PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Rikishi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vit Sor Kaenong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rikishi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is USA nuked my parents, I want revenge. Hiro Rikishi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rikishi
vs
Sor Kaenong

166 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

172 cm
19
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Rikishi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vit Sor Kaenong!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sor Kaenong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sor Kaenong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rikishi.

Sor Kaenong moves into the clinch successfully.
Rikishi avoiding damage as Sor Kaenong throws knees to the body.
Rikishi misses with an elbow over the top.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rikishi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow.
Rikishi lands with a short head shot on the inside.

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

Rikishi rushes Sor Kaenong and presses him up against the ropes.
Rikishi lands an elbow inside.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rikishi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sor Kaenong's brow.
Rikishi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rikishi lands an elbow just above Sor Kaenong 's eye.
Sor Kaenong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rikishi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rikishi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Sor Kaenong is trying to break free.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rikishi lands a hook that snaps the head of Sor Kaenong backwards.
Rikishi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks it.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Sor Kaenong.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Rikishi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rikishi lands a shoulder strike.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikishi lands an elbow inside that Sor Kaenong shrugs off.
Sor Kaenong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sor Kaenong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Sor Kaenong crunches a lovely knee into Rikishi's ribcage.
Rikishi lands an elbow just above Sor Kaenong 's eye.
Sor Kaenong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sor Kaenong avoids a wild elbow strike from Rikishi.
Rikishi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Sor Kaenong misses with a knee to the head.
Sor Kaenong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rikishi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rikishi keeps control of Sor Kaenong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sor Kaenong takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rikishi lands a damaging elbow.
Rikishi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sor Kaenong can't get the takedown.
Sor Kaenong looks gassed!
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks it.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rikishi misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sor Kaenong takes an elbow to the forehead.
Sor Kaenong avoids the elbow strike from Rikishi, against the ropes.
Rikishi misses with an elbow strike.
Rikishi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rikishi pushes off an throws an elbow but Sor Kaenong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Rikishi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sor Kaenong is looking to break free of the clinch but Rikishi has double underhooks.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rikishi lands a damaging elbow.
Rikishi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sor Kaenong's defenses.
Sor Kaenong tries to stall but Rikishi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Nice elbow from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi lands a shoulder strike.
Rikishi misses with an elbow over the top.
Rikishi managing to block the knees to the body from Sor Kaenong.
Rikishi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sor Kaenong dodges an elbow strike from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi lands an elbow inside that Sor Kaenong shrugs off.
Rikishi lands an elbow inside that Sor Kaenong shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rikishi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sor Kaenong's defenses.
Sor Kaenong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rikishi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rikishi prevents Sor Kaenong from breaking the clinch.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rikishi lands a damaging elbow.
Rikishi pushes off an throws an elbow but Sor Kaenong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sor Kaenong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Rikishi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rikishi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sor Kaenong lands an elbow just above Rikishi 's eye.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Rikishi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Rikishi throws an elbow but misses.
Sor Kaenong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sor Kaenong backwards.
Rikishi throws an elbow that misses.
Rikishi throws an elbow that misses.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Sor Kaenong misses with a knee to the head.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike from Rikishi.
Rikishi lands a damaging elbow.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong blocks the elbow strike.
Sor Kaenong is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rikishi is keeping busy.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rikishi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sor Kaenong's brow.
Rikishi misses with an elbow strike.
Sor Kaenong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sor Kaenong wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rikishi misses with an elbow strike.
Sor Kaenong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rikishi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sor Kaenong creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rikishi misses with an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rikishi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sor Kaenong's brow.
Sor Kaenong looking to throw knees to the head but Rikishi is blocking nicely.
Sor Kaenong dodges an elbow strike from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Sor Kaenong avoids the elbow strike from Rikishi, against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Still in the clinch, Rikishi scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rikishi throws an elbow that misses.
Rikishi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Sor Kaenong breaks the clinch.
Sor Kaenong tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rikishi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Rikishi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sor Kaenong darts in trying to clinch

and Rikishi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Sor Kaenong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hiro Rikishi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rikishi has managed to clinch.
Nice elbow from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong trying to stall but Rikishi improves his position.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sor Kaenong looking to throw knees to the head but Rikishi is blocking nicely.
Rikishi throws an elbow that misses.
Sor Kaenong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rikishi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks with his arms.
Sor Kaenong blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Rikishi throws an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rikishi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sor Kaenong's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rikishi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sor Kaenong's brow.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sor Kaenong avoids the elbow strike from Rikishi, against the ropes.

Sor Kaenong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sor Kaenong tries to clinch

and Rikishi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sor Kaenong is trying to stand back up but Rikishi is controlling him
Rikishi looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikishi wants to pass the guard but Sor Kaenong is defending well.

Sor Kaenong kicks off Rikishi and gets to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sor Kaenong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rikishi rushes Sor Kaenong and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Rikishi throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Rikishi throws an elbow but misses.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong dodges an elbow strike from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong misses with a knee strike.
Sor Kaenong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi scores with a shoulder strike.
Sor Kaenong tries to break free but Rikishi pushes him back against the ropes.
Rikishi pushes off an throws an elbow but Sor Kaenong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Rikishi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sor Kaenong backwards.
Sor Kaenong dodges an elbow strike from Rikishi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rikishi gets through Sor Kaenong's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sor Kaenong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rikishi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it misses.
Sor Kaenong looking to throw knees to the head but Rikishi is blocking nicely.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Rikishi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sor Kaenong's brow.
Sor Kaenong missing with knees to the body.
Rikishi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Sor Kaenong backwards.
Sor Kaenong takes an elbow to the temple.
Rikishi lands with a short shot to the head.
Rikishi lands an elbow that stopped Sor Kaenong in his tracks for a moment.
Rikishi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sor Kaenong misses with a knee to the head.
Rikishi lands an uppercut.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rikishi avoids it.
Nice elbow from Rikishi.
Rikishi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rikishi lands an elbow just above Sor Kaenong 's eye.
A short left from Rikishi.
Rikishi lands a damaging elbow.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but Rikishi blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sor Kaenong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sor Kaenong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sor Kaenong blocks an elbow strike from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong wants to break free but Rikishi has control.
Sor Kaenong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rikishi pushes off an throws an elbow but Sor Kaenong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Rikishi lands an elbow inside.
Sor Kaenong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sor Kaenong lands a damaging elbow.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rikishi pushes off an throws an elbow but Sor Kaenong leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Sor Kaenong throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rikishi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sor Kaenong's defenses.
Sor Kaenong takes an elbow to the temple.
Sor Kaenong tries to break free but Rikishi pushes him back against the ropes.
Rikishi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rikishi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rikishi.

Sor Kaenong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sor Kaenong closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rikishi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rikishi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rikishi throws an elbow but it misses.
Sor Kaenong misses with a knee strike.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Sor Kaenong has had enough of the clinch but Rikishi keeps him there for the moment.
Rikishi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rikishi lands a nice elbow.
Sor Kaenong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rikishi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Rikishi throws an elbow but misses.
Rikishi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rikishi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Sor Kaenong looking to throw knees to the head but Rikishi is blocking nicely.
Rikishi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sor Kaenongs head.
Nice elbow from Rikishi.
Sor Kaenong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rikishi blocks it with crossed arms.
Rikishi throws an elbow that misses.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rikishi lands an elbow inside that Sor Kaenong shrugs off.
Rikishi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rikishi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rikishi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sor Kaenong tries to break free but Rikishi pushes him back against the ropes.

Sor Kaenong manages to break the clinch.
Sor Kaenong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rikishi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sor Kaenong!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Rikishi dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rikishi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sor Kaenong wants to clinch but Rikishi slips to the side

and Rikishi counters with a takedown into side control.
Rikishi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sor Kaenong wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Rikishi decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sor Kaenong keeps the fight on the outside.
Sor Kaenong tries to clinch but Rikishi is having none of it.
Sor Kaenong darts in trying to clinch

and Rikishi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rikishi.
Rikishi looking to sit in guard and control but Sor Kaenong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sor Kaenong postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rikishi has an active guard here but Sor Kaenong has managed to pass into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rikishi tries to get to full guard but Sor Kaenong has control of the leg.
Rikishi is trying to maintain the position but Sor Kaenong is very close to passing his half guard.
Sor Kaenong wants to stand up but Rikishi has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rikishi regains full guard. Nicely done.

Rikishi is looking for a triangle but Sor Kaenong pushes his legs off easily.

Sor Kaenong gets to his feet - Rikishi follows without any prompting.

Rikishi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sor Kaenong defending against the ground and pound.

Rikishi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sor Kaenong knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sor Kaenong pushes Rikishi away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rikishi gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rikishi wants to control but Sor Kaenong is keeping him busy.

Rikishi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rikishi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sor Kaenong's legs.
Rikishi working the strikes but Sor Kaenong uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Sor Kaenong makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rikishi feints and as Sor Kaenong raises his hands in defense, Rikishi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Sor Kaenong pushes Rikishi off and gets back to his feet.
Rikishi tries to clinch

and Sor Kaenong counters by moving into the clinch.
Rikishi swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Sor Kaenong manages to break the clinch.
Sor Kaenong is looking to clinch but Rikishi is avoiding it.
Rikishi closes the distance looking to clinch
and Sor Kaenong counters with a body kick that stops Rikishi in his tracks momentarily.
Sor Kaenong fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sor Kaenong clinches up against the ropes.
Rikishi lands an uppercut.
Rikishi lands a damaging elbow.
Sor Kaenong tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rikishi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rikishi lands with a left to the head.
Vit Sor Kaenong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiro Rikishi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rikishi managing to block the knees to the body from Sor Kaenong.
Rikishi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Rikishi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rikishi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Rikishi!