PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitali Klitschko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yannick Riesling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Klitschko
vs
Riesling

190 cm
21
201 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

181 cm
29
199 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vitali Klitschko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Yannick Riesling!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riesling misses with a takedown attempt
and Klitschko counters with a solid body kick.
Riesling fails with the takedown
and Klitschko counters with a series of strikes. Riesling will be more careful next time no doubt.

Riesling bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Riesling misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Klitschko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riesling on the ground.
Klitschko takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Riesling scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Klitschko to see if he's OK.
Riesling in side control, throwing shots but Klitschko defends.
Riesling creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Klitschko sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riesling in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Riesling trying to control the position but Klitschko is working away.
Riesling scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Klitschko to see if he's OK.
Klitschko is looking for a sweep.
Klitschko is working hard here to advance position.
Klitschko regains half guard, as Riesling was trying to land strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riesling missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Klitschko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Klitschko tries to get out of the position.

Riesling is working for a submission of some sort.
Riesling slows the pace down in half guard.

Klitschko is defending against the submission attempts here by Riesling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riesling missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Riesling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riesling not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Riesling missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Riesling thows a huge punch but Klitschko dodges it nicely.

Riesling is trying to work for a kimura but Klitschko is defending well.
Riesling looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Klitschko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Riesling lands a nice short elbow.
Riesling not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Riesling working over Klitschko with some ground and pound. Klitschko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Riesling lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yannick Riesling dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Riesling doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Klitschko counters with a one-two to the body.

Riesling gets the takedown into side control.

Riesling goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Klitschko has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Riesling but great work by Klitschko.
Riesling tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riesling has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klitschko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riesling keeps working.
Riesling is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Riesling moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Klitschko preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Riesling thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riesling wants to sweep but no luck.
Riesling is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Klitschko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riesling manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Riesling is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Klitschko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Riesling throws some wild stikes that Klitschko manages to avoid easily.

Riesling jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Klitschko is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Klitschko and Riesling has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Klitschko is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riesling cracks Klitschko with a big right hand but Klitschko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Check out the look on Riesling's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Riesling lands a decent elbow from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riesling sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Klitschko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Riesling is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Klitschko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Riesling landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yannick Riesling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Klitschko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Klitschko, right into the meat.
Riesling tries for a takedown but Klitschko circles away easily
and Klitschko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Riesling misses with a takedown
and Klitschko counters with a slapping leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riesling looking to score a takedown here. Klitschko is defending well but Riesling drives through and ends up in Klitschko's guard.
Klitschko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Riesling postures up in Klitschko's guard and throws a big left but Klitschko blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riesling throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Klitschko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Riesling is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Klitschko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riesling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riesling in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Klitschko controls Riesling momentarily but Riesling frees himself.
Riesling throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Klitschko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Klitschko keeping moving, preventing Riesling from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Klitschko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Riesling wants to control from the top but Klitschko keeps moving.
Riesling loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vitali Klitschko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Klitschko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riesling.
Klitschko 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.
Yannick Riesling has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Riesling's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riesling landing some decent shots from guard.

Riesling thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Riesling missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Riesling chips away with some ground and pound.
Klitschko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riesling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riesling scoring with some ground and pound.
Klitschko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Riesling.
Riesling lands a couple of elbows.
Riesling postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Riesling stands up over Klitschko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riesling accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Riesling trying to control but Klitschko is working from the bottom.
Riesling throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yannick Riesling comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Riesling winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yannick Riesling!