PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Riley (ranked 4715 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin West (ranked 4853 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Riley
vs
West

185 cm
23
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michael Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benjamin West!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

West shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Riley pulls West in to control the position.
Riley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Riley wants to sweep here but West controlling him for the moment.

West postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of West, into his guard.

West is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley being controlled here momentarily.
Riley trying to control but West is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riley avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

West is looking for a triangle but Riley pushes his legs off easily.
Riley postures up in West's guard and throws a big left but West blocks it.

Riley got a little sloppy there for a moment and West has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Riley has managed to get both his arms back between West's legs - danger averted.
Riley stays in close to West's body and controls the position.

That's two 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.
Riley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

West looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Riley passes into side control.
Riley fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Riley thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on West's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West tries to buck Riley off but Riley is having none of it.

Riley swings around for an armbar but West sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Riley's guard.
West's corner is telling him to maintain position.
West wants to pass the guard but Riley is keeping the position.

West avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Riley can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as West controls the pace.
Riley has control of West's left arm, preventing West from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. West is aware though and is defending well.

Riley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
West is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
West preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Riley is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Riley will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

West throws a sloppy head kick and Riley moves out of range easily.
Riley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Riley lands a nice shot to the body.
Riley scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
West shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Riley wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Riley looks to land a combination. West sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Riley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
West misses with a takedown attempt - Riley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Riley throws a big counter combination but West scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Riley scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riley lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
West keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riley.
West let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riley circles away from the clinch attempt.
Riley is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that West can do to turn this around?

West closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley works his way to full guard. Good work.

West got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, West has managed to get both his arms back between Riley's legs - danger averted.
Riley is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

West stands up and waves to Riley to follow him.
Riley lands a nice shot to the body.
West wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West tries to clinch but Riley moves out of range.
Riley swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Riley displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
West takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Riley fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

West gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
West trying to mount his opponent but Riley defends it.
Riley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. West is working away from the top position though.
Riley is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Riley is trying to maintain the position but West is very close to passing his half guard.
West really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Riley. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Riley is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Riley is trying to get back to full guard.
West is nestled in close to Riley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
West winds up and cracks Riley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
West is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Riley is desperately trying to improve his position but West has a good base and remains in mount.
West avoids the attempt from Riley to control.
West content just to control the position here.
Riley is working to get back to half guard.
Riley tries to hold on but West pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Riley dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

West dives in and scores a takedown into Riley's guard.
West controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

West got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, West has managed to get both his arms back between Riley's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
West is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

West decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Riley, up you get!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

West looking to score a takedown here. Riley is defending well but West drives through and ends up in Riley's guard.

West postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of West, into his guard.

West working for submissions but it's allowed Riley to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Benjamin West has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riley is stalling here. West is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Riley seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and West has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Riley manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Riley is looking for a sweep. West is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West trying to mount his opponent but Riley defends it.
Riley tries to roll over but West keeps him under control.
West looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Riley trying to hold on to West's head to control him but West postures up.
Riley gets back to full guard.
Riley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley looking for a guillotine here but West defends easily.
West is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
West must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Riley looking to control.
West content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
West won't allow Riley to sweep him here.
West trying to control the position from guard on top but Riley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
West distracts Riley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Riley controls West momentarily but West frees himself.
West wants to pass the guard but Riley is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riley is trying to control the position but West 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!
Benjamin West comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Riley has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

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