PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rico Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rider
vs
Thomas

189 cm
24
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rico Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rider looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rider counters with a nice double leg into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rider 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.
Rider trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rico Rider has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Rider has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rider has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thomas clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Thomas tries to roll but Rider sticks to his back.
Thomas is keeping busy.
Thomas covering up well and avoiding damage.
Rider biding his time, controlling Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rider looking for the choke but no joy.

Thomas defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rider's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Rider decides to stand up.
Thomas throws a combination that misses
and Rider counters with a one-two to the body.
Rider steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rider lands a jab to Thomas's midsection.

Rider has closed the distance and engaged Thomas in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rider breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rider shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Rider circles away.
Thomas tries to bum rush Rider with a series of wild strikes but Rider uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas with a poor takedown
and Rider makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rider misses with a head kick.

Thomas gets caught flat footed, as Rider shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thomas looks winded!

Rider gets to his feet. Thomas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rider circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rider jabs Thomas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Rider. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rider tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.
Thomas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rider.

Rider moves into the clinch.

Thomas pulls guard.

Rider stands and steps away. Thomas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Rider rushes Thomas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rider is defending well.

Rider gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Rider gets to his feet. Thomas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rider stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas misses with a takedown

and Rider counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rider.
Rico Rider has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Thomas.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider cracks Thomas with a solid left hand.
Rider controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rider passes Thomas's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rider stands up out of the half guard.
Rider gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
Thomas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rider some visible discomfort.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rider regains half guard.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Rider is having none of it.
Rider has his hands clasped together around Thomas's back. He's all about the action.

Rider is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rider is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thomas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thomas's back!
Rider trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Thomas doesn't escape.
Thomas tries to escape the position.

Rider is looking for the choke from the back position but Thomas is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rider is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Thomas is defending well though. Rider let's go of the attempt for now.
Rider is punishing Thomas with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rider is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Thomas knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Thomas for a finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Rider dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rider shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rider's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rider shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Rider misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Rider. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Rider avoids them all with ease.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Rider keeps it at a distance.
Thomas shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rider eats them both and turns towards Thomas to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rider shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
Rider's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thomas connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rider scrambles back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rider prevents a body shot from Thomas.
Thomas is working for takedown but Rider is calmly controlling the position for now.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rider counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thomas's guard now.
Rider's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rider is looking to advance position but Thomas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Rider is trying to escape the mount.
Rider's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas lands a big elbow.
Thomas prevents Rider from getting the reversal.
Rider avoids a series of strikes thrown by Thomas.
Thomas looking to control but Rider is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas is landing with some decent strikes but Rider is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
BOOM! Thomas connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rider tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.
Rider on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rider tries to get out of the position.
Thomas lands with some strikes.
Rider tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Thomas.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thomas cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rider really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rider is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thomas working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Rider regains half guard.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rider works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thomas throws a strike but Rider rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rider stops Thomas from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider postures up and lands a big shot to Thomas's brow.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rider stands up from guard. Let's bang!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Chris Thomas.
Well Rider has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Rider!