PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Khabib Ferguson (ranked 1226 p4p, 902 weight class) and William Riker (ranked 77 p4p, 51 weight class). Riker is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by In The Summertime. 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.

Ferguson
vs
Riker

200 cm
33
275
21 - 14 - 1

190 cm
34
265
23 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

30th Century Beer Store

30th Century Beer Store
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Khabib Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Riker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riker lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ferguson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Riker.
Nice jab there from Riker.

It looks like Khabib Ferguson has been cut.
Riker throws a body punch but Ferguson moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Riker misses the target.
Riker misses with a straight right.
It looked like Ferguson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Riker.
Riker getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Riker cracks Ferguson with an uppercut from hell and Ferguson crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Riker's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riker trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ferguson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riker throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riker trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Riker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
My spies in The House Of Pain inform me that Riker has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Riker trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferguson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Riker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ferguson trying to control from half guard but Riker is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riker tries to roll over but Ferguson keeps him under control.
Riker is still trying to improve position.

Ferguson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ferguson is keen to just control but Riker is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson slows the pace down in half guard.
Riker is looking to improve his position.
Ferguson is trying to control. Riker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Riker moves into full guard.
Riker is trying to keep Ferguson in close.
Ferguson wants to get up but he can't break Riker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Riker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riker slips a jab and a cross from Ferguson.
Riker is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Riker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ferguson was well out of range. Poor timing from Riker.
Ferguson throws a lazy uppercut
and Riker counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Riker connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ferguson misses with a wild body shot.
Khabib Ferguson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Riker throws a hook to the side of Ferguson's head but Ferguson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ferguson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Riker tries for a takedown but Ferguson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William Riker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Khabib Ferguson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Riker shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ferguson's guard.
Riker postures up in Ferguson's guard and throws a big left but Ferguson blocks it.
Riker stopping the sweep attempt from Ferguson.
Ferguson trying to control the position.
Ferguson has momentary wrist control but Riker slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riker wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Ferguson seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferguson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ferguson'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.
Riker works over Ferguson with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riker is in close to Ferguson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ferguson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ferguson, not yet.
Riker controlling from the top position.
Riker is in close to Ferguson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Riker is working Ferguson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Riker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ferguson wants to sweep but no luck.

Ferguson is looking for a triangle but Riker pushes his legs off easily.
Riker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Riker landing some decent shots from guard.
Riker trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Riker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Riker is in close to Ferguson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Riker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riker lands a couple of elbows.
Riker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Riker wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Riker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Riker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ferguson's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson has his hands on Riker's head, controlling the position.
Ferguson wants to control the position but Riker says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Riker trying to control the action but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Riker in particular looking to stall.
Ferguson tries to roll over but Riker keeps him under control.
William Riker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Riker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Riker wants to control but Ferguson is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Riker is controlling the pace.
Ferguson taking some punishment here, with Riker in his half guard.
Riker wants to control but Ferguson is keeping him busy.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ferguson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Riker is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Riker shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William Riker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Khabib Ferguson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Riker throws a left that rocks Ferguson and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Riker dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Ferguson regain composure!
Riker working the body and head with strikes.
Riker advances nicely into full mount.
Riker lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ferguson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Ferguson is rocked!
Riker content just to control the position here.
Oh Ferguson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ferguson takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Riker's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). William Riker!
William Riker seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.