PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riku Rikki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zane Zidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zane Zidane will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Rikki
vs
Zidane

189 cm
23
220 lbs
0 - 8 - 0

200 cm
22
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Rikki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zane Zidane!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rikki closes the distance and clinches up with Zidane, looking for a takedown. Rikki pushes Zidane against the cage but Zidane circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zidane shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rikki manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Rikki is working an open guard so Zidane takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zidane wants to clinch.
Rikki tries for a takedown but Zidane circles away easily

and Zidane counters with a takedown into side control.

Zidane tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zidane gets to mount! Rikki was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Rikki is looking to get to half guard.
Rikki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zidane controlling the position easily from mount.
Rikki is desperately trying to improve his position but Zidane has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zidane is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rikki can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Zidane controlling the pace for now.
Rikki is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Zidane has taken his back.
Rikki tries to escape but Zidane has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Zidane looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Rikki is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rikki is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Zidane lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rikki is really stuck here.
Rikki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zidane on the ground.
Zidane is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Rikki. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zidane really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Rikki.
Rikki is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Zidane has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Rikki's body.
Rikki can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zidane controls the action.
Rikki is in bad spot here.
Zidane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zidane biding his time, looking for the opening.
Zidane is hanging on to Rikki's back as he tries to escape.
Good control from Zidane.
Zidane is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Rikki up.
Zidane controls the action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Zane Zidane just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rikki misses with a takedown

and Zidane counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zidane.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Rikki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rikki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zidane is aware though and is defending well.
Zidane showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Zidane drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Zidane seems to have locked his on tight now - Rikki screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Zidane, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Zane Zidane!