PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between CJ Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Torres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). CJ Riley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Riley
vs
Torres

176 cm
22
153 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
154 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, CJ Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Torres!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riley closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Riley is trying to control the action in half guard but Torres is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Torres won't allow Riley to pass to mount.
Torres moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Riley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Torres trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Riley passes Torres's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Torres is looking for a sweep. Riley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Riley is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Torres has managed to free his arm - good work.
Torres is looking for a sweep. Riley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riley passes to full mount!
Torres tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riley looking to control but Torres is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Torres tries to reverse the position but Riley maintains control.
Torres is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Torres can do anything to dispel that myth.
Torres regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Riley is looking to take a break and control but Torres is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Torres looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Torres wants to get back to full guard.
Riley working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Torres wants to improve his position but Riley is controlling well.
Torres looks gassed!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Riley trying to pass the guard but Torres defending well.

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

Torres closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Riley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Torres throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Riley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Torres won't allow Riley to sweep him here.
Torres trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Torres with a nice head shot there.

Riley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Torres gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Torres pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riley is keeping the position for now.

Riley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Torres gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Riley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Riley controls Torres momentarily but Torres frees himself.

Riley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riley lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Torres!
Riley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Torres is looking to escape.
Torres taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Riley.
BOOM! Riley connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Torres is rocked!
Riley lands with some strikes.
Torres is still in real trouble! Can Riley finish him?
Riley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Riley looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Riley trying to control but Torres is having none of it.
Torres can't escape the position.
Torres seems to have recovered his senses.
Riley trying to control but Torres is having none of it.

Riley looking for a guillotine from mount but Torres is having none of it.
Torres can't escape the position.
Torres throwing hammer fists to the chest of Riley. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Torres slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Torres looking for submissions off his back.
Torres tries to get to full guard but Riley has control of the leg.
Riley passes to side control.
Torres gets back to half guard.
Torres manages to get to full guard.
Torres tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Torres striking from the bottom here.
Riley trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Torres bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riley's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Torres thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Torres thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Torres with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Torres with a poor takedown

and Riley counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Riley looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Riley is working for a kimura but Torres is defending it quite comfortably.
Riley prevents Torres from improving his position.
Riley moves nicely into side control.
Riley landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Riley working the head and body with strikes.
CJ Riley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riley has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Torres!
Riley wants to control the pace but Torres is squirming around nicely.
Riley moves to the back.

Riley is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Torres knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Torres for a finish.
Riley has the hooks in. Torres is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Torres is in bad spot here.
Torres is breathing heavily.

Torres fending off the submission attempt from Riley.
Riley is hanging on to Torres's back as he tries to escape.

Riley patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Torres tries to break free.
Riley scores with punches to the body.
Torres tries to escape the position.
Riley is trying to stick to Torres's back but Torres is turning into Riley. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Riley's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Torres.
Riley throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Torres lands a couple of elbows.
Torres working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Riley shoots in and bounces Torres off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Riley trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Riley with a nice head shot there.
Torres 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.
Torres doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Riley wants to control from the top but Torres keeps moving.
Riley showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Riley scoring with some ground and pound.
Riley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Riley trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Torres scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Riley wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Riley regains half guard.
Riley gets back to full guard.
Torres trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Torres works over Riley with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres landing some decent shots from guard.
Torres stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Torres with a nice head shot there.
Riley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Torres is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Torres takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Torres misses with a takedown attempt

and Riley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Riley won't allow Torres to sweep him here.
Riley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Riley trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.

Torres is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Riley accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Torres had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Riley is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Torres Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Riley's back instead.
Riley breaks Torres's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres striking off his back but it's not causing Riley any problems.
Riley cracks Torres with a solid left hand.
Torres keeping moving, preventing Riley from controlling successfully.
Torres can't keep his opponent in guard - Riley advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Riley trying to control from half guard but Torres is working away.
Riley seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Torres wants to get back to full guard.
Riley is tying to control. Torres wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Torres is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Riley drops an elbow to the side of Torres's head.
Torres tries to roll over but Riley keeps him under control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Torres with a lazy takedown attempt

and Riley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
CJ Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thiago Torres.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Torres lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Riley!
Torres is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Riley can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Riley dominated that second round.
That's time! Riley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Riley drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Torres avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Torres manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Riley manages to get himself to full guard.

Riley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Torres can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Torres distracts Riley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Torres trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Torres avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Torres is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Torres postures up in Riley's guard and throws a big left but Riley blocks it.
Riley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Riley is looking for a triangle but Torres pushes his legs off easily.
Riley is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Riley trying to control the action but Torres is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Riley seems to be working for a kimura but Torres defends the submission attempt.
Riley content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres regains full guard. Nicely done.
Torres looking to hit a scissor sweep but Riley is one step ahead there.
Torres striking from the bottom.

Torres throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Riley drops back looking for a leg! Torres is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Torres manages to kick Riley off! Riley jumps back into Torres's guard.
Riley tries to free his leg and advance position but Torres is retaining full guard.
Riley stands and throws Torres's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Riley moves into full mount!

Riley looking for a guillotine from mount but Torres is having none of it.
Riley with shots to the head and body - Torres looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley trying to control but Torres is having none of it.

Riley wants to finish this one by submission but Torres is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Riley.

Riley looking to secure an arm triangle but Torres defends it well.
Torres working to try and regain half guard.
Riley trying to control but Torres is having none of it.
Riley fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Riley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Torres is looking to escape.
Riley scoring with strikes but Torres is staying in there.
Torres is squirming around, avoiding Riley's attempts to control the action.
Riley is really struggling to control Torres but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Torres is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley tries to control but Torres wriggling away.

Riley looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Torres flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Riley with the ground and pound from mount.
Torres swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Torres tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Riley with shots to the head and body - Torres looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thiago Torres has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Torres is bucking up trying to escape but Riley cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Riley working Torres over with strikes here.

Riley is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Torres can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Torres is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The referee warns Torres that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Riley is working for a guillotine from mount but Torres frees his head quite easily.
Riley tries to control but Torres wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley connects with a bit shot that sees Torres covering up! More strikes from Torres and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Riley is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). CJ Riley!