PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dick Niaz (ranked 1882 p4p, 3037 weight class) and Ranger Alderidge (ranked 212 p4p, 332 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Niaz
vs
Alderidge

170 cm
20
165
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
160
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Niaz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ranger Alderidge!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niaz tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Alderidge defends well and Niaz ends up having to push Alderidge into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Alderidge lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Alderidge can't find room to land a body shot as Niaz controls the action.

Niaz manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Niaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alderidge can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Alderidge working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Alderidge trying to control the position from guard on top but Niaz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alderidge must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Niaz throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alderidge tries to free his leg and advance position but Niaz is retaining full guard.

Niaz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Alderidge can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Niaz keeping moving, preventing Alderidge from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niaz is trying to keep Alderidge in close.

Alderidge got a little sloppy there for a moment and Niaz has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alderidge has managed to get both his arms back between Niaz's legs - danger averted.
Alderidge really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Niaz. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Niaz trying to control the position.

Alderidge avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alderidge is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Niaz working for a triangle but Alderidge defends it easily.
Alderidge postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alderidge is stalling in the full guard.

Niaz working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Alderidge has passed into half guard!
Alderidge tries to pass the half guard into mount. Niaz knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Niaz looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Alderidge.
Niaz is looking for a sweep. Alderidge is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alderidge is trying to control. Niaz wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Alderidge missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alderidge slips a nice elbow through Niaz's hands, connecting with Niaz's forehead.
Alderidge throwing shots but Niaz is blocking nicely.
Alderidge content to control rather than advance.
Alderidge working Niaz over with strikes.
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.
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.
Alderidge stalling away here and it's allowed Niaz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Niaz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alderidge is one step ahead there.

Niaz working for a triangle but Alderidge defends it easily.
Niaz keeping moving, preventing Alderidge from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alderidge lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Alderidge being controlled here momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dick Niaz will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jab from Alderidge.
Niaz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Alderidge manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Niaz fails with the takedown
and Alderidge counters with a right hand to the body.
Alderidge throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Niaz sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Niaz drives through with a takedown into Alderidge's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Dick Niaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alderidge looking to hit a scissor sweep but Niaz is one step ahead there.
Alderidge controls Niaz momentarily but Niaz frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niaz advances to half guard.
Alderidge is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Alderidge is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Niaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Niaz's back!
Alderidge missing with punches from the back.
Niaz tries to escape but Alderidge has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Alderidge scores with strikes from the back.
Will Alderidge go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Alderidge has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Niaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alderidge is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Niaz. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Alderidge looking to hold on to the position here but Niaz rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Niaz bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alderidge's guard.

Niaz 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.
Niaz won't allow Alderidge to sweep him here.
Niaz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Niaz looking to pass the guard.
Alderidge looking to hit a scissor sweep but Niaz is one step ahead there.
Alderidge not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niaz sitting in guard here, content to control.
Niaz trying to control but Alderidge is working from the bottom.
Niaz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Niaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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.
Niaz controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Niaz trying to control but Alderidge is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ranger Alderidge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Niaz keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alderidge.
Alderidge blocks a head kick by Niaz.
Niaz tries for a takedown but Alderidge circles away easily
and Niaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Niaz is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alderidge throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ranger Alderidge will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Niaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Alderidge is fending him off so far but Niaz persists. Nope, Alderidge circles away and we're back to standing.
Alderidge throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alderidge stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alderidge wants it to stay on the feet.
Alderidge cracks Niaz with a good jab.
Niaz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Alderidge throws out the jab.
Niaz half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Alderidge lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Dick Niaz has been cut.
Niaz shoots and misses
and Alderidge counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick Niaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niaz tries to clinch but Alderidge is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niaz slips a jab from Alderidge.
Alderidge throws an off balance right hand

and Niaz decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Alderidge's guard.
Alderidge keeping moving, preventing Niaz from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alderidge is keeping the position for now.
Niaz wants to control from the top but Alderidge keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Alderidge can do anything to dispel that myth.
Alderidge pulls Niaz in close to his closed guard and prevents Niaz from doing any damage or advancing position.
Niaz slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Alderidge controlling Niaz's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alderidge throws a hook to the side of Niaz's head but Niaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Niaz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Alderidge sprawls well. Alderidge wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Niaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Alderidge let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Alderidge cracks Niaz with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Niaz shoots in looking for a takedown but Alderidge manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Niaz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Alderidge might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Niaz fails with the takedown
and Alderidge counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alderidge uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Niaz has time to react.
Alderidge throws a hook to the side of Niaz's head but Niaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Alderidge throws out a loose jab but Niaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niaz shoots and misses
and Niaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Niaz shoots for a double leg takedown but Alderidge sprawls well. He's pushed Niaz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alderidge slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Niaz is rocked!
Niaz leaves his chin hanging out and Alderidge seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Niaz crumbles to the floor in a heap, and the referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ranger Alderidge!
Ranger Alderidge is the new lightweight champion!
A very excited looking Ranger Alderidge made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.