PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grammund Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hector Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garcia is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Clash - London Calling. This should be a great matchup!

Rider
vs
Garcia

192 cm
23
205 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

185 cm
29
220 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Grammund Rider!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hector Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Garcia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A left hand lands to the body for Rider.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rider tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rider lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.
Rider can't find room to land a body shot as Garcia controls the action.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rider blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Garcia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horrible takedown by Rider or perhaps it was just good defense by Garcia which made him look bad.
Rider lands a nice hook to Garcia's body. Garcia takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Garcia looks to land a left hand but Rider moved out of range nicely.

Garcia looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rider seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Garcia looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia trying to control but Rider is working from the bottom.
Rider is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Garcia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rider's guard.
Rider keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rider blocking the ground and pound attempt from Garcia.
Garcia is keen to just control but Rider is a slippery customer.
Rider wants to control but Garcia is keeping busy.
Garcia is looking to take a break and control but Rider is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Rider trying to control from the bottom.
Garcia is trying to control. Rider wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hector Garcia.
Nice sprawl there from Garcia as Rider shoots in.
Rider scores with a jab to the jaw.

Garcia moves into range and clinches up with Rider.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Garcia missing with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rider can't find room to land a body shot as Garcia controls the action.
Rider tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rider stalling.
Garcia has a couple of punches blocked by Rider.
Garcia is trying to break the clinch but Rider has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rider stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Garcia blocks a body shot from Rider.
A bit of stalling here from Rider.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but Rider blocks with his arms.
A right handed body shot lands from Garcia.
Garcia prevents a body shot from Rider.
Rider tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.
Garcia tries to throw a body punch but Rider avoids it by throwing Garcia back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Rider.
Garcia swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rider misses with a punch to the body.
Rider lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Garcia or not.
Garcia looks gassed!
Rider is trying to stall.
Rider tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Rider back against the cage.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but Rider blocks it.
Rider leaning his opponent against the cage.
Garcia connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rider's face.
Rider trying to stall but Garcia improves his position.
Rider blocking some punches.
Garcia taking a breather.
Rider lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Garcia or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rider.
Rider blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Garcia.
Rider lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rider lands a body shot in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Rider.
Rider throws a punch but it's blocked by Garcia.
Rider misses with some punches.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Garcia being controlled against the cage.
Garcia swings wildly with an uppercut but Rider uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garcia's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rider struggles to land a body shot inside as Garcia controls his hands.
Rider tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rider keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Garcia's efforts to push away.
Rider misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Garcia dominated that 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.

Rider tries to clinch but Garcia moves away

and Garcia counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rider's guard now.
Rider is controlling Garcia's posture.
Garcia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Garcia won't allow Rider to sweep him here.
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rider is keeping the position for now.
Rider keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hector Garcia has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Rider instigates a clinch.
Rider is working Garcia over against the cage.
Garcia lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rider backwards.
Rider tries to pull guard but Garcia holds him up against the cage and eventually Rider drops back down to his feet.
A short right from Garcia on the inside.
Garcia working hard to break the clinch.
Rider cracks Garcia with a nice body shot.
Rider tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Garcia swings wildly with an uppercut but Rider uses good head movement to avoid it.
Garcia misses with a knee to the head.
Rider lands a nice shot to the body.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Garcia lands a shoulder strike.
Garcia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Rider's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rider stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Garcia blocks a body shot from Rider.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rider manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rider wants to stall.
A short body shot lands from Rider as the two fighters clinch.
Rider taking a breather.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Rider.
Garcia looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Garcia is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rider is keeping busy.
Rider lands a shot to the body.
Rider gets through Garcia's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rider stalls.
Rider struggles to land a body shot inside as Garcia controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Rider.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice body punch from Rider - that landed with a thud.
Garcia tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Garcia letting Rider take a breather here.
Rider presses Garcia against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Rider.
Rider goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Rider.
Garcia doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Rider.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rider fails to pull guard.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rider lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Garcia.
Rider cracks Garcia with a nice body shot.
Rider lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rider lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rider tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rider digs a right hand into Garcia's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Garcia's gas tank.
Rider is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short left from Rider.
Rider is working Garcia over against the cage.
Grammund Rider has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rider misses with a body punch.
Garcia prevents a body shot from Rider.
Garcia has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rider misses with a body punch.
Rider tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Rider back against the cage.
Rider lands a right hand that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider presses Garcia against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rider misses with a punch to the body.
Rider goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rider cracks Garcia with a nice body shot.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short left from Rider.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A hook to the body from Rider.
Nice body punch from Rider.
Rider taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Good body shot from Rider.
Nice body punch from Rider.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right handed body shot lands from Rider.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rider.
Rider is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Garcia misses with a hook from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rider scores with a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Rider.
Rider lands a body shot.
A body shot lands from Rider.
Rider tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rider.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grammund Rider dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rider shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.
Garcia slips under a jab.
Rider feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Garcias jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Rider manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Garcia on his heels. He'll look to pass Garcia's guard now, I'm sure.
Rider throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rider landing some decent shots from guard.
Rider content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rider in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rider thows a big elbow that misses.
Garcia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garcia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider with a flurry of punches that miss.
Garcia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garcia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rider.
Rider is looking to work some ground and pound but Garcia has wrist control.
Rider with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rider working some strikes from top position.
Garcia looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rider thows a big elbow that misses.
Rider keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garcia's head.
Rider with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rider content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rider postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rider throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rider looking to pass the guard.
Rider is working hard here to advance position.
Garcia trying to keep a closed guard but Rider is proving a slippery customer.
Rider landing some decent shots from guard.
Rider postures up and lands a big shot to Garcia's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider wants to control from the top but Garcia keeps moving.
Rider postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rider throwing strikes but missing.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider slips nicely into half guard.
Rider lands with a punch from half guard.

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.
Rider thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
Rider blocks the strikes from Garcia.
Rider content to control rather than advance.
Rider thows a huge punch but Garcia dodges it nicely.
Garcia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Garcia keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rider stalling away here and it's allowed Garcia to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rider lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rider with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grammund Rider clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Garcia fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rider, pushing him back against the cage.
Garcia is trying to break the clinch but Rider has him pressed against the cage.
Garcia looking to slow down the pace here.
Rider misses with a punch to the body.
Garcia looking to throw knees to the head but Rider is blocking nicely.
Rider is leaning against Garcia and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rider.
Garcia misses with some punches.
Rider tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.
A hook to the body from Rider.
A right hand to the body from Rider.
Nice body punch from Rider.
Rider tries to work over Garcia's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rider scores with a hook to the body.
Rider leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rider working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rider works on Garcia's body with a couple of short punches.
Garcia is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A body shot lands from Rider.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rider lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rider lands a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Rider.
Rider presses Garcia against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rider.
Rider misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rider struggles to land a body shot inside as Garcia controls his hands.
Rider lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Garcia.
Garcia prevents a body shot from Rider.
Rider controlling the action here for a moment.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but Rider blocks with his arms.
Rider tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Garcia's elbow.
Good body shot from Rider.
Rider lands a nice shot to the body.
Rider tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Rider back against the cage.
Rider goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rider struggles to land a body shot inside as Garcia controls his hands.
Rider is stalling here.
Rider tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Rider back against the cage.
Rider throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Garcia blocks a body shot from Rider.
Garcia misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Rider.
Rider misses with a punch to the body.
Garcia looking to stall.
A right hand to the body from Rider.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rider.
Garcia is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Rider - that landed with a thud.
Rider tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.
Rider lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.
Rider lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rider tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.
Garcia lands a body punch.
Nice body punch from Rider - that landed with a thud.
Rider tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Rider back against the cage.
Garcia lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rider struggles to land a body shot inside as Garcia controls his hands.
Rider prevents a body shot from Garcia.
Rider lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Garcia.
Garcia being controlled against the cage.
Rider prevents a body shot from Garcia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia misses with a hook to the ribs.
Garcia trying to land knees to the body.
Rider lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rider lands a hook that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.
Rider lands a shoulder strike.
Rider can't find room to land a body shot as Garcia controls the action.
Rider lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Garcia backwards.
Rider softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rider is leaning against Garcia and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rider tries a body shot but Garcia blocks it.
A body shot lands from Rider.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rider.
Rider throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Garcias head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rider tries to stall but Garcia uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Come on Rider - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rider is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?
Rider can't find room to land a body shot as Garcia controls the action.
Good body shot from Rider.
Garcia blocks a body shot from Rider.
Come on Rider - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Garcia as Rider tries to tie him up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Grammund Rider.
Rider scores with a nice strike.
Rider gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Garcia counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garcia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rider is keeping the position for now.
Garcia looking to sit in guard and control but Rider gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rider wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grammund Rider had his way with Hector Garcia in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rider fails with the takedown
and Garcia counters with a three punch combo that has Rider backing up. Rider nods at Garcia to acknowledge the strikes.
Rider shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Garcia defends it nicely.

Rider drives through with a takedown into Garcia's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rider throws a big right hand that misses.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rider in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rider thows a big elbow that misses.
Garcia is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Rider connects with a couple of short punches.
Garcia trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rider avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rider throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Garcia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Grammund Rider is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rider content to stall in guard here.
Rider throwing strikes but missing.
Rider trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.

Garcia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rider gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rider sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rider trying to control but Garcia is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Grammund Rider just wasn't active enough.

Garcia rushes Rider and presses him up against the cage.
Garcia tries a knee to the head but Rider blocks it.
Garcia working aggressively here.
Garcia tries to work over Rider's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but Rider blocks with his arms.
Garcia tries to break free but Rider pushes him back against the cage.

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.
Rider scores with a hook to the body.
Garcia goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hector Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garcia looking to slow down the pace here.
Rider misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Garcia misses with some punches.
Garcia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rider.
Rider blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rider prevents a body shot from Garcia.
Garcia misses with some punches.
Rider blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia misses with a punch to the body.
Garcia tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rider's elbow.
Garcia tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grammund Rider showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rider 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grammund Rider!
Grammund Rider retains his light heavyweight title!