PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Michaels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raiden Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Michaels
vs
Riley

176 cm
24
153 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Shawn Michaels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Raiden Riley!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Michaels throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Riley was covering up waiting for the punch and Michaels finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Riley tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Michaels drops back, looking for a kneebar! Riley looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Riley looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Riley!
Michaels prevents Riley from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Michaels is trying to improve his position.
Riley wants to stand but Michaels has his arm trapped.
Michaels wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Michaels sneaks out the side door and pushes Riley away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Michaels scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Riley is looking for a sweep. Michaels is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Riley is trying to stand up here but Michaels is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michaels is working for a submission of some sort.
Michaels thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Riley is trying to get back to full guard.
Michaels is controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Michaels is looking for a kimura but Riley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Michaels to get the leverage.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura but Riley is defending well.
Michaels trying to control from half guard but Riley is working away.

That's two 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.
Riley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Riley wants to control but Michaels is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Riley shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Riley dominating with strikes here.
Michaels can't escape the position.
Riley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Michaels is in all sorts of trouble here.
Riley thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Michaels tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley landing strikes from the mount.
Michaels tries to hold on but Riley pushes him away.
Riley lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Michaels hang on?
Michaels is looking to get to half guard.
Riley can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Michaels is looking to escape.
Riley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Michaels tries to lock up and control but Riley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Michaels is working to get back to half guard.
Michaels tries to hold on but Riley pushes him away.
Michaels can't escape the position.
Michaels reaches up to try and control the position but Riley seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Michaels rolls and tries to escape and now Riley has his back!
Riley struggling to keep hold of the position.
Michaels turns into Riley and is now in his guard.
Michaels wants to control from the top but Riley keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Michaels slaps away a takedown attempt from Riley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shawn Michaels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riley looks gassed!
Riley is looking to clinch but Michaels is avoiding it.
Riley shoots in for a takedown but Michaels shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Michaels dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Michaels.

Michaels scores a takedown into full mount!
Michaels thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Michaels looking for a guillotine from mount but Riley is having none of it.
Riley wants to control but Michaels is having none of it.
Riley gets back to half guard.
Michaels content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Riley is breathing heavily.

Michaels is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Riley is just riding it out for now. Michaels eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michaels scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Michaels is working for a submission of some sort.
Riley trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Riley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Michaels working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Riley's head.

Michaels is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Riley has momentary wrist control but Michaels slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Michaels throwing strikes but missing.
Riley keeping moving, preventing Michaels from controlling successfully.
Shawn Michaels overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Riley looking to control.
Riley might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Michaels kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Riley fails in his attempt to clinch.

Michaels shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Riley's guard.
Michaels stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Riley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Michaels postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Riley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Michaels, into his guard.
Michaels not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Michaels avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Michaels working a defensive guard here.

Riley thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Riley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riley would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Michaels is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Michaels is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Riley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Riley is in trouble now - Michaels has advanced to mount!
Michaels lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Riley tries to lock up and control but Michaels gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Michaels is landing with some decent strikes but Riley is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Michaels takes Riley's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Riley is in trouble.

Michaels has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Riley is in real trouble here. Michaels gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Riley is tapping out! Michaels wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Shawn Michaels!