PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malcom Riddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Eremeev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Riddle
vs
Eremeev

192 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Malcom Riddle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Eremeev!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Eremeev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Eremeev is trying to break free.
Eremeev is pressed up against the cage. Riddle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Eremeev down to the mat. Eremeev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Eremeev shoots in and bounces Riddle off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Eremeev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Riddle controls Eremeev momentarily but Eremeev frees himself.

Riddle has his foot on Eremeev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Eremeev works his way back into a safe position though.
Eremeev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Eremeev stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Riddle circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eremeev closes the distance looking to clinch

and Riddle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Riddle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Eremeev's efforts to push away.
Eremeev lands a body punch.
Riddle tries to pull guard but Eremeev holds him up against the cage and eventually Riddle drops back down to his feet.
Riddle wants to take the fight to the mat but Eremeev manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malcom Riddle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riddle tries to pull guard but Eremeev forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Eremeev has Riddle pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Eremeev pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Riddle tumbling to the mat - Eremeev dives into Riddle's guard.
Eremeev wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.
Eremeev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eremeev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Eremeev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ruslan Eremeev was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Eremeev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Riddle is not content to let Eremeev control the position.
Riddle won't allow Eremeev to pass to mount.
Riddle trying to control from the bottom.
Riddle really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle is controlling Eremeev's trapped leg to prevent Eremeev from advancing to side control.
Still in half guard, Eremeev seems content to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Eremeev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Eremeev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Riddle looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Eremeev decides to stand up, so the ref orders Riddle to his feet.
Riddle fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Eremeev.

Eremeev drives through with a takedown into Riddle's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Riddle controls Eremeev momentarily but Eremeev frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Riddle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eremeev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Riddle is breathing heavily.

Eremeev gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Eremeev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Riddle is trying to get back to full guard.
Riddle wants to control but Eremeev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Still in half guard, Eremeev seems content to control.
Riddle is looking to escape.
Eremeev tries to pass to full mount but Riddle defends it.

Eremeev stands up out of the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Eremeev dominated that round.
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.

A punch combination from Eremeev misses.

Eremeev shoots in and gets a takedown into Riddle's guard.
Eremeev trying to control the position from guard on top but Riddle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Eremeev wants to stand and escape but instead Riddle has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Eremeev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riddle is one step ahead there.
Eremeev trying to control the position.
Riddle wants to stand but Eremeev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Eremeev trying to keep a closed guard but Riddle is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eremeev keeping moving, preventing Riddle from controlling successfully.
Riddle has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Eremeev is proving hard to escape from.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ruslan Eremeev was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Some wild striking there from Eremeev.

Eremeev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Riddle's half guard.
Eremeev is keen to just control but Riddle is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eremeev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Eremeev is breathing heavily.
Riddle is looking to improve his position.
Eremeev controlling the pace.

Eremeev decides to return to a standing position.
Riddle misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eremeev lands with an uppercut that bounces Riddle off the cage and back into range.

Eremeev looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Riddle holds on and takes a little breather.
Riddle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Eremeev is controlling him.
Riddle working a defensive guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Malcom Riddle wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Eremeev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eremeev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Riddle wants to control but Eremeev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Eremeev trying to pass the guard but Riddle defending well.

Eremeev is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Riddle manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Eremeev keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Eremeev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Riddle swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Eremeev moves into the clinch.

Riddle jumps into guard, dragging Eremeev to the mat.
Riddle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Eremeev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riddle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Eremeev has managed to get both his arms back between Riddle's legs - danger averted.
Eremeev stands and throws Riddle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
You can see the frustration on Riddle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Riddle looking for a sweep but Eremeev has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Ruslan Eremeev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riddle tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle wants to hold on but Eremeev pushes him away.
Eremeev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Eremeev content just to control the position here.
Eremeev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Riddle is looking to escape.
Eremeev manages to capitalize on a mistake by Riddle to take his back!

Eremeev is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Riddle knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Riddle for a finish.
Riddle prevents Eremeev from getting a body triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle trying to control the hands but Eremeev won't let him.
Eremeev is looking to control Riddle but Riddle is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Riddle wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Eremeev tries to control but Riddle wriggling away.

Eremeev is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Riddle tries to clinch up but Eremeev circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eremeev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Riddle manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Eremeev is looking to pass into half guard but Riddle pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Riddle is in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eremeev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riddle manages to get himself to full guard.

Riddle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Eremeev stops Riddle from standing up.
Eremeev preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eremeev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Eremeev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Eremeev looking to pass the guard.
Riddle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Eremeev misses with a head kick.
Ruslan Eremeev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Eremeev fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riddle swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Eremeev counters with a series of strikes. Riddle will be more careful next time no doubt.
Malcom Riddle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruslan Eremeev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eremeev will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Eremeev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Eremeev 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Eremeev!