PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Rihana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stefanie Go (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rihana
vs
Go

173 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Rihana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stefanie Go!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Go gets a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Go drops an elbow to the side of Rihana's head.
Rihana is trying to get back to full guard.

Go is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rihana defends it well.
Go is keen to just control but Rihana is a slippery customer.
Go looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Go is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Go is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Go is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rihana holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Rihana has one foot on Go's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Rihana connects with a solid leg kick.
Rihana shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Go pinned against the cage. Go gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Go stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Go wants it to stay on the feet.
Go throws a series of strikes that have Rihana backpedaling.
Go displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rihana.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steven Rihana. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rihana will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rihana tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Go is able to avoid easily.
Go closes the distance and clinches up with Rihana, looking for a takedown. Go pushes Rihana against the cage but Rihana circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rihana is looking to clinch.
Rihana tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rihana stuffs the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rihana connects with a high kick.
Go pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Go closes the distance and pushes Rihana back into the cage.
Go has had enough of the clinch but Rihana keeps him there for the moment.
Rihana has Go pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Go manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Go blocks an elbow strike.

Go decides to pull guard.

Rihana gets to his feet. Go looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Go looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Go throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick misses from Go.
Rihana is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rihana looks to land a combination but Go avoids it well.
Rihana feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Go's calf.
Rihana looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Go is fending him off so far but Rihana persists. Nope, Go circles away and we're back to standing.
Rihana avoids the head kick by Go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Go is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Rihana has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Go uses from the top position.
Go working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Go works over Rihana with some ground and pound from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rihana wants to stand up but Go is controlling him.
Rihana is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Go not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Go trying to control the position from guard on top but Rihana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Go wants to pass the guard but Rihana is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefanie Go dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rihana looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Go is fending him off so far but Rihana persists. Nope, Go circles away and we're back to standing.

Go closes the distance and clinches.
Rihana is trying to drag Go to the mat but Go just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rihana wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Go successfully pulls guard.
Rihana postures up.
Rihana wants to get up but he can't break Go's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Go will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Go striking off his back but it's not causing Rihana any problems.
Rihana postures up in Go's guard and throws a big left but Go blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Go lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rihana!
Go controlling from mount.
Rihana is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Stefanie Go has got the better of the ground game so far.

Go has hold of Rihana's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rihana manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rihana is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Go tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Go avoids the attempt from Rihana to control.
Go unloading with bombs!
Go breaks from Rihana's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Go controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Go has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rihana wants to control but Go is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Go wants to control the pace but Rihana is squirming around nicely.

Go wants to finish this one by submission but Rihana is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Go.
Go avoids the attempt from Rihana to control.
Go controlling his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rihana is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rihana is trying to stand but he's just given Go his back.
Rihana is trying to get back to his feet but Go has full control of the position and if anything, Rihana has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Go is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Rihana is defending well though. Go let's go of the attempt for now.
Go wants to control the position but Rihana frees himself and scrambles - Go manages to regain control in side control.
Go working the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Go has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Rihana!
Rihana is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefanie Go showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Go tries to clinch up but Rihana circles away and keeps his distance.
Go throws a leg kick
and Rihana counters with a nice leg kick.
Go shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rihana sprawls well. Rihana wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Go gets slowly back to his feet.
Rihana doesn't manage to clinch there - Go circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Go is defended easily by Rihana.
Rihana doesn't manage to clinch there - Go circles away.
Go fails with a takedown attempt.
Steven Rihana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stefanie Go.
Rihana closes this distance looking for a takedown but Go circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Go swats away the attempt to clinch by Rihana.
Go misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rihana shoots in and drives through. Go sprawls well.
Go takes a swing at Rihana's ribcage but misses.
Rihana is looking to clinch but Go is avoiding it.
Rihana tries to close the distance and clinch but Go swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Go fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rihana, pushing him back against the cage.
Go is trying to pull guard but Rihana turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Go takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Go has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rihana is trying to keep an underhook but Go manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Go is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rihana wants to get back to his feet.

Go is working for a kimura but Rihana is defending it quite comfortably.
Rihana makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rihana.

Rihana is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Go stays in close to Rihana's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rihana preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rihana is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Go is controlling him.
Go is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rihana not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Go trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Go rushes Rihana and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rihana pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Go rushes Rihana and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rihana throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rihana jumps guard but Go stands there with Rihana around his waist. Rihana gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rihana is trying to pull guard but Go has him pressed against the cage.

Go pulls Rihana into guard.

Go working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rihana doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rihana manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Go is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Go not doing much here.
Steven Rihana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stefanie Go is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Go 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefanie Go comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Go 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefanie Go!