PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Langhi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Riverboat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riverboat has chosen Mama said knock you out (Dylan, Merchant, Cool J) as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Langhi
vs
Riverboat

200 cm
27
275 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
24
230 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Langhi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricky Riverboat!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Langhi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Ricky Riverboat has been cut.

Langhi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Riverboat manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Riverboat working a defensive guard here.
Langhi wants to control from the top but Riverboat keeps moving.
Langhi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Langhi won't allow Riverboat to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Langhi controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Langhi.
Riverboat fails with the takedown

and Langhi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Riverboat's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langhi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Langhi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Langhi trying to control but Riverboat is working from the bottom.
Riverboat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Langhi manages to get himself to full guard.
Langhi pulls Riverboat in close to his closed guard and prevents Riverboat from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Michael Langhi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A nice combination there by Riverboat.
Langhi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Langhi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riverboat falls off balance throwing a combination

and Langhi counters with a shoot takedown. Riverboat fights it but they end up in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Langhi controlling from the top position.
Riverboat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Langhi is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Riverboat connects with an inside leg kick.

Langhi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Langhi has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Langhi gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Langhi throws a one two combo.
Langhi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riverboat circles away.

Langhi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Langhi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Riverboat looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Riverboat looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Riverboat!
Langhi tries to buck Riverboat off but Riverboat is having none of it.

Riverboat swings around for an armbar but Langhi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Riverboat's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Langhi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Riverboat has his foot on Langhi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Langhi works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Langhi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Riverboat's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Riverboat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Langhi.
Riverboat uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Langhi.

Langhi drives through with a takedown into guard.
Langhi trying to control but Riverboat is working from the bottom.
Riverboat is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Riverboat can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Langhi controls the pace.

Langhi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Langhi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Langhi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
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.

Riverboat escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Langhi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Langhi trying to control the position from guard on top but Riverboat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Michael Langhi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Langhi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riverboat.
Riverboat throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Langhi.
Riverboat misses the shot to the body.

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.

Langhi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Langhi lands in his opponent's guard.
Langhi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Langhi drops back looking for a leg! Riverboat is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Riverboat manages to kick Langhi off! Langhi jumps back into Riverboat's guard.

Langhi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Riverboat is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riverboat keeping moving, preventing Langhi from controlling successfully.

Langhi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Riverboat throws a series of strikes that have Langhi backpedaling.

Langhi scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riverboat is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Langhi has taken his back!
Riverboat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Langhi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Langhi looking for the choke but no joy.
Langhi keeps control of the position easily here as Riverboat tries to buck him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Langhi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Riverboat's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Langhi avoids the head kick by Riverboat.

Langhi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Riverboat was covering up waiting for the punch and Langhi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Langhi trying to control the position from guard on top but Riverboat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Langhi drops back looking for a leg! Riverboat is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Riverboat manages to kick Langhi off! Langhi jumps back into Riverboat's guard.
Riverboat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Langhi manages to get himself to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Langhi is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Langhi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Langhi trying to control but Riverboat is working from the bottom.
Michael Langhi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Riverboat is looking for a triangle but Langhi pushes his legs off easily.
Riverboat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Langhi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

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.
Langhi wants to control from the top but Riverboat keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Langhi.
Riverboat moves in looking to clinch but Langhi pushes him off.

Riverboat shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Riverboat trying to control from Langhi's half guard. Langhi has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Langhi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Riverboat!
Langhi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riverboat defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Langhi.
Langhi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Riverboat throwing hammer fists to the chest of Langhi. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Langhi controlling from the full mount.

Langhi has hold of Riverboat's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Riverboat manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Langhi stands up from mount. Strange move.
Michael Langhi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Langhi misses with a straight left.
Riverboat misses with a takedown
and Langhi counters with a right hand to the body.

Riverboat gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ricky Riverboat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Langhi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Langhi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Langhi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Langhi!