PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darko El Kharraz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angel Riori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Angel Riori struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. On his way into the cage it seems that Darko El Kharraz has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Darko El Kharraz seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

El Kharraz
vs
Riori

182 cm
25
168 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

160 cm
27
170 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Darko El Kharraz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Angel Riori!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riori gets the takedown into side control.
Riori trying to control the action but El Kharraz is working from the bottom.
El Kharraz manages to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El Kharraz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Riori trying to pass the guard but El Kharraz defending well.

Riori is working for a submission of some sort.
El Kharraz tries to roll over but Riori keeps him under control.
Riori wants to lay and pray for a moment but El Kharraz keeps working.
El Kharraz manages to get to full guard.
Riori is in close to El Kharraz's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

El Kharraz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

El Kharraz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Riori is aware though and is defending well.
Riori forces his way into half guard.

El Kharraz looking for submissions off his back.
El Kharraz tries to get to full guard but Riori has control of the leg.
Riori passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for El Kharraz!
El Kharraz is trying desperately to improve position.

Riori has hold of El Kharraz's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and El Kharraz manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Riori with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riori trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Riori landing shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Riori is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. El Kharraz can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Riori tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
El Kharraz is looking to improve his position but Riori isn't that keen on the idea.

Riori is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. El Kharraz can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
El Kharraz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riori lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Kharraz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
El Kharraz is working hard here to advance position.
Riori trying to control but El Kharraz is having none of it.
El Kharraz is trying to escape the mount.
Riori cracks El Kharraz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
El Kharraz is trying to escape the mount.

Riori is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Riori!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Angel Riori!