PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Serhey Rishkinov (ranked 80 p4p, 520 weight class) and Leon Louis (ranked 11 p4p, 81 weight class). Louis has chosen Flatbush ZOMBiES - Ascension as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rishkinov
vs
Louis

180 cm
26
175
18 - 5 - 0

179 cm
26
176
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Shadow Warrior Nutrition
Savage Fightwear

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Serhey Rishkinov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Leon Louis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Louis takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Louis pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rishkinov is out of range and Louis settles back down.
Louis wants to clinch up but Rishkinov keeps it at a distance.
Louis gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Louis fails in his attempt to clinch.
An inside leg kick from Rishkinov misses.
Louis with the inside leg kick.
Rishkinov clobbers Louis with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rishkinov throws a looping overhand right but Louis ducks down to avoid it.
Louis tries a quick counter leg kick but Rishkinov is wise to it.
Rishkinov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rishkinov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Louis has time to react.
Louis throws a shot from downtown. Rishkinov moves away and avoids it.
Louis throws the left hand but Rishkinov avoids the punch easily.
Rishkinov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rishkinov slips a straight right by Louis.
Louis misses with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rishkinov throws out a powerful jab.
Louis will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Louis thows a left - swing and a miss!
Louis misses with an uppercut.
Rishkinov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Louis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Louis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Louis scores with a nice head shot.
Louis loads up on a big right hand but Rishkinov slips the punch.
Rishkinov scores with a sloppy right hand. Louis should have avoided that one.
Rishkinov takes one on the button.
Leon Louis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Louis throws a jab when Rishkinov was well out of range.
Rishkinov changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Louis throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Louis goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Louis misses with a body kick.

Louis forces Rishkinov back against the cage and clinches.

Louis has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rishkinov regains guard immediately.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rishkinov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rishkinov is on top in guard.

Rishkinov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rishkinov trying to control the position from guard on top but Louis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Louis 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.
Rishkinov scoring with some ground and pound.
Rishkinov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Louis's head.
Rishkinov won't allow Louis to sweep him here.
Rishkinov controlling from the top position.
Louis 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.
Rishkinov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rishkinov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rishkinov stopping the sweep attempt from Louis.
Rishkinov stays in close to Louis's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rishkinov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Louis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rishkinov looking to pass the guard.
Rishkinov scoring with some ground and pound.
Rishkinov 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.
Rishkinov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rishkinov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Louis is keeping the position for now.
Rishkinov stopping the sweep attempt from Louis.
Rishkinov works over Louis with some ground and pound from guard.
Rishkinov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Louis keeping moving, preventing Rishkinov from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rishkinov landing some decent shots from guard.
Louis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rishkinov is one step ahead there.
Louis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rishkinov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Louis has hold of Rishkinov's hands but Rishkinov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Rishkinov is trying to work for a kimura but Louis is defending well.
Louis taking some punishment here, with Rishkinov in his half 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 Serhey Rishkinov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Louis tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rishkinov swivels and escapes.
Rishkinov checks the leg kick.
Rishkinov moves out of range of the strikes.
Rishkinov throws a shot from downtown. Louis moves away and avoids it.
Nice uppercut lands for Louis. That snapped Rishkinov's head back.
Rishkinov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Louis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rishkinov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Louis.
Louis looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rishkinov tries to work over Louis's front leg with a kick but Louis checks it.
Louis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Louis misses with an uppercut. Rishkinov saw that one coming.
Louis takes one on the button.
Louis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rishkinov lands the left hand.
Nice defenses there by Rishkinov.
Rishkinov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rishkinov throws an overhand right that lands on Louis's shoulder, as Louis tries to avoid the shot.
A left lands for Louis.
Louis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Rishkinov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Louis sprawls well initially but Rishkinov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Louis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Louis 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.
Rishkinov cracks Louis with a solid left hand.
Rishkinov landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rishkinov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rishkinov pushes down on Louis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rishkinov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rishkinov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rishkinov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Louis tries to roll over but Rishkinov keeps him under control.
Rishkinov stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rishkinov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Rishkinov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Louis wants to get back to full guard.
Rishkinov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Louis is looking to improve his position.

Louis looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Louis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rishkinov preventing the sweep.

Louis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rishkinov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rishkinov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Louis is looking for a sweep.
Rishkinov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Louis keeps working.
Louis tries to bench press Rishkinov off him but Rishkinov keeps the position.
Rishkinov grinds an elbow into Louis's temple.
Rishkinov working the head with strikes.
Rishkinov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Louis is looking to reverse the position.
Serhey Rishkinov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Louis sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Rishkinov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Rishkinov is working for a submission of some sort.
Louis wants to improve his position but Rishkinov is controlling well.
Louis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rishkinov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rishkinov is trying to control the action in half guard but Louis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Louis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rishkinov preventing the sweep.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rishkinov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Rishkinov drops back looking for a leg! Louis is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Louis manages to kick Rishkinov off! Rishkinov jumps back into Louis's guard.
Louis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rishkinov is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serhey Rishkinov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Louis cracks Rishkinov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Louis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Louis is looking to chop away at Rishkinov's legs.
Rishkinov gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Louis throws out a loose jab but Rishkinov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rishkinov is looking to score with low kicks.
Louis throws a hook but Rishkinov avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Louis misses its intended target.
Louis throws a body punch but Rishkinov moves out of range.
Louis displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rishkinov throws out the jab.
Louis looks to score with a jab to the body but Rishkinov is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rishkinov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rishkinov wants to land a leg kick but Louis is out of range.
Louis misses with a body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Rishkinov.

Louis pushes Rishkinov up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Louis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rishkinov fails to land.
Louis misses with a punch on the inside.
A short left from Louis.

Louis gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Louis lands a couple of digs.
Rishkinov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Louis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rishkinov stands up over Louis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Rishkinov trying to control but Louis is working from the bottom.

Louis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rishkinov defends well.
Rishkinov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rishkinov distracts Louis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Louis keeping moving, preventing Rishkinov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Louis is on top in guard.

The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rishkinov trying to keep a closed guard but Louis is proving a slippery customer.

Rishkinov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Louis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Louis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rishkinov is looking for a triangle but Louis pushes his legs off easily.
Louis preventing the sweep.

Rishkinov is looking for a triangle but Louis pushes his legs off easily.
Louis preventing the sweep.
Louis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Rishkinov looking for a guillotine here but Louis defends easily.
Louis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Louis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Louis working some strikes from top position.
Rishkinov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Louis's guard.

Louis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rishkinov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Louis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Louis works over Rishkinov with some ground and pound from guard.
Rishkinov is trying to keep Louis in close.
Louis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Louis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rishkinov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Louis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Louis stopping the sweep attempt from Rishkinov.
Rishkinov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Rishkinov is looking to cinch up a triangle. Louis throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Rishkinov's body to avoid the submission. Rishkinov has instead reached around Louis's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Rishkinov arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Serhey Rishkinov!
Serhey Rishkinov retains his welterweight title!
Serhey Rishkinov very nearly forgot to thank Top Gun Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.