PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Bova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Devin Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bova
vs
Riley

187 cm
20
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lenny Bova!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Devin Riley!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bova uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riley.
Riley throws a right hand that misses
and Bova connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Riley misses with a wild body shot.
Riley looks to land a left hand but Bova moved out of range nicely.
Riley misses with a wild body shot.
Riley takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bova tries to clinch but Riley moves out of range.
Riley walks into a jab.
Riley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bova manages to avoid it.
Riley swings widly with a right hand
and Bova counters with a nice low kick that buckles Riley's knee momentarily.
Bova throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bova looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Riley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Riley throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bova counters with an outside leg kick.
Riley throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bova sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bova defending well as Riley loads up on a big left hand.
Bova keeps Riley at a distance using the push kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bova connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Riley misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bova.
Riley misses with a body shot.
Bova moves out of range as Riley strikes.
Riley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Bova clinches with his opponent.
Bova throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Riley scores with a hook to the body.
Bova trying to control the position but instead, Riley has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bova into the cage.
Bova prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
Bova goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Riley misses with a punch on the inside.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Bova looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Bova tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova is controlling him.
Riley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bova is trying to stall.
Riley can't break the clinch.
The referee calls for Bova to work.
Bova looking to slow down the pace here.
Riley's coach down at BigMouth Cabrons was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Riley's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Stalling in the clinch from Bova.
A frustrated look appears on Riley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Riley is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Bova looking to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lenny Bova.
Riley thows a body shot but no joy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Riley throws a lazy right hand but Bova sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bova.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Riley.
Riley misses with an uppercut. Bova saw that one coming.
Bova lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bova dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Riley. That did some damage!
Riley swats away the attempt to clinch by Bova.
Riley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Riley looks to score with a jab to the body but Bova is just out of range.
Riley uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bova.
Bova moves in looking to clinch but Riley pushes him off.
Bova is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Riley takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A swing and a miss from Riley.
Bova looks for the body kick but Riley saw that one coming.
Riley looks to land a right hand but Bova moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley defending well as Bova loads up on a big left hand.
Bova ducks under a wild hook from Riley.
Riley looks to land a left hand but Bova moved out of range nicely.
Bova throws a shot from downtown. Riley moves away and avoids it.
Riley missing with a left hand there. Bova was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riley loads up on a big right hand but Bova slips the punch.
Bova tries to clinch there but Riley circles away.
Bova is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Bova moves into the clinch successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bova trying to control the position but instead, Riley has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bova into the cage.
Bova prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova is controlling him.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Riley blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bova is looking to clinch but Riley is avoiding it.
Bova connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bova staying out of range there.
Bova lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bova is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bova staying out of range there.
Riley looks to land a left hand but Bova moved out of range nicely.
Bova throws a looping overhand right but Riley ducks down to avoid it.
Bova connects with a leg kick. Riley looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Riley clobbers Bova with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bova will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Devin Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bova throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Riley throws a hook to the side of Bova's head but Bova sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bova throws a jab but it's blocked by Riley.
Bova pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Riley throws the left hand but Bova avoids the punch easily.
Bova is looking to slow Riley down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bova with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Riley moves out of range as Bova throws a body kick.
Riley might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
That kick from Bova tenderised Riley's leg. Riley is trying to keep his angry face on.
A big left from Riley misses.
Riley throws an overhand right that lands on Bova's shoulder, as Bova tries to avoid the shot.
Riley loads up on a big right hand but Bova slips the punch.
A shot to the liver by Riley. Beautiful body shot.
Riley throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bova counters with a good low kick that Riley was not able to check.
Bova misses with a few strikes there.
Riley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bova.
Riley missing with a left hand there. Bova was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riley. Bova does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riley misses with a lunging right hand
and Bova counters with a nice body kick.

Bova darts in and clinches Riley up against the cage.
Bova lands an elbow inside that Riley shrugs off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bova comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Riley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bova is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bova.
Riley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Riley struggles to land a body shot inside as Bova controls his hands.
Come on Bova - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Riley managing to block the knees to the body from Bova.
Bova prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
Bova scores with a knee to the head.
Bova throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Riley wants to get back to striking at distance but Bova won't allow it.
Bova keeps control of Riley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
Bova keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Riley's efforts to push away.
Bova trying to stall but Riley improves his position.
Bova connects with a knee to the head.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova is controlling him.
Bova stalling.
A frustrated look appears on Riley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Riley wants to break the clinch but can't.
Riley avoids a wild elbow strike from Bova.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bova.
Riley is looking to break free of the clinch but Bova has double underhooks.
Bova stalling.
Bova tries a knee to the head but Riley blocks it.
Bova is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bova landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Riley is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bova tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Bova fails to land.
Bova wants to stall.
Bova has Riley pressed against the cage, preventing Riley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bova has Riley pressed against the cage, preventing Riley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Riley's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Riley takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bova lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bova lands a damaging elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bova.

It looks like Devin Riley has been cut.
Stalling in the clinch from Bova.
Riley tries to circle away but Bova has him pinned against the cage.
Nice elbow from Bova.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Bova dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Devin Riley's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Riley misses with a straight right.
Riley stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Riley uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bova has time to react.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bova darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Riley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bova.
Lenny Bova is winning the standup battle so far.
Riley looks to throw the jab but Bova is out of range.
Bova tries to clinch up but Riley circles away and keeps his distance.
Bova scores with a hook.
Riley jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Riley misses with a lunging right hand
and Bova counters with a stiff right hand.
Bova throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bova jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riley lands a glancing blow to the side of Bova's head.
Bova uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Riley.
Riley ducks under a wild hook from Bova.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley keeps the fight on the outside.
Bova closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bova uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riley.
The fighters circling - Riley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Riley throws out a loose jab but Bova uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bova lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Bova closes the distance and clinches.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bova throws an elbow that misses.
Riley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Bova is trying to maintain a safe position but Riley gets an underhook and turns Bova into the cage.
Bova pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Riley tries to work over Bova's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Riley dodges an elbow strike from Bova.
Bova prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
Riley wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Lenny Bova has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Riley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Riley wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Bova misses with an elbow strike.
Bova has a couple of punches blocked by Riley.
Nice elbow from Bova.
Bova throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bova.
Bova lands with a light punch inside.
Riley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bova misses with the head strike.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bova is trying to stall.
Riley tries to circle away but Bova has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bova lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bova lands a nice elbow.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Bova trying to control the position but instead, Riley has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bova into the cage.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Bova crunches a lovely knee into Riley's ribcage.
Riley has had enough of the clinch but Bova keeps him there for the moment.
Riley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riley is trying to break the clinch but Bova has him pressed against the cage.
Riley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bova comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bova is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bova creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Riley's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bova stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bova.
Riley takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bova lands an elbow inside that Riley shrugs off.
Riley takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bova is trying to stall.
Bova landing knees to the head.
Bova connects with a knee to the head.
Bova scores with a shoulder strike.
Riley takes an elbow to the temple.
Bova throws a punch but it's blocked by Riley.
Bova lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bova effectively controlling the action here.
Bova lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Bova throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rileys head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Bova clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Devin Riley's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Riley throws out a loose jab but Bova uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riley scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Riley misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Bova to counter with a crisp jab.
Riley looks to land a right hand but Bova moved out of range.
Bova lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bova moves in looking to clinch but Riley pushes him off.
Bova throws out a powerful jab.
Riley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Bova.
Riley rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bova counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Riley swings widly with a right hand
and Bova counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Riley just misses with a punch to the body.
Riley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bova counters with an outside leg kick.
Riley is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A telegraphed right hand from Riley misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley looks to throw the jab but Bova is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bova looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bova loads up on a big right hand but Riley slips the punch.
Riley throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bova counters with a low kick, right behind Riley 's knee.
Riley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bova uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Riley.
Riley misses with a lunging right hand
and Bova counters with a solid body kick.
Riley takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Riley throws a right hand that misses
and Bova counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A punch lands to the side of Riley 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Riley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Riley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bova lands a leg kick that knocks Riley off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
A slow jab from Riley misses its intended target.
A head kick from Bova lands but Riley takes it in his stride.
Bova lunges at Riley with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Riley's hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riley tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bova connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Crunch! Bova slams his shin into Riley's torso.
Riley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bova manages to avoid it.
Riley swings widly with a right hand
and Bova counters with a stiff right hand.
Riley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bova fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Riley paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bova moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova misses with a head kick.
Riley misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bova.
Bova tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Riley avoids the head kick by Bova.
Bova walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Riley throws a body punch but Bova moves out of range.
Riley has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Riley takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Riley missing with a left hand there. Bova was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bova manages to avoid it.
Riley throws a lazy uppercut
and Bova counters with a body kick that stops Riley in his tracks momentarily.
Bova bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A big left from Bova misses.
Bova slips a straight right by Riley.

Bova moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bova is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Bova swings wildly with an uppercut but Riley uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bova lands a nice uppercut.
Riley misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Riley lands a body punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riley is trying to force a seperation but Bova has the dominant position.
Bova keeps control of Riley as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bova has Riley pressed against the cage, preventing Riley from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Riley can't break the clinch.
Riley blocks an elbow strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bova takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Bova had his way with Devin Riley in that round.
The cut man is working on Devin Riley's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bova closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Riley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riley throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bova wants to clinch.
Bova is looking to slow Riley down with leg kicks.
A jab lands there for Riley.
Bova misses with a series of wild punches.
Riley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bova.
Riley throws a jab but it's blocked by Bova.
Bova tries to clinch up but Riley circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley misses with a left hand
letting Bova counter with a right hand.
A big right from Riley misses.
Bova throws a front kick aimed at Riley's knee but Riley avoids it well.
Bova throws a body punch but Riley moves out of range.
Bova jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riley loads up on a big right hand but Bova slips the punch.
Bova staying out of range there.
Riley has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Bova.
A head kick from Bova lands but Riley takes it in his stride.
Riley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bova throws out the jab.
Bova moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Riley misses the target.
Riley tests Bova's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Donk. Riley catches Bova right on the button with a cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley throws a poor cross that misses
and Riley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Riley jabs at Bova's body.
Riley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bova.
Bova takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bova tries to close the distance and clinch but Riley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bova pivots, looking for a leg kick but Riley is out of range and Bova settles back down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riley ducks under a wild hook from Bova.
Riley misses with a straight right.
Bova throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
Bova throws a hook to the side of Riley's head but Riley sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Riley slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bova lands a leg kick that knocks Riley off balance momentarily.
Riley throws an overhand right that lands on Bova's shoulder, as Bova tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bova feints and then cracks Riley's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Riley down.
Nice uppercut lands for Riley. That snapped Bova's head back.
Bova slips a straight right by Riley.
Riley misses with a body shot.
Riley thuds a left hand into Bova's body.
Riley is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Riley misses with a wild body shot.
Bova throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bova lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Riley circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice shot lands for Riley.
Bova defending well as Riley loads up on a big left hand.
Riley lands a two punch combo.
Riley cracks a nice hook into Bova's ribs.
Bova needs to keep his hands up - Riley had a free shot at his head there.
Riley lands a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bova tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Riley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bova uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riley.
Riley throws a looping overhand right but Bova ducks down to avoid it.
Riley lands a nice looking body shot.
Riley just misses with a punch to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bova keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Riley misses with a right hand
and Bova counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bova on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bova uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Riley.
Bova tries to clinch there but Riley circles away.
Devin Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bova throws a looping overhand right but Riley ducks down to avoid it.
Riley on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riley. Bova does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devin Riley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bova 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 49:46
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 49:46
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenny Bova!
Lenny Bova retains his welterweight title!
Our winner, Lenny Bova, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.