PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Band Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Band Jr
vs
Cunningham

159 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joey Band Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riley Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Band Jr misses with a takedown attempt
and Cunningham connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cunningham slaps away a takedown attempt from Band Jr, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cunningham lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Cunningham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Band Jr.
Band Jr shoots in for a takedown but Cunningham shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Band Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cunningham feints a jab promting Band Jr to slip. Cunningham then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Band Jr slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Band Jr closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cunningham circles away.
Cunningham tries to clinch but Band Jr is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cunningham instigates a clinch.

Cunningham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Cunningham rushes Band Jr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Cunningham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Cunningham closes the distance but Band Jr moves to the side

so Band Jr counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Cunningham pulls Band Jr in to control the position.

Cunningham has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Band Jr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cunningham has his feet on Band Jr's thighs here. He's pushed Band Jr off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Band Jr screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Riley Cunningham!
A victorious Riley Cunningham thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.