PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dante Durant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bo Ridley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Durant
vs
Ridley

187 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
24
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dante Durant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bo Ridley!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durant scores with a head kick.
Durant avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A solid body kick from Ridley.

Durant feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Durant has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ridley is proving hard to escape from.
Durant trying to control but Ridley is working from the bottom.
Durant wanted to stand there but Ridley had control of the position.
Durant really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ridley holds on and takes a little breather.
Ridley scores with a short punch from the bottom.
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!
Ridley looking to hit a scissor sweep but Durant is one step ahead there.
Durant trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridley working a defensive guard here.
Durant trying to control but Ridley is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A clash of legs there as Ridley blocks the low kick.

Durant closes the distance and clinches.

Durant jumps guard and drags Ridley to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ridley wants to control from the top but Durant keeps moving.
Durant on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Durant tries to get out of the position.
Ridley looking to pass the guard.
Ridley sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Durant's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durant keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Ridley is looking for a kimura here.

Ridley is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ridley lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ridley with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durant wants to control but Ridley is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Durant keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Ridley is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley stops Durant from getting back to his feet.

Ridley is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Durant sees it coming and defends easily.
Ridley seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Durant is positioning himself well to prevent Ridley advancing to mount.
Durant is refusing to be controlled, as Ridley sits in half guard.
Durant is controlling Ridley's trapped leg to prevent Ridley from advancing to side control.
Durant is breathing heavily.

Ridley is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ridley is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ridley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Durant looking for subs from the bottom but Ridley mounts him!
Durant knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ridley on the ground.
Durant tries to lock up and control but Ridley gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Durant defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ridley.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Durant takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Ridley looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durant sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Ridley dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Durant dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dante Durant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Ridley with that takedown attempt.
Ridley checks a leg kick nicely.
Ridley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Durant circles away.
Ridley doesn't manage to clinch there - Durant circles away.
Durant throws a leg kick that misses.
Durant throws a head kick that misses.

Ridley throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Durant tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ridley is in Durant's guard.

Ridley drops back looking for a leg! Durant is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Durant manages to kick Ridley off! Ridley jumps back into Durant's guard.
Bo Ridley has got the better of the ground game so far.

Durant working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ridley doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ridley manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durant lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ridley!
Durant will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Durant won't let Ridley get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Durant jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ridley is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ridley and Durant has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ridley sneaks back into half guard.
Ridley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ridley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Durant defends it easily.
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!
Durant trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ridley striking from his own guard.
Ridley trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ridley is controlling Durant's posture.
Ridley looking for a sweep. Not yet Ridley, not yet.
Ridley has his hands on Durant's head, controlling the position.
Durant would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Durant manages to get himself to full guard.
Ridley not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Durant avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ridley is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Durant is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Durant has escaped and now he's on top!
Durant would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ridley is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Durant has his hands clasped together but Ridley extends an breaks Durant's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Ridley.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bo Ridley!
Post fight, Bo Ridley took to the microphone: 'Big thanks to the guys at Hilo Pit(2428), couldn't have done this without the help of my coaches and training partners'.