PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benja Rides (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naikrul Dream (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rides
vs
Dream

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

212 cm
18
300 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Benja Rides!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Naikrul Dream!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rides looks for a takedown but Dream sprawls well.
Dream steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rides.
Rides fails with the takedown
and Dream counters with a three punch combo that has Rides backing up. Rides nods at Dream to acknowledge the strikes.

Dream has Rides up against the cage in a clinch.
Rides blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rides prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rides has Dream pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dream manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benja Rides. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dream just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rides's brow.
Dream lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rides backwards.
Rides is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dream gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rides blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rides prevents Dream from breaking the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dream.

It looks like Benja Rides has been cut.
Rides has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dream is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rides has clasped his hands together around Dream's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rides lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rides lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Dream down.
Rides looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Dream is avoiding damage well.
Dream managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rides.
Rides sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dream is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rides misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Dream managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rides.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rides looks up at the clock and then as Dream takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rides smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rides throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Rides misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rides controls the position from side control.
Dream felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rides tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
A lull in the action here as Rides stalls from top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rides tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rides scoring with punches from side control.
Rides cracks Dream with a big right hand but Dream just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The referee asks Rides politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rides prefers to stall for the moment though.
Dream looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rides sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dream is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
An elbow from Rides crashes against the mat.
Rides working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rides looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Dream is avoiding damage well.
Rides creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Rides will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rides connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dream some visible discomfort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rides working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dream parries the strikes from Rides easily there. Rides is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dream to escape.
Rides connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dream some visible discomfort.
Dream really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rides. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dream trying to remain calm as Rides controls from the top position.
Rides postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rides working the body and head with strikes.
Rides in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dream parries the strikes from Rides easily there. Rides is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dream to escape.
Rides landing strikes.
Rides remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rides landing strikes.
Rides working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benja Rides dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benja Rides's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dream stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dream wants it to stay on the feet.
Dream is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rides misses with a takedown attempt
and Dream counters with a three punch combo that has Rides backing up. Rides nods at Dream to acknowledge the strikes.

Rides looking to score a takedown here. Dream is defending well but Rides drives through and ends up in Dream's guard.
Rides 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.
Rides postures up in Dream's guard and throws a big left but Dream blocks it.
Rides controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rides missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rides is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dream can do to turn this around?
Rides throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rides throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dream works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rides keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dream's head.
Rides postures up in Dream's guard and throws a big left but Dream blocks it.
Rides content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rides postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dream is breathing heavily.
Rides postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rides postures up and lands a big shot to Dream's brow.
Rides sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rides shoots in looking for a takedown but Dream manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rides's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dream throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benja Rides. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rides tries for a takedown but Dream circles away easily
and Dream counters with a one-two to the body.
Dream keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dream throws a counter combo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dream.
Rides fails with the takedown
and Dream counters with a three punch combo that has Rides backing up. Rides nods at Dream to acknowledge the strikes.
Benja Rides seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dream lands with a thumping leg kick.
Dream thows a body kick. Rides tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rides with a poor takedown
and Dream counters with a series of strikes. Rides will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rides shoots and misses
and Dream counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Dream scores with a nice body kick.

Dream fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rides, pushing him back against the cage.
Dream is pressed up against the cage. Rides has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dream down to the mat. Dream avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Dream closes the distance and pushes Rides back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dream creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rides's defenses.
Dream misses with an elbow strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rides takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rides wants to take the fight to the mat but Dream manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dream connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rides's face.
Dream lands a nice elbow.
Dream lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Dream scores with a knee to the head.
Dream lands an elbow inside that Rides shrugs off.
Dream misses with a knee to the head.
Rides blocks an elbow strike from Dream.
Dream creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dream lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naikrul Dream showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Benja Rides's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rides gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dream counters with a stiff right hand.
Rides has his takedown stuffed
and Dream counters with a series of strikes. Rides will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rides with a poor takedown
and Dream counters with a series of strikes. Rides will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benja Rides. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rides misses with a takedown attempt
and Dream counters with a one-two to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dream fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dream lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rides misses with a takedown attempt
and Dream counters with a three punch combo that has Rides backing up. Rides nods at Dream to acknowledge the strikes.
Rides shoots and misses
and Dream counters with a series of strikes. Rides will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rides fails with a takedown attempt.
Dream steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rides.
Dream feints and then cracks Rides's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rides down.
Naikrul Dream seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rides doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dream counters with a one-two to the body.
Good leg kick by Dream there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rides has his takedown stuffed
and Dream counters with a left and a right that stings Rides.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rides misses with a takedown
and Dream counters with a series of strikes. Rides will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dream throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Dream works over Rides's head and body with a nice combination.
Dream lands with a kick to the temple. Rides shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rides fails with the takedown
and Dream counters with a series of strikes. Rides will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dream chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Rides tries for a takedown but Dream circles away easily
and Dream counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dream thows a body kick. Rides tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rides gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dream counters with a two punch combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dream connects with an inside leg kick.
Rides doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dream counters with a one-two to the body.
Dream throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rides's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Naikrul Dream comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dream has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Naikrul Dream!
Naikrul Dream decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.