PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riley Cote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Cote
vs
Rio

195 cm
23
257 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
235 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Cote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Rio!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cote closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cote lands in his opponent's guard.

Rio working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Cote has passed into half guard!

Rio looking for submissions off his back.
Cote prevents Rio from improving his position.
Rio won't allow Cote to pass to mount.
Rio wants to improve his position but Cote is controlling well.

Cote is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rio defends it well.
Rio wants to get back to full guard.
Rio works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rio throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cote uses it to pass to side control.

Cote working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rio is trying to buck Cote off.
Rio is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rio taking a bit of punishment here - Cote scoring with strikes.

Cote wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rio, who protects the arm well.
Rio manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cote working over Rio with some ground and pound. Rio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cote.
Rio works his way to full guard. Good work.

Rio working for a triangle but Cote defends it easily.
Rio looks gassed!

Rio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rio can't keep his opponent in guard - Cote advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Cote is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rio sees it coming and defends easily.

Cote is looking for a kimura here.
Rio wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cote seems to be looking for submissions.
Cote wants to free his trapped foot but Rio is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cote stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rio swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rio escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cote gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cote thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cote trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cote doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cote manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rio looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Cote puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Rio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rio.
Cote makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cote preventing the sweep.

Rio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cote doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cote manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Rio will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rio is looking to clinch.
Cote listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rio stuffs the takedown.
Rio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cote counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rio!
Rio takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rio tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Cote looking to secure an arm triangle but Rio defends it well.
Cote takes Rio's back.

Cote is looking for the choke from the back position but Rio is controlling his hands well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cote doesn't have the hooks in and Rio manages to turn into his guard.

Cote looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Rio 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.

Cote is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rio passes into half guard.

Cote looking for submissions off his back.
Rio passes to full mount!
Cote tries to reverse the position but Rio maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rio looking for a guillotine from mount but Cote is having none of it.
Cote is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rio is looking to stand but Rio has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Cote is controlling an arm, preventing Rio from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Cote is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rio thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rio thowing shots but they're missing.
Cote is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rio has control of Cote's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Cote regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Cote keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Rio working for a guillotine from mount but Cote is in no mood to give up.

Rio looking for a guillotine from mount but Cote is having none of it.

Rio jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Cote manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rio tries for a kimura but Cote is defending well.
Cote manages to get back to half guard.
Rio stops Cote from getting back to his feet.

Cote is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rio pulls his head out easily.
Cote flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Rio is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Cote has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rio is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cote!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Riley Cote will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rio doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cote moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cote as Rio tries to tie him up.
Cote is trying to drag Rio to the mat but Rio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Cote managing to block the knees to the body from Rio.
Cote lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cote lands a body shot.

Cote has picked Rio up - he's going for a ride! Cote dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Cote is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rio sees it coming and defends easily.

Rio is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Cote pulls his head out easily.

Cote is looking for a kimura here.
Rio works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cote wants to get up but he can't break Rio's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cote doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cote manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cote wanted to stand there but Rio had control of the position.
Cote pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rio is keeping the position for now.
Cote wants to stand and escape but instead Rio has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Cote is looking for a triangle but Rio pushes his legs off easily.
Cote wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cote counters with a left and a right that stings Rio.
Rio fails with the takedown.
Riley Cote has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Rio.

Cote has closed the distance and engaged Rio in a clinch.
Rio lands a nice knee to the body.

Cote wants the takedown. Rio is fighting it off but Cote persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rio's guard against the cage.
Cote with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cote throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cote postures up in Rio's guard and throws a big left but Rio blocks it.

Cote drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cote jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cote tries to free his leg and advance position but Rio is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cote postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Rio is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cote, into his guard.
Rio passes Cote's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cote tries to kick Rio off but Rio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rio tries to pass the half guard into mount. Cote knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Rio is looking for a kimura here.

Rio seems to be looking for submissions.
Rio is looking to take a break and control but Cote is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rio trying to mount his opponent but Cote defends it.

Rio is working for a submission of some sort.

Rio seems to be working for a kimura but Cote defends the submission attempt.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Cote changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Cote has hold of Rio's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Rio tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Cote cranks the arm and Rio screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Rio, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Riley Cote!