PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Serga Magged (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shawn Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shawn Riley struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 266.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Magged
vs
Riley

177 cm
26
222 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

200 cm
23
289 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Serga Magged!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Shawn Riley!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magged lands with an overhand left.
Riley misses with a series of wild punches.
Riley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Magged counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shawn Riley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Riley throws a head kick but Magged moves out of range.
Magged ducks under a wild hook from Riley.
Riley shoots in but no luck this time.
Riley throws a right and a left that both miss.
Riley misses with a left hand
and Magged counters with an inside leg kick.
Riley leaves Magged with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Magged uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riley.
Magged could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Riley throws a lazy body kick

and Magged counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Riley fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Riley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Magged jumps guard and drags Riley to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Magged is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Magged wants to take a breather but Riley is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magged takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Magged is looking to take a break and control but Riley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Riley avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Magged.
Riley is looking to escape.
Riley is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Serga Magged wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Riley gets tackled into the cage by Magged. Magged maintains the clinch.
Riley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Riley has had enough of the clinch but Magged keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Magged decides to pull guard.
Magged is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Riley would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Riley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Magged swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riley wanted to stand there but Magged had control of the position.
Riley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Magged. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Magged looking for a guillotine here but Riley defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riley trying to stand up but can't free himself from Magged's guard.
Magged manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley is trying to stand but he's just given Magged his back.
Magged missing with punches from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Magged manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Magged is looking to control Riley but Riley is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
What can Riley do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Magged tightening his grip on Riley, looking for the choke.

Riley is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Magged gets his way!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riley throws an off balance right hand
and Magged counters with a low kick, right behind Riley 's knee.
Riley throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Magged connects with a high kick.
Nice defenses there by Magged.
Riley lands with a straight right. Magged didn't see that one coming.

It looks like Serga Magged has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riley clobbers Magged with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Magged keeps the fight on the outside.
Riley throws a lazy head kick
and Magged counters with a good low kick that Riley was not able to check.
Shawn Riley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Riley swings for the body but Magged moves out of range.
Magged shoots in for a double leg but Riley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Magged misses with a series of wild punches.
Riley misses with a body punch
letting Magged counter with a right hand.
Magged fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Riley avoids it really well and circles away.
Riley misses with a jab to the body
and Magged counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Riley is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Riley tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Magged counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magged lands a good knee to the midsection. Riley won't want to take too many of those.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Riley jumps guard but Magged stands there with Riley around his waist. Riley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Magged prevents Riley from breaking the clinch.
Riley tries to break the clinch but Magged is controlling the position.

Magged breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fighters circling - Riley throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Riley scores with a jab. Magged acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
No joy there for Riley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Riley swings away with a body shot that misses
and Magged counters with a thumping low kick.
Riley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Riley is breathing heavily.
Riley throws a jab when Magged was well out of range.
Riley shoots for a double leg takedown but Magged sprawls well. He's pushed Riley's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Magged tries for a takedown but Riley sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Serga Magged. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riley throws a leg kick that is checked
and Magged finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Magged has closed the distance and engaged Riley in a clinch.
Riley is trying to force a seperation but Magged has the dominant position.
Magged is looking for a takedown.
Riley is trying to force a seperation but Magged has the dominant position.
Magged lands a left hand.
Magged has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Riley after a bit of a struggle.
Riley wants to break free but Magged has control.

Magged escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Magged looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Riley darts in trying to clinch
and Magged counters with a slapping leg kick.
Magged keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Serga Magged is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Magged looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magged fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Magged is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Magged shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Riley pinned against the cage. Riley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Riley throws a head kick that misses
and Magged makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magged swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Donk. Riley catches Magged right on the button with a cross.

Serga Magged's cut is getting worse.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Magged here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Riley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Magged.
Magged leaves Riley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Magged shoots in for a double leg but Riley sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Riley tries to clinch but Magged moves out of range.
Riley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magged swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magged fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Magged displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Riley throws out the jab.
Magged avoids a punch combination nicely.
Magged shoots in looking for a takedown but Riley manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Magged's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Magged keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Riley takes a swing at Magged's ribcage but misses.
Riley leaves Magged with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Magged circles away quickly and effectively.
Magged avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riley tries to clinch there but Magged circles away.
Riley swings for the body but Magged moves out of range.

Magged closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Riley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Serga Magged's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Magged blocks a jab.
Magged staying out of range there.

Magged fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Riley, pushing him back against the cage.
Magged drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Magged stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Riley is trying to break free.

Magged breaks the clinch.
Riley throws a combination that misses
and Magged counters with a leg kick.
Riley throws a right and a left that both miss.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Magged.
Riley misses with a left hand
and Magged counters with a nice low kick that buckles Riley's knee momentarily.
Magged fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Serga Magged. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Riley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Magged counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick from Magged lands but Riley takes it in his stride.
Sloppy strikes from Riley. Those never looked like landing.
Magged looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick from Magged lands but Riley takes it in his stride.
Riley waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Magged.
Riley throws a sloppy head kick and Magged moves out of range easily.
Magged shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Riley sprawls well. Riley wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Magged gets slowly back to his feet.
Magged takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Riley scores with a jab to the head.
Magged misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Riley misses with a lunging right hand
and Magged counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley throws a right hand that Magged ducks under and follows up with a left that Magged also avoids with ease.
Riley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Magged.
Riley defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Magged.
Riley lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Magged scores with a jab.
Magged closes this distance looking for a takedown but Riley circles away.
Riley misses the shot to the body.
Riley thows a body shot but no joy.
Magged tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Riley does no damage.
Riley tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Magged swivels and escapes.
Riley misses with a double jab
and Magged counters with a nice leg kick.
Magged fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Riley jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley is looking to clinch but Magged is avoiding it.
Riley misses with a double jab
and Magged counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Riley misses with a looping right.
Riley misses with a two punch combination.

Magged darts in and clinches Riley up against the cage.

Magged pulls guard.

Riley postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Magged is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Riley, into his guard.
Magged forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Magged decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Riley gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Magged is trying to control Riley's posture but Riley avoids it.
Riley wants to stand but Magged has his arm trapped.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shawn Riley.
I think Riley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shawn Riley!