PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexein Rakotonandrasana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teddy Riner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rakotonandrasana
vs
Riner

169 cm
26
296 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

204 cm
19
300 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexein Rakotonandrasana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Teddy Riner!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riner with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rakotonandrasana counters with a series of strikes. Riner will be more careful next time no doubt.
Riner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rakotonandrasana.

Riner drives through with a takedown into Rakotonandrasana's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Riner pushes down on Rakotonandrasana's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Riner seems to be looking for submissions.
Riner wants to pass to mount but Rakotonandrasana is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It looks like Riner might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riner is working for a kimura but Rakotonandrasana is defending it quite comfortably.
Riner lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

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

Riner 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.

Riner is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Riner passes the guard and advances to mount!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Riner is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rakotonandrasana can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rakotonandrasana tries to hold on but Riner pushes him away.

Riner looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Riner looking to secure an arm triangle but Rakotonandrasana defends it well.
Riner avoids the attempt from Rakotonandrasana to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riner moves to take his opponent's back.

Rakotonandrasana is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Riner gets his way!
Riner lands shots from the back.

It looks like Alexein Rakotonandrasana has been cut.

Riner is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Rakotonandrasana with him. Rakotonandrasana is trying to defend but Riner has an arm under the chin now! Rakotonandrasana grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Teddy Riner!