PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Arnoldo Riddle (ranked 23022 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abbas Yamadaev (ranked 5524 p4p, 0 weight class). Arnoldo Riddle has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Riddle
vs
Yamadaev

205 cm
27
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

174 cm
20
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arnoldo Riddle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abbas Yamadaev!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamadaev lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Riddle circles away quickly and effectively.
Riddle is looking to counter punch.
Riddle has a takedown stuffed.
Yamadaev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A bone on bone clash there as Riddle blocks the leg kick.
Riddle wants to clinch up but Yamadaev keeps it at a distance.

Yamadaev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Riddle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamadaev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Yamadaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Riddle to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Yamadaev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Yamadaev throws a right and a left that Riddle avoids nicely.
Riddle appears to be looking for a big counter.

Yamadaev moves into the clinch.
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.

Yamadaev wants the takedown. Riddle is fighting it off but Yamadaev persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Riddle's guard against the cage.
Yamadaev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Yamadaev won't allow Riddle to sweep him here.

Yamadaev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riddle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yamadaev has managed to get both his arms back between Riddle's legs - danger averted.

Riddle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamadaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Riddle's head.
Yamadaev wants to stand and escape but instead Riddle has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Yamadaev can do anything to dispel that myth.

Yamadaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Riddle defends well.
Riddle is looking to stand up but Yamadaev won't let him.

Riddle stands up and waves to Yamadaev to follow him.
Yamadaev throws a right and a left that Riddle avoids nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Yamadaev misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamadaev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Yamadaev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Riddle to the mat! Riddle manages to get full guard.
Yamadaev is standing up over Riddle. Riddle looks to escape but Yamadaev dives into side control.

Yamadaev controlling from side mount.

Riddle explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Riddle shoots in for a double leg but Yamadaev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddle misses with a takedown attempt - Yamadaev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnoldo Riddle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Yamadaev closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Yamadaev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Riddle pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Yamadaev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Riddle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abbas Yamadaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamadaev stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yamadaev wants it to stay on the feet.
Riddle tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Yamadaev defends well and Riddle ends up having to push Yamadaev into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Yamadaev shoots in and gets a takedown into Riddle's guard.

Riddle manages to escape and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abbas Yamadaev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Yamadaev clinches.
Yamadaev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Yamadaev tries to score a body lock takedown but Riddle shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Riddle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Yamadaev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Riddle closes the distance and clinches up with Yamadaev, looking for a takedown. Riddle pushes Yamadaev against the cage but Yamadaev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Yamadaev does no damage.
Riddle seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamadaev misses with a head kick.

Riddle tries to sprawl but Yamadaev drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Riddle pushes Yamadaev off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamadaev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Riddle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnoldo Riddle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riddle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Yamadaev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Riddle manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Yamadaev keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Yamadaev is breathing heavily.
Riddle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riddle is looking to take this one to the mat.
Riddle misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yamadaev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Riddle wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Yamadaev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Riddle to keep the fight standing.
Yamadaev just leaning against Riddle, taking a breather.
Riddle avoiding damage as Yamadaev throws knees to the body.
Yamadaev fails to pull guard.
Yamadaev is trying to break the clinch but Riddle is controlling him.
Riddle is trying to pull guard but Yamadaev turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riddle pulls guard effortlessly.
Yamadaev forces his way into half guard.
Riddle misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Riddle misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Yamadaev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Riddle tries to kick Yamadaev off but Yamadaev keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Yamadaev looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riddle wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Riddle has a takedown stuffed.

Yamadaev has Riddle up against the cage in a clinch.
Yamadaev tries to break the clinch but Riddle is controlling the position.
Yamadaev wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Arnoldo Riddle will probably get the nod.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Yamadaev clinches up with Riddle and pushes him back against the cage.
Yamadaev swings wildly with an uppercut but Riddle uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riddle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yamadaev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Yamadaev is looking to break free of the clinch but Riddle has double underhooks.

Riddle pulls Yamadaev into guard.
Yamadaev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Riddle's guard.
Arnoldo Riddle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yamadaev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamadaev wants to stand but Riddle has his arm trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddle tries to buck Yamadaev off but Yamadaev is having none of it.
Riddle is looking to get back to his feet here but Yamadaev is keeping cool and he's managed to take Riddle's back.

Riddle preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Yamadaev.

Riddle defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Yamadaev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Yamadaev biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riddle is trying to shake Yamadaev off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Yamadaev won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Yamadaev with a poor takedown
and Riddle counters with a head kick. That will keep Yamadaev thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Yamadaev closes the distance and clinches.
Yamadaev slowing the pace effectively.
Riddle is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Yamadaev to keep the fight standing.

Riddle decides to pull guard.
Yamadaev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamadaev works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddle is trying to stand.
Yamadaev stalling.
Riddle is looking for a sweep. Yamadaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riddle is trying to stand up here but Yamadaev is controlling him well.

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.
Yamadaev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Riddle!

Yamadaev working for a guillotine from mount but Riddle is in no mood to give up.
Yamadaev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Yamadaev content just to control the position here.
Yamadaev blocks Riddle's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Yamadaev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riddle is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abbas Yamadaev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yamadaev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abbas Yamadaev!