PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malcom Riddle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malcom Riddle has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Riddle
vs
Knight

192 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

174 cm
24
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 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, Jerome Knight!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riddle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Knight throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Riddle tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Knight is in Riddle's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Riddle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Riddle wants to get back to his feet.
Knight trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riddle is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Knight is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle not doing much here.
Knight controlling the position well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Riddle tries to clinch up.

Riddle drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight pulls Riddle in close to his closed guard and prevents Riddle from doing any damage or advancing position.
Riddle wants to stand and escape but instead Knight has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Riddle being controlled here, momentarily.
Riddle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knight accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Knight trying to control but Riddle is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riddle tries to sprawl but Knight drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Riddle is looking to control Knight's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Riddle avoid being mounted?
Knight stops Riddle from getting back to his feet.
Knight passes to full mount!
Riddle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knight sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Knight working for a submission but Riddle is keeping him at bay.
Knight working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Riddle slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Riddle is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Riddle is staying active underneath Knight, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riddle trying to control but Knight postures up.
Knight stops Riddle from getting back to his feet.
Riddle is breathing heavily.
Riddle keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knight trying to control the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Riddle tries to clinch but Knight moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Knight dominated that round.
That's time! Riddle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Riddle fails in his attempt to clinch.

Knight scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Knight not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Riddle looks like he's trying to stand up.
Riddle is staying active underneath Knight, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Knight not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Knight is keen to just control but Riddle is a slippery customer.
Riddle is looking to escape.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Knight trying to mount his opponent but Riddle defends it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Knight is thwarting Riddle's attempts to control the position.
Riddle tries to get to full guard but Knight has control of the leg.
Knight trying to control the action but Riddle is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Knight shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Riddle looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Riddle keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight is looking to advance position but Riddle won't allow it.
Riddle manages to get to full guard.
Knight looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.
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.
Riddle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Riddle keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Knight is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jerome Knight hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Knight shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Riddle manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riddle keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.
Riddle looking to control.
Riddle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Knight wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.

Knight drops back, looking for a kneebar! Riddle looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Riddle looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Riddle!
Knight can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riddle decides to stand back up.
Riddle misses with a double jab.

Riddle moves into the clinch successfully.

Knight escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Knight drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riddle is looking to stand up but Knight isn't so interested in that idea.
Knight wants to control from the top but Riddle keeps moving.

Knight gets to his feet - Riddle follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Knight 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! This is the final round!

Knight throws a head kick that half lands.
Riddle tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Knight counters by moving into the clinch.
Knight stops a takedown attempt from Riddle.

Knight pulls guard effortlessly.
Knight tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Knight wriggles free and stands up.
Riddle looks to land a combination but Knight avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knight gets a double leg takedown into Riddle's guard.
Knight landing with the ground and pound.
Knight looking to sit in guard and control but Riddle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Riddle is looking to stand up but Knight won't let him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddle postures up.
Riddle working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Knight has Riddle pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Riddle trying to stand up but can't free himself from Knight's guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jerome Knight wasn't active enough on the ground.
Riddle falls off balance throwing a combination
and Knight counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riddle is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knight looking to score a takedown here. Riddle is defending well but Knight drives through and ends up in Riddle's guard.
Riddle is pulling down on Knight's head. It's preventing any offense from Knight, at least for the moment.
Knight trying to control but Riddle is working from the bottom.
Riddle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knight throwing strikes from guard but Riddle blocks nicely.
Riddle wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knight accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riddle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knight is one step ahead there.
Knight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Riddle keeping moving, preventing Knight from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Knight shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight throws a big right hand that misses.
Riddle can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Knight controls the pace.
Riddle looking for a sweep. Not yet Riddle, not yet.
Jerome Knight is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riddle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knight slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Malcom Riddle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knight's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Knight comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Knight 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Knight!