PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyler Durden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Riddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durden comes to the cage accompanied by . Tyler Durden has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Durden
vs
Riddell

178 cm
21
179 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
24
178 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tyler Durden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Riddell!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riddell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Durden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Durden doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Riddell counters by moving into the clinch.
Riddell is looking to control Durden's arms but Durden gets an underhook and turns him. Now Riddell has his back to the cage.
Riddell looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Riddell has hold of one of Durden's legs. Durden is fighting the takedown attempt but Riddell gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Riddell trying to control but Durden is working from the bottom.
Riddell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riddell throws a strike but Durden rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Riddell is trying to keep Durden in close.
Durden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Durden won't allow Riddell to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riddell is trying to keep Durden in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden throws a big right hand that misses.
Riddell 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Durden knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riddell on the ground.

Riddell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Durden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Riddell has momentary wrist control but Durden slips an elbow through the middle.

Durden got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riddell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Durden has managed to get both his arms back between Riddell's legs - danger averted.
Durden with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Durden is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Durden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riddell 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.
Riddell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durden manages to get himself to full guard.
Durden looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Durden is trying to keep Riddell in close.
Riddell wants to control from the top but Durden keeps moving.
Riddell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Durden is keeping the position for now.
Durden wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Tyler Durden has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Durden closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddell tries to bench press Durden off him but Durden keeps the position.
Durden landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Durden tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Durden has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Durden tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Riddell gets back to half guard.

Durden is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Riddell manages to get to full guard.
Riddell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durden manages to get himself to full guard.
Riddell tries to free his leg and advance position but Durden is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddell stands and throws Durden's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Riddell is looking to take a break and control but Durden is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Durden can't do much from the bottom here.
Durden parries the strikes from Riddell easily there. Riddell is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Durden to escape.
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 Tyler Durden will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Durden swats away the attempt to clinch by Riddell.
Durden with a poor takedown
letting Riddell counter with a right hand.
Durden fails with the takedown
and Riddell counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Riddell pushes Durden up against the cage in a clinch.
Riddell stalls.
Riddell landing knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riddell lands a nice elbow.

Riddell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Riddell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Durden swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Durden fails with the takedown

and Riddell counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Durden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durden fails to pull guard.
Riddell lands an elbow that stopped Durden in his tracks for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Riddell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Riddell manages to end up in side control.
Riddell creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden is looking to reverse the position.
Riddell tries to score with some ground and pound. Durden controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ground and pound from Riddell seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Riddell throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Riddell trying to control the action but Durden is working from the bottom.

Riddell thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Durden is not content to let Riddell control the position.
Riddell throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riddell wants to control but Durden is keeping him busy.
Riddell cracks Durden with a big right hand but Durden just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Durden is looking to reverse the position.
Riddell working the ground and pound.
Durden defending against the ground and pound.
Riddell working the body and head with strikes.
Riddell throws an elbow but Durden slips to the side and avoids it well.
Riddell trying to control the position but Durden is working away.
Riddell is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddell throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Riddell throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Durden tries to buck Riddell off but Riddell is having none of it.
Riddell misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Durden is trying to control Riddell's posture but Riddell avoids it.
Riddell has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Riddell looking to control but instead Durden has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Riddell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Durden defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Riddell is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Durden keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Riddell is looking to advance position but Durden won't allow it.
Riddell working over Durden with some ground and pound. Durden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Durden trying to control but Riddell postures up.
Riddell controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Riddell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Durden sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Riddell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Durden has his takedown stuffed
and Riddell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Durden with a poor takedown

and Riddell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Riddell.
Riddell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Riddell breaks from the clinch.
Durden with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyler Durden. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riddell is looking to clinch.
Durden tries for a takedown but Riddell circles away easily
and Riddell counters with a leg kick.
Riddell throws a body punch but Durden moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durden shoots and misses

and Riddell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riddell is trying to maintain a safe position but Durden gets an underhook and turns Riddell into the cage.
Durden fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riddell is stalling here.
Riddell lands an elbow that stopped Durden in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durden fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riddell stalling in the clinch but Durden improves position.
Riddell scores with a shot to the side of Durden's head.
Riddell prevents the takedown attempt.
Riddell digs a right hand into Durden's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Durden's gas tank.
Durden changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Riddell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Riddell jabs Durden to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Riddell tries to clinch up but Durden circles away and keeps his distance.
Durden gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Riddell counters by moving into the clinch.
Durden blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Durden jumps guard and drags Riddell to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Riddell wants to control from the top but Durden keeps moving.
Durden wants to sweep here but Riddell controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riddell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Riddell is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riddell wants to control from the top but Durden keeps moving.
Riddell postures up in Durden's guard and throws a big left but Durden blocks it.
Riddell forces his way into half guard.
Riddell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Durden's head.
Riddell is trying to control the action in half guard but Durden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddell stalling away here and it's allowed Durden to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Durden trying to control the position.
Riddell throwing strikes but missing.
Riddell throws a big right hand that misses.
Riddell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Durden wants to sweep here but Riddell controlling him for the moment.
Durden has his hands on Riddell's head, controlling the position.
Durden trying to keep a closed guard but Riddell is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riddell working some strikes from top position.

Riddell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Riddell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Riddell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Durden 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.
Durden not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Riddell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Riddell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Riddell has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Riddell!