PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Billy Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buakaw Borcrao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buakaw Borcrao struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.7lbs 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. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Riley
vs
Borcrao

172 cm
33
140 lbs
17 - 32 - 1

164 cm
21
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 32 - 1, fighting out of London, Billy Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Buakaw Borcrao!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley fails with a takedown attempt.
Borcrao scores with a jab to the jaw.
Riley misses with a head kick.
Borcrao throws a series of punches but Riley avoids them all with ease.
Riley throws a head kick that misses.
Borcrao dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A punch combination from Borcrao misses.
Borcrao scores with a one two! Riley had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Borcrao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Borcrao throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Riley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Borcrao walks away with a smile on his face. Riley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Borcrao lands a jab to the nose.
Riley shoots in looking for a takedown. Borcrao tries to sprawl out of it but Riley keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Borcrao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Borcrao connects with a single shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Borcrao rushes Riley and presses him up against the cage.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Borcrao landing knees to the head.
Borcrao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Riley avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Borcrao looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Borcrao misses with a knee to the head.
Riley is trying to pull guard but Borcrao has him pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Borcrao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Riley's brow.
Borcrao throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Riley blocks an elbow strike.

Riley breaks from the clinch.
Borcrao stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Borcrao wants it to stay on the feet.
Riley throws a right and a left that Borcrao avoids nicely.
Nice shot lands for Borcrao.
Borcrao works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Borcrao just misses with a punch to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riley.
Riley chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Borcrao can pounce on him.
A jab from Borcrao misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Riley or perhaps it was just good defense by Borcrao which made him look bad.
Riley dives in and grabs Borcrao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Borcrao pushes down on Riley's head and hops out.
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!
Borcrao cracks Riley with a good jab.
Riley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Borcrao moves into range and clinches up with Riley.

Riley has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Borcrao uses from the top position.
Borcrao showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Riley seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Buakaw Borcrao was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Borcrao connects with an inside leg kick.
Borcrao tries to land a front kick but Riley steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Riley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Borcrao swivels and escapes.
Riley has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Borcrao has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Borcrao displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Riley.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Riley.
Borcrao is trying to control Riley's posture but Riley avoids it.

Riley tries for a kimura but Borcrao is defending well.
Borcrao dodges the ground and pound from Riley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Riley working away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riley throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Borcrao regains half guard.

Riley 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.
Borcrao is pressing down on Riley's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riley throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Borcrao dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Riley forces Borcrao back against the cage and clinches.
Borcrao scores with a knee to the head.
Riley wants to get back to striking at distance but Borcrao won't allow it.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Riley avoids a wild elbow strike from Borcrao.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Riley tries to break the clinch but Borcrao is controlling the position.
Riley avoids the elbow strike from Borcrao, against the cage.
Borcrao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riley.

Riley gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Borcrao regains guard.
Riley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riley looking to sit in guard and control but Borcrao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Borcrao is fighting to break Riley's control of his arms but Riley is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borcrao content to stall in guard here.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Billy Riley just wasn't active enough.

Riley has closed the distance and engaged Borcrao in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Borcrao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Borcrao tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riley goes for a takedown attempt but Borcrao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Riley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Borcrao throws a jab when Riley was well out of range.
Borcrao lands with a shot to the body.

Borcrao clinches up against the cage.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Riley is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Borcrao gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Borcrao misses with an elbow over the top.
Borcrao lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Borcrao looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Borcrao lands a knee to the head.
Borcrao tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Borcrao lands a knee to the head.

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

Riley decides to pull guard.
Borcrao sitting in guard here, content to control.
Riley is trying to control the position but Borcrao postures up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Buakaw Borcrao hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Riley shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Borcrao pinned against the cage. Borcrao gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Buakaw Borcrao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Borcrao lands with a hook. Riley tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Riley has closed the distance and engaged Borcrao in a clinch.
Riley is trying to pull guard but Borcrao turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Borcrao throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Borcrao lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Borcrao throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Riley blocks it with crossed arms.
Riley working hard to break the clinch.
Riley avoids a wild elbow strike from Borcrao.
Riley drops down looking for an ankle pick but Borcrao pulls his leg out and moves away.
Riley on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Borcrao. Borcrao obviously looking to wear him down.
Borcrao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Riley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Borcrao but Borcrao pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Borcrao misses with a body kick.
Borcrao misses with a wild combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Riley shoots for a double leg takedown but Borcrao sprawls well. He's pushed Riley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Borcrao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riley manages to avoid it.
Borcrao lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buakaw Borcrao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Riley fails with the takedown
and Borcrao counters with a three punch combo that has Riley backing up. Riley nods at Borcrao to acknowledge the strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Borcrao pushes off an throws an elbow but Riley leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Borcrao creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Riley's defenses.
Riley fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Borcrao misses with an elbow strike.
Borcrao scores with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Borcrao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Riley's brow.
Borcrao landing knees to the head.
Riley avoiding damage as Borcrao throws knees to the body.

Riley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borcrao is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Riley wants to control the position but Borcrao says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borcrao tries to stand and escape but Riley is controlling the position.
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.
Borcrao is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Buakaw Borcrao hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Riley moves into the clinch successfully.
Borcrao landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Nice elbow from Borcrao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borcrao lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Borcrao lands a damaging elbow.
Riley blocks the elbow strike.
Riley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Borcrao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riley takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Borcrao fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Riley has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Riley closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Riley tries for a takedown but Borcrao manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Riley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Borcrao keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Riley's efforts to push away.
Borcrao throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Knees in the clinch landing for Borcrao.
Riley dodges an elbow strike from Borcrao.
Borcrao with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Riley's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borcrao throws a knee to the head but misses.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Borcrao blocking some punches.
Borcrao looking to throw knees to the head but Riley is blocking nicely.
Borcrao tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Borcrao connects with a nasty looking knee right to Riley's face.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Riley.
Borcrao lands a nice elbow.
Riley is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Borcrao to keep the fight standing.
Riley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Borcrao creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Borcrao pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Riley struggles to land a body shot inside as Borcrao controls his hands.
Riley is looking to take this one to the mat.
Borcrao lands an elbow that stopped Riley in his tracks for a moment.
Riley avoids a wild elbow strike from Borcrao.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Borcrao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Riley's brow.
Borcrao using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Riley has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borcrao tries to land knees in the clinch but Riley avoids the damage to the body.
Borcrao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Riley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Borcrao gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
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 misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Riley shoots in but Borcrao avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Billy Riley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sloppy strikes from Borcrao. Those never looked like landing.
Some wild striking there from Borcrao.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Borcrao misses with a few strikes there.

Borcrao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Billy Riley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Borcrao tries a knee to the head but Riley blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buakaw Borcrao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Borcrao 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buakaw Borcrao!
A very excited looking Buakaw Borcrao rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.