PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rahkim Abdullah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Riordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Riordan has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Abdullah
vs
Riordan

190 cm
24
168 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

182 cm
25
185 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rahkim Abdullah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Riordan!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Abdullah fails with the takedown.

Riordan clinches with his opponent.
Abdullah dodges an elbow strike from Riordan.
Abdullah blocks the elbow strike.
Riordan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Riordan lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Riordan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Abdullah's brow.
Riordan goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Abdullah blocks an elbow strike from Riordan.
Riordan creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Abdullah's defenses.
A bit of stalling here from Abdullah.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riordan just leaning against Abdullah, taking a breather.
Abdullah blocks an elbow strike from Riordan.
Riordan comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Riordan is looking to control Abdullah's arms but Abdullah gets an underhook and turns him. Now Riordan has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullah is looking to take this one to the mat.
Riordan pushes off an throws an elbow but Abdullah leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Abdullah takes an elbow to the temple.
Abdullah takes an elbow to the temple.
Abdullah blocks an elbow strike from Riordan.
Abdullah is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Riordan is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahkim Abdullah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Abdullah blocks an elbow strike from Riordan.
I was talking to Abdullah's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Riordan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Abdullah prevents a body shot from Riordan.
Riordan tries a body shot but Abdullah blocks it.
Abdullah avoids a wild elbow strike from Riordan.
Riordan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Riordan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Abdullah drops down looking for an ankle pick but Riordan pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riordan moves in looking to clinch but Abdullah pushes him off.
Tommy Riordan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Riordan moves forwards but Abdullah connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Abdullah throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Abdullah closes the distance and clinches up with Riordan, looking for a takedown. Abdullah pushes Riordan against the cage but Riordan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Riordan is looking to clinch.
Riordan avoids the body shot from Abdullah.
Abdullah tries for a takedown but Riordan circles away easily

and Riordan moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Riordan throws an elbow but misses.
Riordan throws an elbow but it misses.
Riordan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Abdullah.
Abdullah avoids the elbow strike from Riordan, against the cage.
Riordan creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Abdullah's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah avoids a wild elbow strike from Riordan.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Abdullah as Riordan tries to tie him up.
With the fighters up against the cage, Riordan throws an elbow but misses.
Abdullah drops down looking for an ankle pick but Riordan pulls his leg out and moves away.
Abdullah shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abdullah shoots for a double leg takedown but Riordan sprawls well. He's pushed Abdullah's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abdullah really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Abdullah throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Riordan.
Abdullah goes for a double leg but Riordan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Riordan continues to drive forward.
Abdullah is working for takedown but Riordan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Riordan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Riordan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Abdullah's brow.
Riordan gets underhooks to prevent Abdullah's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riordan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Abdullah blocks the elbow strike.
Riordan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Riordan throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Riordan throws an elbow but misses.
Riordan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Abdullah goes for a takedown in the clinch but Riordan prevents it.
Riordan misses with an elbow strike.
Abdullah is trying to drag Riordan to the mat but Riordan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Riordan dominated that round.
That's time! Abdullah's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Abdullah looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Riordan tries to clinch there but Abdullah circles away.
Abdullah misses with a hook. Riordan ducked under it nicely.
Abdullah looks to score with a jab to the body but Riordan is just out of range.
Riordan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Abdullah.
Riordan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riordan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rahkim Abdullah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Riordan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Abdullah misses with a wild body shot.
Riordan has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Riordan tries to clinch but Abdullah is having none of it.
Abdullah shoots in for a takedown but Riordan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahkim Abdullah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riordan tries to close the distance and clinch but Abdullah swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abdullah circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riordan clinches.
Abdullah avoids a wild elbow strike from Riordan.
Riordan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riordan trying to stall but Abdullah improves his position.
Riordan throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abdullah turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Abdullah trying to control the action but Riordan is working from the bottom.
Riordan gets back to half guard.
Abdullah is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Riordan wants to control but Abdullah is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Abdullah lands with a punch from half guard.
Abdullah content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Abdullah connects with a nice short shot to Riordan's temple.
Riordan is looking for a sweep. Abdullah is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riordan trying to control from the bottom.

Riordan actively working from the bottom here.
Abdullah thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riordan's head.
Abdullah prevents Riordan from improving his position.
Riordan trying to control but Abdullah postures up.
Riordan is trying to get back to full guard.
Riordan is concentrating on defense, preventing Abdullah from advancing position.
Abdullah winds up and cracks Riordan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Abdullah trying to control the action but Riordan is working from the bottom.
Abdullah misses with a head shot. Riordan uses the momentum to regain guard.
Abdullah has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Abdullah wants to control from the top but Riordan keeps moving.
Abdullah keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Riordan's head.
Abdullah is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Abdullah postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Riordan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Abdullah controls the pace.
Riordan is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Riordan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Abdullah trying to control but Riordan is working from the bottom.
Riordan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Abdullah.
Riordan trying to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Abdullah throwing strikes but missing.
Abdullah landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abdullah wants to control from the top but Riordan keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rahkim Abdullah dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Riordan. No joy for Abdullah on that attempt.
Riordan throws a jab when Abdullah was well out of range.
Abdullah throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riordan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Abdullah keeps the fight on the outside.
Abdullah slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Riordan. No joy for Abdullah on that attempt.
Riordan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Riordan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Abdullah swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Riordan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Riordan misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riordan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Riordan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Riordan lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Riordan pushes off an throws an elbow but Abdullah leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullah dodges an elbow strike from Riordan.
Riordan lands an elbow that stopped Abdullah in his tracks for a moment.
Riordan prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rahkim Abdullah. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riordan throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Abdullah drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Riordan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Riordan just misses with a elbow thrown towards Abdullah's brow.
Riordan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Abdullah changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Riordan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Riordan fails in his attempt to clinch.

Abdullah looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah tries to pass the half guard into mount. Riordan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Abdullah looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Riordan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Abdullah content to control rather than advance.
Riordan trying to control from the bottom.
Riordan wants to control but Abdullah passes into side.
Abdullah wants to control but Riordan is keeping him busy.
Abdullah working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Abdullah postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riordan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Riordan is trying to maintain the position but Abdullah is very close to passing his half guard.
Riordan is trying to get back to full guard.
Abdullah trying to advance position but Riordan counters by regaining guard.
Riordan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Abdullah scoring with punches to the head and body.
Riordan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Abdullah is working Riordan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Riordan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Abdullah is one step ahead there.
Abdullah is working Riordan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Riordan is trying to control the position but Abdullah postures up.
Rahkim Abdullah overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Abdullah trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Abdullah postures up and lands a big shot to Riordan's brow.
Riordan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Abdullah.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Abdullah wants to control from the top but Riordan keeps moving.
Riordan is trying to keep Abdullah in close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rahkim Abdullah.
I think Abdullah has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rahkim Abdullah!
Rahkim Abdullah opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.