tries to clinch there but Caldwin circles away.

O Riley has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Caldwin.

O Riley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Caldwin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
O Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Riley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

O Riley fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Caldwin sprawls well initially but O Riley persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
O Riley seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Caldwin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
O Riley takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Riley wants to stand but Caldwin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Caldwin manages to escape and get back to his feet!
O Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Caldwin tries a head kick but it misses.
O Riley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Caldwin.
O Riley lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Caldwin is looking to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

O Riley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Caldwin instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A knee to the head by Caldwin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Riley is trying to push Caldwin away but Caldwin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on O Riley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
O Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Caldwin has O Riley pressed against the cage, preventing O Riley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
O Riley is trying to break free.
Caldwin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has O Riley in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Caldwin lands a right hand that snaps the head of O Riley backwards.
O Riley has had enough of the clinch but Caldwin keeps him there for the moment.
Caldwin crunches a lovely knee into O Riley's ribcage.
Caldwin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Caldwin scores a nice knee to the body.
Caldwin lands a nice knee to the body.
O Riley wants to break free but Caldwin has control.
Caldwin connects with a knee to the head.
Caldwin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
O Riley misses with a knee strike.
Caldwin lands an elbow that stopped O Riley in his tracks for a moment.
O Riley is trying to break the clinch but Caldwin is controlling him.
Caldwin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A head punch on the inside from O Riley fails to land.
Caldwin lands a nice knee to the body.
Caldwin keeps control of O Riley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Caldwin crunches a lovely knee into O Riley's ribcage.
O Riley is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
O Riley fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Caldwin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Caldwin taking a breather.
Nice elbow from Caldwin.
O Riley takes a knee right on the jaw!
O Riley is trying to break free.
Caldwin tries a knee to the head but O Riley blocks it.
Caldwin landing knees to the body.
Caldwin lands a knee to the head.
Caldwin with a knee to the head.
Caldwin prevents O Riley from breaking the clinch.
O Riley tries to break the clinch but Caldwin is controlling the position.

O Riley breaks the clinch.
Caldwin doesn't manage to clinch there - O Riley circles away.
Caldwin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. O Riley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
O Riley is trying to break the clinch but Caldwin is controlling him.
Caldwin throws a knee to the head but misses.
O Riley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Caldwin lands an elbow just above O Riley 's eye.
O Riley tries to pull guard but Caldwin won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan O Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Riley tries to break free but Caldwin pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan O Riley dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryan O Riley's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A left and a right from Caldwin both land. Nice combination.
Caldwin keeps the fight on the outside.
Caldwin is looking to clinch.
O Riley is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
O Riley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Caldwin but Caldwin pushes him off and we're back to square one.

O Riley tries to keep at a distance but Caldwin has taken the fight into the clinch.
O Riley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
O Riley takes a knee right on the jaw!
Caldwin gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Caldwin prevents O Riley from breaking the clinch.
Caldwin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on O Riley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
O Riley is looking to break free of the clinch but Caldwin has double underhooks.
Caldwin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

O Riley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
O Riley lands a jab to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
O Riley jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Caldwin misses with a head kick.
Caldwin walks into a jab.

O Riley closes the distance and clinches.
O Riley has had enough of the clinch but Caldwin keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caldwin gets control of O Riley's arms and successfully pulls guard. Caldwin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

O Riley gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Caldwin is looking to clinch but O Riley is avoiding it.
O Riley uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
O Riley throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Caldwin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice jab there from Caldwin.
Caldwin darts in trying to clinch
and O Riley counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Caldwin wants to clinch but O Riley slips to the side

and O Riley counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
O Riley is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Caldwin is trying to stand.
O Riley throwing shots but Caldwin is blocking nicely.

O Riley decides to stand and escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - O Riley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
O Riley blocks a head kick by Caldwin.
Caldwin takes a swing at O Riley's ribcage but misses.

Caldwin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. O Riley is trying to defend but Caldwin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Caldwin stands up from half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Caldwin lands a nice looking body shot.
Caldwin misses with a double jab.
O Riley scores with a decent looking hook.

O Riley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Caldwin.
Nice body punch from Caldwin - that landed with a thud.

O Riley breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Riley drives through and clinches with Caldwin against the cage.
O Riley is trying to push Caldwin away but Caldwin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Knees to the body from Caldwin.
O Riley is trying to break the clinch but Caldwin is controlling him.
Caldwin is working O Riley over against the cage.
Caldwin connects with a nasty looking knee right to O Riley's face.
O Riley misses with a punch on the inside.
Caldwin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Caldwin creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through O Riley's defenses.
Caldwin misses with a knee to the head.
Caldwin tries a knee to the head but O Riley blocks it.

O Riley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Caldwin tries to clinch there but O Riley circles away.
Caldwin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
O Riley tests Caldwin's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Caldwin tries to keep at a distance but O Riley has taken the fight into the clinch.
Caldwin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
O Riley wants to get back to striking at distance but Caldwin won't allow it.
Caldwin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
O Riley tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Caldwin smiles and moves away.
Caldwin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. O Riley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caldwin explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Caldwin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Caldwin there as he acknowledges the shot.
O Riley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

O Riley gets tackled into the cage by Caldwin. Caldwin maintains the clinch.
O Riley misses with a hook from the clinch.
O Riley takes an elbow to the forehead.
Caldwin landing knees to the body.
O Riley tries to circle away but Caldwin has him pinned against the cage.
O Riley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Caldwin walks away with a smile on his face. O Riley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan O Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caldwin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
O Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.

O Riley closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
O Riley working hard to break the clinch.
O Riley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Caldwin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Caldwin lands a damaging elbow.
Caldwin slows down the pace here.
Caldwin prevents O Riley from breaking the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ryan O Riley.
I think O Riley 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ryan O Riley!