PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Riches (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Riches has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Torres
vs
Riches

185 cm
21
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Torres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joe Riches!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Riches does no damage.

Torres scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Torres is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Riches has escaped the position, nice work there.

Torres swings around for an armbar but Riches sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Torres's guard.
Riches must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Riches working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Riches stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Torres swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riches stopping the sweep attempt from Torres.
Torres is working hard here to advance position.
Riches chips away with some ground and pound.
Riches postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Torres is looking for a triangle but Riches pushes his legs off easily.
Torres 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 one minute gone in the round.
Riches trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riches trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Riches is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Torres looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Torres is breathing heavily.
Torres bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riches's guard.

Torres has gone for a leg lock! Riches slips out almost immediately though and dives into Torres's guard.
Riches lands a couple of elbows.
Riches passes into half guard.
Torres is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Riches stopping the sweep attempt from Torres.
Riches landing with the ground and pound.
Riches is working Torres over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Riches postures up and lands a big shot to Torres's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Riches's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Riches won't allow Torres to sweep him here.
Riches wanted to stand there but Torres had control of the position.
Riches stopping the sweep attempt from Torres.
Riches is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riches throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Torres looking for a guillotine here but Riches defends easily.
Riches working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Torres's head.

Riches drops back looking for a leg! Torres is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Torres manages to kick Riches off! Riches jumps back into Torres's guard.
Riches with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riches postures up in Torres's guard and throws a big left but Torres blocks it.

Torres has his foot on Riches's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Riches works his way back into a safe position though.
Torres tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riches scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riches is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Riches lands a couple of digs.
Riches with a nice head shot there.
Riches preventing the sweep.
Riches advances to half guard.
Torres tries to roll over but Riches keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torres is in trouble now - Riches has advanced to mount!
Riches landing strikes from the mount.
Torres is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The referee warns Torres that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Riches has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Torres's face.
Torres working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricardo Torres will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Riches shoots and misses

and Torres counters with a nice double leg into side control. Riches won't be happy with that.

Torres is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Riches knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Torres is trying to get an arm triangle but Riches is defending well.
Riches tries to buck Torres off but Torres is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Torres thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Torres swings around for an armbar but Riches sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Torres's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riches wants to control from the top but Torres keeps moving.
Torres manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riches manages to get himself to full guard.

Torres drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Riches dives on top into guard.
Riches advances position into side control!
Check out the look on Riches's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres is trying to get back to half guard.
Riches lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Torres takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Riches working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Riches cracks Torres with a big right hand but Torres just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Torres is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Riches is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Torres is desperately trying to improve his position but Riches has a good base and remains in mount.
Torres is bucking up trying to escape but Riches cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Torres tries to reverse the position but Riches maintains control.
Riches landing strikes, looking to finish!
Torres is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riches punishing his opponent with strikes.
Riches landing strikes from the mount.
Torres sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Torres is looking to improve his position.
Torres slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Torres throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Torres looking for a guillotine here but Riches defends easily.
Riches controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Torres goes for an armbar but Riches turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Riches.

Torres is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Riches defends well.
Riches wanted to stand there but Torres had control of the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Torres is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riches with a poor takedown

and Torres counters with a shoot takedown. Riches fights it but they end up in guard.
Riches is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Riches might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Torres kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Torres has gone for a leg lock! Riches slips out almost immediately though and dives into Torres's guard.
Torres manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riches manages to get himself to full guard.
Ricardo Torres overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Torres postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riches is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Torres, into his guard.
Riches is looking to stand up but Torres won't let him.
Torres manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Torres goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Riches turns into him and now he's in Torres's guard.
Torres bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riches's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Torres is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Riches is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Riches has escaped and now he's on top!
Torres tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Torres keeping moving, preventing Riches from controlling successfully.
Torres utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Riches trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riches trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.

Riches is sitting in close to Torres's body. Torres has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Riches is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Riches is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Torres.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ricardo Torres!