PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shane luarent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Riches (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

luarent
vs
Riches

225 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shane luarent!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Riches!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
luarent lands a head kick. Riches smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
luarent closes the distance and clinches up with Riches, looking for a takedown. luarent pushes Riches against the cage but Riches circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
luarent misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
luarent fails to land with a series of punches.
luarent throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riches tries to bum rush luarent with a series of wild strikes but luarent uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Riches fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. luarent sprawls well initially but Riches persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Riches is controlling the pace.
Riches's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Riches has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
luarent tries to kick Riches off but Riches keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Riches scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Riches looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Riches controlling the action here.
Riches not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

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.
Riches performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Riches tries to pass to full mount but luarent defends it.
Riches is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Riches looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Riches is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
luarent has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Riches is working away from the top position though.
luarent wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
luarent trying to hold on to Riches's head to control him but Riches postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riches trying to control the action but luarent is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
luarent fails with the takedown

so Riches counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane luarent. That's going to take a lot out of him.
luarent wants to sweep but no luck.
luarent will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
luarent not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
luarent is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Riches is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Riches stops luarent from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Riches dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Riches closes the distance and pushes luarent back into the cage.
luarent fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A frustrated look appears on luarent's face as he tries to break the clinch.
luarent can't find room to land a body shot as Riches controls the action.
Riches is working for takedown but luarent is calmly controlling the position for now.
Riches has luarent pressed against the cage, preventing luarent from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Riches keeps control of luarent as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
luarent really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Riches drops to a knee looking for a takedown but luarent gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Riches wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
luarent gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Riches.
Shane luarent has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Riches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
luarent keeps control of Riches as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
luarent is trying to force a seperation but Riches has the dominant position.
luarent is trying to force a seperation but Riches has the dominant position.
luarent tries for a takedown but Riches manages to get underhooks.
luarent is looking to break free of the clinch but Riches has double underhooks.
luarent working hard to break the clinch.
luarent tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Riches just stands there and leans against the cage.
luarent fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riches working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

luarent drags the fight down to the ground.
Riches postures up.
Riches looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two 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.
Riches is breathing heavily.
luarent looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riches is one step ahead there.

Riches stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
luarent shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Riches counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Riches trying to control but luarent is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riches is pushing down on luarent's leg trying to pass to half guard. luarent is fighting to maintain full guard but Riches has managed to sneak the leg through.
luarent is looking to control Riches's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can luarent avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
luarent moves into full guard.
luarent controlling Riches's posture.
luarent keeping full guard, as Riches tries to pass.
luarent will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
luarent wants to sweep here but Riches controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Riches showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Riches is looking to clinch.
Riches throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Shane luarent seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riches swats away the attempt to clinch by luarent.
luarent closes the distance looking to clinch

and Riches counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
luarent is trying to stand back up but Riches is controlling him

Riches looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Riches takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
luarent tries to roll over but Riches keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Riches is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
luarent looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
luarent is trying to maintain the position but Riches is very close to passing his half guard.
Riches seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riches swats away the attempt to clinch by luarent.
luarent misses with a takedown

and Riches counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Riches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
luarent manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Riches wants to control but luarent is having none of it.
Joe Riches has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riches is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but luarent is staying active.
Riches is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
luarent throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
luarent throws some wild stikes that Riches manages to avoid easily.
Riches blocking the ground and pound.
luarent throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Riches because luarent loaded up on that one.
luarent trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Riches holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as luarent tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
luarent wants to control the pace but Riches is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Riches comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Riches winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Riches!