PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Riordan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fahad Al Qarni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Qarni has chosen Hells Bells as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Riordan
vs
Al Qarni

182 cm
27
185 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

180 cm
26
187 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Four Aces Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

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 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Riordan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fahad Al Qarni!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Qarni scores with a body shot.
Al Qarni swats away the attempt to clinch by Riordan.
Riordan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Riordan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Riordan tries to clinch but Al Qarni moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Al Qarni - just one landing.
Al Qarni scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Riordan wants to clinch.
Al Qarni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Riordan.
Al Qarni throws a counter combo.
Riordan tries to clinch up but Al Qarni circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice uppercut lands for Al Qarni. That snapped Riordan's head back.
Riordan wants to clinch up but Al Qarni keeps it at a distance.
Decent striking displayed by Al Qarni there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riordan is looking to clinch.
Jab by Al Qarni.
Al Qarni keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Riordan tries to clinch but Al Qarni is having none of it.
Riordan tries to clinch but Al Qarni is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riordan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Al Qarni napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Al Qarni tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Al Qarni prevents Riordan from improving position.
Al Qarni is looking to reverse the position.
Al Qarni takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Al Qarni sneaks back into half guard.

Al Qarni looking for submissions off his back.
Al Qarni wants to improve his position but Riordan is controlling well.
Ground and pound from Riordan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Qarni gets full guard.

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

Al Qarni is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Al Qarni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Riordan defends well.
Riordan forces his way into half guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riordan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Riordan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've been hearing good reports from Riordan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Riordan is keen to just control but Al Qarni is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Al Qarni looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Al Qarni looking for submissions off his back.

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.
Riordan wants to pass to mount but Al Qarni is defending the position.
Al Qarni trying to control but Riordan postures up.
Al Qarni is looking to improve his position.

Riordan is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Al Qarni doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Riordan.
Riordan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fahad Al Qarni dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Riordan is looking to clinch but Al Qarni is avoiding it.
Al Qarni is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riordan.
Riordan slips a jab and a cross from Al Qarni.
Riordan goes for a double leg but Al Qarni avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al Qarni continues to drive forward.
Al Qarni shoots and misses
and Riordan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riordan is looking to clinch.
Al Qarni fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Al Qarni has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Riordan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A lazy left from Al Qarni finds it's target.
Riordan misses with a hook.
Riordan gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Al Qarni.
Riordan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Al Qarni cracks Riordan with a good jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riordan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Qarni avoids it really well and circles away.
Riordan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Al Qarni is fending him off so far but Riordan persists. Nope, Al Qarni circles away and we're back to standing.
Al Qarni throws out a counter right but Riordan avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Riordan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riordan is looking to clinch but Al Qarni is avoiding it.
Riordan takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Al Qarni tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Riordan defends well and Al Qarni ends up having to push Riordan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qarni scores with a nice head shot.
Al Qarni 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.
Riordan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Al Qarni throws out the jab.
Fahad Al Qarni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Qarni connects with a crisp jab.

Al Qarni decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Al Qarni 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.
Riordan wants to get back to full guard.
Riordan won't allow Al Qarni to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riordan wants to control but Al Qarni is keeping busy.
Riordan holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Al Qarni seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Riordan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Riordan trying to control here.

Al Qarni is working for a kimura but Riordan is defending it quite comfortably.

Al Qarni is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Riordan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Al Qarni is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riordan controlling the position for now.
Riordan tries to roll over but Al Qarni keeps him under control.

Al Qarni is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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

Al Qarni is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Riordan sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Riordan wants to improve his position but Al Qarni is controlling well.

Al Qarni seems to be working for a kimura but Riordan defends the submission attempt.
Riordan is controlling Al Qarni's trapped leg to prevent Al Qarni from advancing to side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Al Qarni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Riordan dives in and grabs Al Qarni's left leg, looking for a takedown. Al Qarni pushes down on Riordan's head and hops out.
Al Qarni looks to land a right hand but Riordan moved out of range.
Al Qarni lands with a right hand.
Riordan goes for a double leg but Al Qarni avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Al Qarni continues to drive forward.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Al Qarni.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fahad Al Qarni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Al Qarni cracks Riordan with a right hand to the side of the head.
Riordan takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Al Qarni lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Riordan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Riordan fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Al Qarni on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Al Qarni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Al Qarni moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Riordan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Al Qarni avoids it really well and circles away.
Al Qarni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Riordan throws an overhand right that lands on Al Qarni's shoulder, as Al Qarni tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Riordan misses.

Riordan clinches up with Al Qarni and pushes him back against the cage.
Al Qarni lands a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Qarni avoids the elbow strike from Riordan, against the cage.
Riordan looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Riordan is pushing Al Qarni up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qarni is trying to break free.
Riordan is looking to control Al Qarni's arms but Al Qarni gets an underhook and turns him. Now Riordan has his back to the cage.
Al Qarni is trying to push Riordan away but Riordan has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Al Qarni is working for takedown but Riordan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Al Qarni lands a shoulder strike.
Riordan lands a body punch.
Al Qarni gets underhooks to prevent Riordan's takedown attempt.

Al Qarni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Riordan wants to clinch up but Al Qarni keeps it at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Riordan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Riordan tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Al Qarni was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A punch combination from Al Qarni misses.
Al Qarni scores with a hook.
Al Qarni misses with a few strikes there.
Al Qarni thows a left - swing and a miss!
A left lands for Al Qarni.
Al Qarni throws a good cross that connects.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Al Qarni.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riordan shoots for a takedown but Al Qarni saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Riordan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Qarni misses with a two punch combination.
Riordan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Al Qarni finds it's way round the side to connect with Riordan's head.

Al Qarni closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Riordan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Al Qarni wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Riordan, who protects the arm well.
Al Qarni takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Al Qarni working away.
Riordan is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Riordan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Riordan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Al Qarni is working for a kimura but Riordan is defending it quite comfortably.
Riordan is controlling Al Qarni's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Riordan is looking for a sweep. Al Qarni is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riordan is doing well to control the position and prevent Al Qarni from advancing to side control.
Riordan wants to control but Al Qarni is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Al Qarni thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Riordan's head.

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 is looking to improve his position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Al Qarni is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Riordan has managed to free his arm - good work.

Riordan is defending against the submission attempts here by Al Qarni.

Al Qarni 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.
Tommy Riordan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riordan trying to hold on to Al Qarni's head to control him but Al Qarni postures up.

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!
Fahad Al Qarni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Al Qarni 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fahad Al Qarni!
During a confident post fight interview, Fahad Al Qarni thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.