PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between LeRoy Rider (ranked 3192 p4p, 3170 weight class) and Shendo Hirasho (ranked 432 p4p, 429 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.

Rider
vs
Hirasho

175 cm
25
210
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, LeRoy Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shendo Hirasho!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Dean Styles and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hirasho clinches with his opponent.
Hirasho throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hirasho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hirasho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rider on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Rider escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hirasho tries to clinch
and Rider counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Hirasho darts in and clinches Rider up against the cage.
Hirasho connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rider's face.
Rider is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rider wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hirasho keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rider's efforts to push away.
Hirasho lands a knee to the head.

It looks like LeRoy Rider has been cut.
Rider working hard to break the clinch.
Rider misses with a body punch.
Hirasho tries a knee to the head but Rider blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hirasho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rider is trying to force a seperation but Hirasho has the dominant position.
Hirasho is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rider is keeping busy.
Hirasho keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rider's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirasho keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rider's efforts to push away.

Rider escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hirasho throws a head kick but Rider moves out of range.
Hirasho tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rider manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rider throwing a counter right hand but Hirasho manages to avoid it.
Hirasho tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rider paws at him with a jab and circles away.
It looked like Rider was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Rider blocks a head kick by Hirasho.
Rider scores with a jab.

It looks like Shendo Hirasho has been cut.
Rider feints a jab promting Hirasho to slip. Rider then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hirasho slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Hirasho clinches up against the cage.
Hirasho keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rider's efforts to push away.
Rider is looking to break free of the clinch but Hirasho has double underhooks.
Hirasho tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rider avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirasho using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rider has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rider tries to break the clinch but Hirasho is controlling the position.
Rider has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hirasho with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rider as Hirasho tries to tie him up.
Hirasho has Rider pressed against the cage, preventing Rider from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rider is trying to break the clinch but Hirasho is controlling him.
Rider is trying to break free.
Hirasho's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hirasho missing with knees to the body.
Rider wants to get back to striking at distance but Hirasho won't allow it.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hirasho wants to stall.
Hirasho lands a knee to the head.
Rider tries to circle away but Hirasho has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider is trying to break the clinch but Hirasho has him pressed against the cage.
Rider dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hirasho with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hirasho.
Hirasho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hirasho is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rider tries to circle away but Hirasho has him pinned against the cage.
Hirasho landing knees to the head.
Hirasho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rider is breathing heavily.
Hirasho lands a knee to the head.
Hirasho landing knees to the body.
Hirasho is trying to maintain a safe position but Rider gets an underhook and turns Hirasho into the cage.
Hirasho stalling.
Hirasho landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rider takes a knee right on the jaw!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hirasho keeps control of Rider as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirasho misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rider.
Rider wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hirasho has him pressed against the cage.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rider avoiding damage as Hirasho throws knees to the body.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rider breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hirasho doesn't manage to clinch there - Rider circles away.

Rider tries to keep at a distance but Hirasho has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rider trying to stall but Hirasho improves his position.
Hirasho tries to land a knee to the head but Rider blocks with his arms.
Hirasho pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rider has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Rider's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rider on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shendo Hirasho dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hirasho tries to clinch up but Rider circles away and keeps his distance.

Hirasho gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rider managing to block the knees to the body from Hirasho.
Hirasho lands a knee to the head.
Hirasho lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

LeRoy Rider's cut is getting worse.
Hirasho using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hirasho throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rider blocks it with crossed arms.
Hirasho tries a knee to the head but Rider blocks it.
Rider has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hirasho tries a knee to the head but Rider blocks it.
Rider wants to break free but Hirasho has control.
Rider is trying to push Hirasho away but Hirasho has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirasho tries to land knees in the clinch but Rider avoids the damage to the body.
Hirasho tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hirasho using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rider has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rider working hard to break the clinch.
Shendo Hirasho seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rider wants to break free but Hirasho has control.
Hirasho has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hirasho is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider managing to block the knees to the body from Hirasho.
Hirasho throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice body punch from Rider - that landed with a thud.

Rider escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hirasho tries to clinch there but Rider circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rider, as that shot connected.
Hirasho throws a sloppy head kick
and Rider counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hirasho tries to clinch but Rider is having none of it.
Hirasho tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rider manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Rider misses.
Nice cross by Rider.

Hirasho has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hirasho misses with a knee strike.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rider managing to block the knees to the body from Hirasho.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hirasho is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hirasho obliges.
Rider wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rider wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rider is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rider looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hirasho throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hirasho with a knee to the head.
Rider on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hirasho controlling the action here for a moment.
Hirasho has Rider pressed against the cage, preventing Rider from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rider managing to block the knees to the body from Hirasho.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hirasho misses with a knee to the head.
Hirasho has Rider pressed against the cage, preventing Rider from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rider manages to break the clinch.

Hirasho moves into the clinch.
Hirasho is trying to stall.
Hirasho tries to land a knee to the head but Rider blocks with his arms.
Rider has had enough of the clinch but Hirasho keeps him there for the moment.
Rider has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rider has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hirasho keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rider's efforts to push away.
A knee to the head by Hirasho.
Rider can't break the clinch.
Hirasho tries a knee to the head but Rider blocks it.
Hirasho misses with a knee to the head.

Rider breaks the clinch.
Rider lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hirasho tries to clinch up
and Rider cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirasho on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
LeRoy Rider is winning the standup battle so far.
Hirasho walks into a left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hirasho moves into range and clinches up with Rider.
Hirasho missing with knees to the body.
Hirasho lands a good knee to the midsection. Rider won't want to take too many of those.
Rider is looking to break free of the clinch but Hirasho has double underhooks.
Rider is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rider wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rider wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hirasho misses with a knee to the head.
Rider avoiding damage as Hirasho throws knees to the body.
Rider letting Hirasho take a breather here.
Rider tries to circle away but Hirasho has him pinned against the cage.
Rider misses with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shendo Hirasho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hirasho tries to close the distance and clinch but Rider swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hirasho wants to clinch up but Rider keeps it at a distance.
Rider bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hirasho's head backwards.
Rider throws a series of punches but Hirasho avoids them all with ease.
Rider connects with a jab.
Hirasho tries to clinch up
and Rider counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hirasho tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rider swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rider swings for the body but Hirasho moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rider takes a swing at Hirasho's ribcage but misses.
Hirasho tries to move into range but Rider moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Hirasho rushes Rider and presses him up against the cage.
Hirasho tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rider avoids it.
Hirasho landing knees to the body.
Hirasho leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirasho scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hirasho utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rider working hard to break the clinch.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rider breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hirasho tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rider manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hirasho moves into range and clinches up with Rider.
Hirasho prevents Rider from breaking the clinch.
Knees to the body from Hirasho.
Hirasho landing knees to the head.
Hirasho wants to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hirasho.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hirasho.
Hirasho tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirasho with a knee to the head.
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!
Hirasho landing knees to the body.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hirasho prevents Rider from breaking the clinch.
Hirasho scores with a knee to the head.
Hirasho lands a knee to the body.
Hirasho lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hirasho displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rider up against the cage.
Rider scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hirasho throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rider blocks it with crossed arms.
Rider is trying to break free.
Hirasho lands a good knee to the midsection. Rider won't want to take too many of those.
Hirasho lands a good knee to the midsection. Rider won't want to take too many of those.
Hirasho misses with a knee strike.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hirasho using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hirasho controlling the action here for a moment.
Rider has had enough of the clinch but Hirasho keeps him there for the moment.
Rider takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hirasho keeps control of Rider as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hirasho is trying to stall.
Hirasho is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hirasho with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hirasho stalling in the clinch but Rider improves position.
Rider wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hirasho using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rider has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rider fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hirasho with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rider wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rider tries to break the clinch but Hirasho is controlling the position.
Hirasho working Rider over with knees to the body.
Rider looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hirasho misses with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Rider's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rider has had enough of the clinch but Hirasho keeps him there for the moment.
Rider wants to break free but Hirasho has control.
Rider is trying to break the clinch but Hirasho is controlling him.
Rider wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
LeRoy Rider has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hirasho landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hirasho looking to throw knees to the head but Rider is blocking nicely.
Shendo Hirasho is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hirasho connects with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shendo Hirasho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hirasho winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shendo Hirasho!