PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolando Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Rolando Gracie enters the cage!

Rider
vs
Gracie

175 cm
22
173 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rolando Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rider scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Gracie wants to control but Rider postures up.
Gracie tries to buck Rider off but Rider is having none of it.
Rider is working Gracie over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rider fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rider working the head and body with strikes.
Rider landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gracie is looking to reverse the position.
Gracie is trying to control Rider's posture but Rider avoids it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rider is chipping away with strikes.

Gracie is rocked!

It looks like Rolando Gracie has been cut.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Rider keeps moving and retains side control.
Rider tries to advance position but instead Gracie slips a leg back in to half guard.
Rider throwing shots but Gracie is blocking nicely.
Rider is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rider is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gracie!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rider with the ground and pound but Gracie uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rider trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Rider postures up.
Gracie striking off his back but it's not causing Rider any problems.
Rider working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rider has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rider chips away with some ground and pound.
Rider missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rider throwing strikes from guard but Gracie blocks nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Rider looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rider looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie trying to hold on to Rider's head to control him but Rider postures up.
Gracie is not content to let Rider control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rider lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gracie is trying to get back to full guard.
Rider throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rider connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.
Gracie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rider doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rider manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gracie looks gassed!
Rider scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rider tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rider postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rider missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gracie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rider.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rider looking to pass the guard.
Rider postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rider postures up and lands a big shot to Gracie's brow.
Rider in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rider working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Rider from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gracie 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gracie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rider landing some decent shots from guard.
Rider advances to half guard.
Rider is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.
Rider winds up and cracks Gracie with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Gracie is staying active underneath Rider, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rider not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rider looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rider working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rider scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Rider dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rolando Gracie's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rider drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rider accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rider trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rider advances to half guard.
Rider is nestled in close to Gracie, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rider wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rider lands with a punch from half guard.
Rider takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rider lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gracie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rider scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rider thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rider tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gracie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Rider looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Gracie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rider looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gracie taking some punishment here, with Rider in his half guard.
Gracie slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rider trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rider with a nice head shot there.
Rider working some strikes from top position.

Gracie is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Rider frees his head nicely. Oh but Gracie has switched to an armbar! Rider is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Rolando Gracie!