PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between CJ Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Ortiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Riley
vs
Ortiz

176 cm
23
153 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
150 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, CJ Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex Ortiz!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley throws a hook to the side of Ortiz's head but Ortiz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Riley misses with a hook.
A head kick misses from Riley.
Good shot there by Riley.
Ortiz misses with a hook. Riley ducked under it nicely.
Riley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ortiz.
Ortiz swings for the body but Riley moves out of range.
Ortiz blocks a head kick by Riley.
Riley lands a slapping body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Riley as Ortiz shoots in.
Ortiz thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ortiz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ortiz misses the jab.
Riley misses with an uppercut.
Ortiz throws a series of punches but Riley avoids them all with ease.
Riley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Riley shoots in and bounces Ortiz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ortiz is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ortiz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ortiz looks gassed!
Riley pushes down on Ortiz's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Riley landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ortiz is looking to improve his position.
Riley wants to free his trapped foot but Ortiz is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ground and pound from Riley.

Ortiz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Riley lands a nice short elbow.

Riley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ortiz doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Riley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riley is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Riley lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Riley passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ortiz!
Ortiz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Riley working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Riley is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ortiz is surviving well by controlling Riley's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ortiz is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ortiz and Riley has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ortiz manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ortiz is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Riley!
Riley tries to reverse the position but Ortiz maintains control.

Ortiz has hold of Riley's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Riley manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Riley regains half guard.
Riley manages to get to full guard.

Riley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Riley's guard.

Riley actively working from the bottom here.

Riley is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Ortiz pulls his head out easily.
Ortiz works his foot free and advances to mount.
Riley sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Riley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riley wants to sweep here but Ortiz controlling him for the moment.

Ortiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Riley.
Ortiz tries to clinch but Riley moves out of range.
Riley looks to land a body kick but Ortiz moved away.
Ortiz tries to clinch up but Riley circles away and keeps his distance.
Riley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ortiz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Riley throws a low kick, looking for Ortiz's leg but Ortiz calmly moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riley shoots in and bounces Ortiz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Riley content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Riley with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ortiz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Riley doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Riley manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley passes Ortiz's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ortiz won't allow Riley to pass to mount.

Riley seems to be working for a kimura but Ortiz defends the submission attempt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Riley lands a nice short elbow.
Ortiz won't allow Riley to pass to mount.
Ortiz trying to control here.

Riley wants to work for an arm triangle but Ortiz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Riley is looking for a kimura here.
Riley with the ground and pound but Ortiz uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz trying to control the position.

Riley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ortiz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Riley slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Riley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Riley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Riley looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley tries for a kimura but Ortiz is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Ortiz's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ortiz is trying to get back to half guard.
Riley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Riley working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Riley tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ortiz gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortiz is in trouble now - Riley has advanced to mount!

Riley with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Ortiz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Riley has control of Ortiz's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ortiz regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ortiz bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Riley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ortiz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Riley dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Ortiz scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Riley misses with a head kick.
Ortiz moves in looking to clinch but Riley pushes him off.
Riley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ortiz shoots in for a double leg but Riley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ortiz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ortiz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riley bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Ortiz with that takedown attempt.

Riley closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Riley lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Riley is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ortiz wants to get back to full guard.
Riley drops an elbow to the side of Ortiz's head.
Riley passes the guard and advances to mount!
Riley landing strikes from the mount and Ortiz is in trouble!
Riley cracks Ortiz with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Riley lands a big elbow.
Ortiz is looking to improve his position but Riley isn't that keen on the idea.
Riley landing punches.
Riley landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Riley cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Riley.
Riley landing punches.
Riley throwing strikes here but Ortiz is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Riley is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ortiz is surviving well by controlling Riley's body position as best he can.
Ortiz 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.
Ortiz is pressing down on Riley's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
CJ Riley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Ortiz looking for a guillotine here but Riley defends easily.
Riley controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ortiz can't keep his opponent in guard - Riley advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Riley is looking for a kimura here.
Riley trying to control from half guard but Ortiz is working away.

Riley wants to work for an arm triangle but Ortiz is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ortiz won't allow Riley to pass to mount.
Riley wants to take a breather but Ortiz is having none of it.
Riley looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Riley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ortiz throws out the jab.
Ortiz shoots in but Riley avoids the takedown attempt easily.
CJ Riley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Ortiz.
Riley lands with a kick to the temple. Ortiz shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Riley lands a right hook to the body.
Riley misses with a head kick.
Riley works the jab nicely.
Alex Ortiz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riley throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
CJ Riley showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Riley 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CJ Riley!