PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Asmir Zslevski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Riddick (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!

Zslevski
vs
Riddick

181 cm
20
176 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
19
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Asmir Zslevski!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Riddick!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zslevski shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Riddick's guard.
Zslevski trying to control the position from guard on top but Riddick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riddick wants to stand but Zslevski is controlling the position.
Riddick keeping full guard, as Zslevski tries to pass.

Zslevski drops back looking for a leg! Riddick is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Riddick manages to kick Zslevski off! Zslevski jumps back into Riddick's guard.
Riddick can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zslevski controls the pace.

Riddick looking for subs off his back but Zslevski has passed one foot through into half guard.

Riddick looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riddick looking for submissions off his back.
Zslevski trying to mount his opponent but Riddick defends it.
Riddick is trying to stand back up but Zslevski is controlling him
Zslevski uses his free foot to push down on Riddick's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Riddick.
Zslevski takes Riddick's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Riddick is in trouble.

Zslevski is persistently looking for the submission but Riddick is defending it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riddick trying to control the position but Zslevski manages to sink in the hooks.

Riddick is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Riddick defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Riddick tries to escape but Zslevski has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Riddick turns into Zslevski and is now in his guard.
Riddick wanted to stand there but Zslevski had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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

Riddick is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Riddick trying to control the position from guard on top but Zslevski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zslevski is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Riddick is aware though and is defending well.
Zslevski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Zslevski throws his legs up looking for a submission but Riddick uses it to pass to side control.

Riddick is trying to get an arm triangle but Zslevski is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zslevski is looking to reverse the position.
An elbow from Riddick crashes against the mat.
Zslevski is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Riddick working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Riddick tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asmir Zslevski dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Riddick with a lazy takedown attempt

and Zslevski moves into the clinch.
Riddick managing to block the knees to the body from Zslevski.
Zslevski is trying to break the clinch but Riddick has him pressed against the cage.

Zslevski has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Riddick uses from the top position.

Zslevski had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Riddick is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Zslevski Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Riddick's back instead.

Zslevski is persistently looking for the submission but Riddick is defending it well.
Riddick trying to control the hands but Zslevski breaks the grip.
Riddick might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Zslevski kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Zslevski's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Riddick breaks Zslevski's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Riddick must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zslevski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riddick can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zslevski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riddick.

Zslevski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zslevski holds on and takes a little breather.
Riddick wants to get up but he can't break Zslevski's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Riddick looking to sit in guard and control but Zslevski gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zslevski works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riddick makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Riddick fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zslevski circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zslevski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Riddick's guard now.
Riddick keeping moving, preventing Zslevski from controlling successfully.
Zslevski is really struggling to control Riddick but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Riddick trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zslevski wants to pass the guard but Riddick is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddick will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Zslevski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riddick is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riddick not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Riddick fails with the takedown

and Zslevski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Riddick!
Riddick stops Zslevski from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Zslevski looking for a guillotine from mount but Riddick is having none of it.
Riddick can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zslevski has control of Riddick's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Riddick regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Zslevski is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Riddick can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Asmir Zslevski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riddick gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asmir Zslevski dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zslevski pushes Riddick up against the cage in a clinch.
Riddick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zslevski smiles and moves away.
Zslevski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Riddick counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zslevski looking to control.

Riddick content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Zslevski has locked up a guillotine! Zslevski's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Riddick is holding on here and Zslevski must be using up a lot of energy. Riddick has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Zslevski gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Asmir Zslevski!
Asmir Zslevski retains his welterweight title!