PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Richard Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Roman Riquelme (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Powell comes to the cage accompanied by boston drama. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Powell
vs
Roman Riquelme

185 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

193 cm
21
222 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Powell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juan Roman Riquelme!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Powell looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Riquelme is trying to trip Powell. He has hold of a leg but Powell is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Riquelme persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Riquelme passes Powell's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Riquelme works his way into side control.
Riquelme advances to mount.
Riquelme tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Riquelme forces the positional change into back control.
Powell is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Riquelme.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Riquelme has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Powell has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Powell is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Powell defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Riquelme's arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Riquelme looking for the choke from the back.

Riquelme has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Powell! Can he survive? No! He's out! Riquelme gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Juan Roman Riquelme!