PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kuol Riak (ranked 2568 p4p, 2312 weight class) and Marco Polo (ranked 262 p4p, 244 weight class). Riak comes to the cage accompanied by Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker. Kuol Riak has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Riak
vs
Polo

170 cm
25
150
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
148
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Bondi MMA

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight 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 New York, Kuol Riak!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Polo!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riak gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Polo counters with a left to the body.
Riak pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Riak shoots and misses
and Polo counters with a right hand to the body.
Polo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Riak dives in for a single leg takedown but Polo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kuol Riak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Polo manages to break the clinch.
Polo jabs at Riak's body.
Riak walks into a straight right hand from Polo.
Riak misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Riak moves in looking to clinch but Polo pushes him off.
A jab from Polo misses.
Riak doesn't manage to clinch there - Polo circles away.
Kuol Riak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Polo with a nice cross.

It looks like Kuol Riak has been cut.
Riak tries for a takedown but Polo circles away easily
and Polo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Polo's coach down at Iron Sharpens Iron was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Polo's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Riak shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Polo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Riak throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Polo to counter with a crisp jab.
Riak looks to land a left hand but Polo moved out of range nicely.
Polo scores with a hook.
Riak slips a straight right by Polo.
Marco Polo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Polo feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Riak sprawling to the canvas! Riak rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Polo finish him?!

Riak is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Polo cracks Riak with a hook to the temple - Riak is on wobbly legs here! Polo swarms him with hook after hook, landing with each one! Riak falls to the canvas face first and the referee dives in to stop the fight! Polo wins by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Marco Polo!
Marco Polo is the new featherweight champion!