PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mateusz Wajs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sylvain Rioux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wajs comes into the arena with Walka blaring out of the sound system. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wajs
vs
Rioux

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mateusz Wajs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sylvain Rioux!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rioux gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wajs to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wajs is stalling in the full guard.
Rioux is trying to keep Wajs in close.

Rioux throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wajs makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wajs thows a big elbow that misses.

Rioux is working an open guard so Wajs takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Rioux throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Wajs was covering up waiting for the punch and Rioux finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rioux won't allow Wajs to sweep him here.
Wajs working a defensive guard here.
Wajs wants to stand but Rioux is controlling the position.
Wajs has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rioux has passed into side control.
The referee asks Rioux politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rioux prefers to stall for the moment though.

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.
Rioux throws an elbow but Wajs slips to the side and avoids it well.
An elbow from Rioux crashes against the mat.
Rioux in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Wajs is looking to reverse the position.

Rioux decides to stand back up. Rioux steps back and let's Wajs get back to his feet.
Wajs misses with a few strikes there.

Rioux shoots in and bounces Wajs off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rioux wants to pass the guard but Wajs is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wajs wants to sweep but no luck.
Wajs is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Wajs is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mateusz Wajs.

Rioux shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wajs napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wajs taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wajs pushes Rioux away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rioux gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Rioux tries to advance to mount but can't.
Wajs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rioux is looking to take a break and control but Wajs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wajs manages to get back to half guard.
Wajs tries to get to full guard but Rioux has control of the leg.
Rioux is looking to advance position but Wajs won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sylvain Rioux dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rioux shoots in and bounces Wajs off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Wajs pushes Rioux off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wajs throws a sloppy head kick

and Rioux counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rioux thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rioux looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rioux sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sylvain Rioux has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wajs is controlling Rioux's trapped leg to prevent Rioux from advancing to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rioux is trying to control. Wajs wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rioux throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rioux not doing much here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Sylvain Rioux wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rioux turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wajs throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rioux makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Wajs really felt that one!
Rioux fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Wajs looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rioux tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rioux throws a nice looking combination but Wajs bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wajs is looking to clinch but Rioux is avoiding it.
Wajs closes the distance but Rioux moves to the side
and Rioux counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rioux scores a takedown into full mount!
Rioux trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rioux lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wajs is working to get back to half guard.
Rioux trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wajs tries to lock up and control but Rioux gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wajs is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wajs wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rioux.
Wajs wants to hold on but Rioux pushes him away.
Wajs 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.
Rioux stalling away here and it's allowed Wajs to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Wajs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rioux stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wajs swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rioux slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rioux stops Wajs from standing up.
Wajs keeping full guard, as Rioux tries to pass.
Wajs is trying to control the position but Rioux postures up.
Rioux must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Rioux scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rioux tries to pass to full mount but Wajs defends it.
Rioux controlling the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rioux wants to stand but Wajs has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sylvain Rioux showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Wajs lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rioux circles away quickly and effectively.
Wajs shoots in looking for a takedown. Rioux tries to sprawl out of it but Wajs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rioux manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wajs fails in his attempt to clinch.

Rioux shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wajs's guard.
Rioux trying to control the position from guard on top but Wajs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wajs throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Wajs keeping moving, preventing Rioux from controlling successfully.
Wajs lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rioux!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rioux is looking to get to half guard.
Wajs is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rioux can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Wajs landing punches.
Wajs trying to control but Rioux is having none of it.
Rioux is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Wajs lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rioux is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Wajs is working for a guillotine from mount but Rioux frees his head quite easily.
Wajs controlling his opponent.
Wajs thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Wajs controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rioux working to try and regain half guard.
Rioux gets back to half guard.
Rioux is trying to stand up here but Wajs is controlling him well.
Rioux throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rioux is trying to control but can't.
Wajs tries to stand but can't do so whilst Rioux controls his leg.

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.
Wajs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rioux is in trouble now - Wajs has advanced to mount!
Wajs controlling the position easily from mount.
Wajs wants to control the pace but Rioux is squirming around nicely.
Rioux is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mateusz Wajs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sylvain Rioux is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mateusz Wajs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rioux has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sylvain Rioux!