PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riddler Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Care Less (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Junior
vs
Less

191 cm
22
255 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

192 cm
23
273 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riddler Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Care Less!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Junior.

It looks like Care Less has been cut.
Junior defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Less.
Junior looks to land a combination but Less avoids it well.
Less showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Junior.
Junior fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Junior misses with a looping right.
Junior misses with a jab, cross combination.

Less drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Less swings around for an armbar but Junior sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Less's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Junior is looking to work some ground and pound but Less has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Less tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Junior has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Junior thows a big elbow that misses.
Junior trying to control but Less is working from the bottom.
Junior throwing strikes but missing.
Junior postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Junior throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Junior swinging wilding here.
Junior misses with the combination.
Junior stuffs the takedown attempt from Less. Less gets slowly back to his feet.
Riddler Junior is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
No joy there for Junior, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Junior misses with a wild combination.
Junior misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch combination from Junior misses.
Less slips a jab and a cross from Junior.
Junior lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Less circles away quickly and effectively.

Less scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Less wants to control for a moment but Junior uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior winds up and cracks Less with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Junior sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Less defending well though.
Junior thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Less's head.
Junior not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Less wants to control but Junior is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Junior not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Junior missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Junior looks to land a strike but Less avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Junior throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Less works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Junior lands an overhand right.
Less looks gassed!
Junior lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Less backs up against the cage.
Junior misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Junior does no damage.
Junior throws a nice looking combination but Less bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Junior swinging wilding here.
Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Junior misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch combination from Junior misses.
Junior throws a right and a left that both miss.
Less defending well as Junior loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riddler Junior dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Care Less's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Junior swinging wilding here.
Less fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Less showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Junior.
Junior looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Less fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Riddler Junior seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junior throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior missing with a left hand there. Less was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Junior misses with the combination.
Less avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Junior here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior throws a series of punches but Less moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Junior.
Less slips a jab from Junior.
Junior tries to bum rush Less with a series of wild strikes but Less uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Junior lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Less circles away quickly and effectively.
Junior throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Less.

Junior gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Less to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Junior wants to improve his position but instead Less has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Less looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Less is working for a kimura but Junior is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior is looking for a sweep. Less is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Junior is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Less trying to pass the guard but Junior defending well.
Junior is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Less's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Less's back!
Less trying to control the position but Junior manages to sink in the hooks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Junior throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Less!
Junior landing with strikes.
Junior lands a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riddler Junior dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Care Less's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Less uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Junior.
Junior throws a right and a left that Less avoids nicely.
Less misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Less shoots in for a takedown but Junior shows good takedown defense.
Junior rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Less moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Junior throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Less.
Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Junior swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior throws a series of punches but Less moves out of range.
Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Less showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Junior.
Junior throws a hook to the side of Less's head but Less sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Less dodges the punch combination from Junior.
Riddler Junior is winning the standup battle so far.

Less scores a takedown into full mount!

Less is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Junior has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Junior!
Less takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Junior throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Junior looking to sit in guard and control but Less gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Junior is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Junior tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior tries for a takedown but Less manages to get underhooks.

Junior breaks from the clinch.
Less dodges the punch combination from Junior.
Junior fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Less.
Riddler Junior has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Care Less.
Junior looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Riddler Junior is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Junior throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Junior as Less shoots in.
Less takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Junior misses the target.
Care Less has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Less shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Junior as he jumps to the side.
Junior takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Less dodges the punch combination from Junior.
Junior throws a right and a left that Less avoids nicely.
Less closes the distance and clinches up with Junior, looking for a takedown. Less pushes Junior against the cage but Junior circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Junior fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Less on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Junior misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Junior. No joy for Less on that attempt.
Junior misses with a straight right.
Less takes one to the side of the head.
Riddler Junior is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Junior is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Junior throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riddler Junior showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Junior, 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riddler Junior!