PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andreas Riffel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uncle Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uncle Rico told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Riffel
vs
Rico

170 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

174 cm
30
190 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andreas Riffel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Uncle Rico!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riffel looks for a takedown but Rico sprawls well.
Rico throws a body punch but Riffel moves out of range.
Rico fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Riffel misses with a takedown attempt
and Rico counters with a nice body shot.
Rico ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riffel moves away.
Rico swings for the body but Riffel moves out of range.
Riffel has his takedown stuffed
and Rico counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andreas Riffel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riffel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rico sprawls well. Rico wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Riffel gets slowly back to his feet.
Rico connects with a jab.
Riffel fails with the takedown
and Rico counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Riffel fails with the takedown
and Rico counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riffel shoots and misses
and Rico counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Riffel or perhaps it was just good defense by Rico which made him look bad.
Riffel is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rico.
Riffel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Riffel tries for a takedown but Rico circles away easily
enabling Rico to counter with a crisp jab.
Rico swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Riffel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rico was covering up waiting for the punch and Riffel finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Riffel wants to pass the guard but Rico is keeping the position.
Riffel stopping the sweep attempt from Rico.
Rico is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riffel stopping the sweep attempt from Rico.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rico has control of Riffel's left arm, preventing Riffel from doing any damage.
Rico looking to control.

Uncle Rico has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Riffel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rico to the ground. Riffel is now in Rico's guard.
Rico working a defensive guard here.
Riffel passes Rico's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Riffel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rico defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riffel trying to mount his opponent but Rico defends it.
Riffel stalling away here and it's allowed Rico to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Riffel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rico controls Riffel momentarily but Riffel frees himself.
Riffel passes easily into side control. Nice work.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Riffel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rico tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Riffel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riffel thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Riffel tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Riffel has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Riffel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rico has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Rico's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico is looking to regain half guard here but Riffel keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Andreas Riffel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Riffel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Riffel needs to keep his hands up - Rico had a free shot at his head there.
Riffel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rico sprawls well. Rico wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Riffel gets slowly back to his feet.
Andreas Riffel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riffel misses with a takedown attempt
and Rico counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Riffel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rico sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Riffel somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andreas Riffel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rico takes a swing at Riffel's ribcage but misses.
Riffel takes one to the side of the head.
Riffel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rico makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Riffel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Riffel has his takedown stuffed
and Rico connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Riffel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rico's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riffel looking to pass the guard.
Rico is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Riffel looking to pass the guard.
Rico wants to sweep but no luck.
Rico bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Riffel's guard.

Riffel is looking to sinch up a triangle. Rico throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Riffel's body to avoid the submission. Riffel has instead reached around Rico's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Riffel arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Andreas Riffel!