PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Riendeau (ranked 958 p4p, 2255 weight class) and Ivan Raikov (ranked 137 p4p, 290 weight class). Raikov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Back in the USSR. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Riendeau
vs
Raikov

163 cm
29
184
8 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
195
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eric Riendeau!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Raikov!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raikov gets tackled into the cage by Riendeau. Riendeau maintains the clinch.
Raikov has Riendeau pressed against the cage.
Riendeau lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Ivan Raikov has been cut.
Riendeau is pressed up against the cage. Raikov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Riendeau down to the mat. Riendeau avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Raikov clinches up against the cage.
Riendeau being controlled against the cage.
Riendeau letting Raikov take a breather here.
Riendeau working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Raikov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Riendeau fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Riendeau closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice left hand lands by Riendeau.
Raikov blocks an uppercut.
Riendeau throws a punch but it's blocked by Raikov.
Raikov leaning against his opponent.
Raikov looking to stall.
Raikov wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raikov has picked Riendeau up - he's going for a ride! Raikov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Riendeau on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Riendeau tries to get out of the position.
Raikov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Raikov prevents Riendeau from improving his position.

Raikov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Riendeau doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raikov.
Riendeau tries to get to full guard but Raikov has control of the leg.
Raikov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Raikov avoids the attempt from Riendeau to control.

Raikov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Riendeau can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Raikov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikov moves to his opponent's back but Riendeau bucks him off and ends up in guard. A bit of a disaster there for Raikov.
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!

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Ivan Raikov!
Ivan Raikov is the new middleweight champion!
Ivan Raikov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.