PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Huo Samja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Riddick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Huo Samja has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Huo Samja seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Samja
vs
Riddick

180 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
175 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Huo Samja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard Riddick!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samja throws a right and a left that Riddick avoids nicely.
Samja lands a nice looking body shot.

Riddick drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Samja keeping moving, preventing Riddick from controlling successfully.
Riddick working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Riddick tries to free his leg and advance position but Samja is retaining full guard.
Riddick trying to control the position from guard on top but Samja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riddick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Riddick is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Samja is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Samja has escaped and now he's on top!

Riddick isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Samja stacks Riddick on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Samja!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riddick sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Samja blocks the strikes from Riddick.
Samja is thwarting Riddick's attempts to control the position.
Samja tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Riddick.
Riddick wants to control but Samja is keeping busy.

That's two 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.
Riddick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
It looks like Samja is going to stand back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Samja misses with a wild body shot.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riddick.
Riddick throws a low kick but Samja avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riddick decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Riddick tries to pass to full mount but Samja defends it.

Riddick is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Samja is just riding it out for now. Riddick eventually gives up the hold.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Riddick seems to be working for a kimura but Samja defends the submission attempt.
Riddick looks gassed!

Riddick is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Samja doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Riddick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riddick trying to control the action but Samja is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Riddick dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A telegraphed right hand from Samja misses the target.
Samja scoring well with a low kick there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Samja.
Samja lands a nice looking body shot.

Riddick gets a takedown into half guard.

Riddick is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Samja sees it coming and defends easily.
Samja trying to control but Riddick postures up.

Riddick is trying to work for a kimura but Samja is defending well.

Riddick is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Riddick is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riddick is trying to work for a kimura but Samja is defending well.

Samja makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Good leg kick by Samja there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

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.
Samja throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Riddick sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Samja.

Samja gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Riddick to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Riddick drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Samja manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Riddick has Samja in his guard.
Samja wanted to stand there but Riddick had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riddick is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Samja is controlling him.

Samja got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riddick has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Samja has managed to get both his arms back between Riddick's legs - danger averted.

Riddick has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Samja can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Samja wants to get up but he can't break Riddick's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Riddick working for a triangle but Samja defends it easily.
Riddick controls Samja momentarily but Samja frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Samja misses with a few strikes there.
Samja throws a head kick that Riddick semi-blocks.
Samja takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Samja!
Samja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Huo Samja dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Good exchange - Samja coming out on top.

Riddick feints and as Samja raises his hands in defense, Riddick changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Samja keeping moving, preventing Riddick from controlling successfully.
Riddick with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riddick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Samja is keeping the position for now.
Samja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riddick drops back, looking for a kneebar! Samja looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Samja looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Samja!
Riddick takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riddick tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Samja wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Riddick's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Riddick tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Samja wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Riddick is pushing Samja's head away, looking to escape. Samja manages to hold on to the position though.

Samja decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Huo Samja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Samja connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Samja misses with a few strikes there.
Good leg kick by Samja there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice shot lands for Samja.
Riddick shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Samja sprawls well. Samja wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Riddick gets slowly back to his feet.
Samja bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Riddick's head backwards.
Huo Samja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Samja throws a nice head kick!
Riddick shoots in for a double leg but Samja sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Samja misses with a wild body shot.
Riddick is trying hard to land a takedown here. Samja sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Huo Samja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Riddick.
Riddick on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Samja throws a left and a right that both miss

and Riddick counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Riddick.
Samja has a closed guard, preventing Riddick from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samja looking to control.
Samja is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Riddick wants to control from the top but Samja keeps moving.
Riddick might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Samja kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Riddick looking to pass the guard.

That's four 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.
Riddick is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Riddick prevents Samja from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Samja dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Riddick. That did some damage!
Riddick avoids the body shot from Samja.
Samja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riddick misses with a series of wild punches.
Samja looks to throw the jab but Riddick is out of range.
Riddick changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Samja tries to avoid it but Riddick manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Samja to the ground. Samja escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Huo Samja.
I think Samja has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Huo Samja!