PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Serhey Rishkinov (ranked 831 p4p, 570 weight class) and Jim Jones Jr (ranked 117 p4p, 80 weight class). Jones Jr has chosen The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Ballad of Jim Jones as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rishkinov
vs
Jones Jr

180 cm
32
169
27 - 10 - 0

180 cm
34
174
24 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 27 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Serhey Rishkinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Jones Jr!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rishkinov throws a good cross that connects.
Crunch! Rishkinov slams his shin into Jones Jr's torso.
Jones Jr takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rishkinov lands with a right hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Rishkinov.
Rishkinov lands with a nice body kick.
Jones Jr keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Jones Jr appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rishkinov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jones Jr. Jones Jr circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Jones Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Jones Jr looks to throw the jab but Rishkinov is out of range.
Rishkinov misses with a kick to the body.
Rishkinov misses with a hook
and Jones Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Rishkinov finds it's way through Jones Jr's defenses.

Rishkinov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rishkinov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jones Jr is trying to control Rishkinov's posture but Rishkinov avoids it.
Jones Jr is trying to improve his position.
Rishkinov working the head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rishkinov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Jones Jr is avoiding damage well.
Rishkinov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Jones Jr tries to improve position but can't.
Rishkinov lands an elbow.
Rishkinov throws an elbow but Jones Jr slips to the side and avoids it well.
Jones Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jones Jr can't do much from the bottom here.

Rishkinov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rishkinov is working Jones Jr over with some ground and pound from side control.
Jones Jr is trying to improve his position.
Jones Jr is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones Jr can't do much from the bottom here.
Jones Jr is looking for a sweep.
Rishkinov cracks Jones Jr with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Rishkinov scoring with punches and elbows.
Rishkinov trying to control the action but Jones Jr is working from the bottom.
Rishkinov working the ground and pound.
Jones Jr is trying to get back to half guard.

Rishkinov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rishkinov lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Jones Jr is looking for a sweep.
Rishkinov is working Jones Jr over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rishkinov is looking to take a break and control but Jones Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rishkinov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rishkinov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rishkinov cracks Jones Jr with a big elbow.
Jones Jr is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rishkinov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Jones Jr takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Jones Jr tries to bench press Rishkinov off him but Rishkinov keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov working the ground and pound.

Rishkinov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jones Jr, who protects the arm well.
Rishkinov cracks Jones Jr with a big elbow.
Rishkinov scoring with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jones Jr is not content to let Rishkinov control the position.
Rishkinov working the ground and pound from side control.

Rishkinov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rishkinov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Serhey Rishkinov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rishkinov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Jones Jr did well to prevent Rishkinov getting side control.
Jones Jr makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jones Jr.

Jones Jr has his foot on Rishkinov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rishkinov works his way back into a safe position though.
Rishkinov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jones Jr can do to turn this around?
Rishkinov trying to control but Jones Jr is working from the bottom.
Rishkinov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jones Jr's head.
Serhey Rishkinov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jones Jr is trying to control the position but Rishkinov postures up.
Jones Jr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rishkinov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rishkinov trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jones Jr looking for a guillotine here but Rishkinov defends easily.
Rishkinov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Jones Jr has his foot on Rishkinov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rishkinov works his way back into a safe position though.
Rishkinov works over Jones Jr with some ground and pound from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jones Jr looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rishkinov landing some decent shots from guard.
Rishkinov with a nice head shot there.

Jones Jr is looking for a triangle but Rishkinov pushes his legs off easily.
Rishkinov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rishkinov pushes down on Jones Jr's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov working Jones Jr over with strikes.
Jones Jr is staying active underneath Rishkinov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Jones Jr is defending against the submission attempts here by Rishkinov.
Rishkinov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rishkinov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rishkinov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rishkinov is keen to just control but Jones Jr is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov is really struggling to control Jones Jr but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Jones Jr is trying to maintain the position but Rishkinov is very close to passing his half guard.
Jones Jr slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jones Jr wants to sweep but no luck.

Jones Jr is looking for a triangle but Rishkinov pushes his legs off easily.
Rishkinov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jones Jr working a defensive guard here.
Rishkinov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rishkinov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rishkinov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rishkinov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rishkinov throwing strikes but missing.

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

Jones Jr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rishkinov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jones Jr looking to control.
Jones Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Serhey Rishkinov dominated that second round.
That's time! Rishkinov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rishkinov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jones Jr tries to roll over but Rishkinov keeps him under control.
Rishkinov lands with a punch from half guard.
Rishkinov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rishkinov is trying to control the action in half guard but Jones Jr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jones Jr moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Jones Jr looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rishkinov trying to control but Jones Jr is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rishkinov sitting in guard here, content to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jones Jr is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones Jr forces his way into half guard.
Rishkinov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rishkinov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Jones Jr wants to control from the top but Rishkinov keeps moving.

Rishkinov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rishkinov wants to sweep but no luck.
Jones Jr advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov trying to control here.
Jones Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rishkinov keeps working.
Rishkinov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rishkinov taking some punishment here, with Jones Jr in his half guard.
Rishkinov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jones Jr's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jones Jr's back!
Jones Jr tries to roll but Rishkinov sticks to his back.
Jones Jr tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rishkinov looking to finish Jones Jr with some ground and pound. This is bad for Jones Jr!
Jones Jr tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Serhey Rishkinov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rishkinov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Jones Jr wants to control but Rishkinov is having none of it.
Rishkinov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Jones Jr tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jones Jr is squirming around, avoiding Rishkinov's attempts to control the action.
Jones Jr bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Jim Jones Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rishkinov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rishkinov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones Jr scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jones Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones Jr won't allow Rishkinov to sweep him here.

Jones Jr thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones Jr missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rishkinov seems keen to control Jones Jr's posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Serhey Rishkinov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rishkinov 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Serhey Rishkinov!
Serhey Rishkinov decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.