PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brooklin Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Hewitt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Rider
vs
Hewitt

187 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brooklin Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Hewitt!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rider swats away the attempt to clinch by Hewitt.
Hewitt lands with a nice combination. Rider backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Brooklin Rider has been cut.
Rider avoids the body shot from Hewitt.
Hewitt looks to land a body kick but Rider moved away.
Hewitt swings for the body but Rider moves out of range.
Hewitt misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas Hewitt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rider lands a two punch combo.
Rider closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hewitt circles away.
Hewitt missing with a left hand there. Rider was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hewitt throws a series of punches but Rider avoids them all with ease.

Hewitt moves into the clinch.

Hewitt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hewitt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hewitt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rider pinned against the cage. Rider gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hewitt throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rider counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hewitt's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Rider landing with the ground and pound.
Hewitt looks gassed!

Rider 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rider slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider trying to control the action but Hewitt is working from the bottom.
Rider has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Rider 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.
Rider wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hewitt keeps working.
Rider tries to pass to full mount but Hewitt defends it.

Hewitt is defending against the submission attempts here by Rider.

Rider is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rider tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hewitt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rider is working hard here to advance position.

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

Hewitt fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rider sprawls well initially but Hewitt persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Rider tries to get to full guard but Hewitt has control of the leg.
Hewitt controlling the action here.
Rider is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hewitt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rider. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rider looking for a sweep. Not yet Rider, not yet.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rider throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hewitt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Rider throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rider manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rider looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rider jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hewitt manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Rider tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hewitt is looking for a sweep.
Rider in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Rider looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rider tries for a kimura but Hewitt is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rider creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brooklin Rider dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brooklin Rider's cut.
That's time! Rider's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hewitt works over Rider's head and body with a nice combination.
Hewitt has his takedown stuffed

and Rider counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hewitt's guard now.

Rider thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hewitt will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rider throwing strikes but missing.
Hewitt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rider trying to control but Hewitt is working from the bottom.

Rider 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.
Hewitt bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rider's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rider escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hewitt gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rider not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hewitt wants to control from the top but Rider keeps moving.

Rider working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hewitt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hewitt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hewitt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rider swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rider is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hewitt is stalling in the full guard.
Rider manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hewitt is desperately trying to improve his position but Rider has a good base and remains in mount.
Hewitt is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Rider looking to secure an arm triangle but Hewitt defends it well.
Hewitt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Rider working Hewitt over with strikes here.
Hewitt throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hewitt is working to get back to half guard.

Rider goes for an armbar but Hewitt turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hewitt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hewitt slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hewitt sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rider's guard.
Rider gets full guard.

Rider is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hewitt passes Rider's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rider wants to improve his position but Hewitt is controlling well.

Rider is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Hewitt pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider is looking for a sweep. Hewitt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Rider kicks Hewitt off and gets back to his feet.
Rider shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hewitt but Hewitt pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rider looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rider not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rider prevents Hewitt from improving his position.
Rider passes to side control.

Rider looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brooklin Rider dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Brooklin Rider's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hewitt has his takedown stuffed
and Rider counters with a low kick, right behind Hewitt 's knee.
Hewitt shoots in but Rider avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hewitt throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Rider counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hewitt!

Rider stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Hewitt throws a combination that misses

and Rider counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hewitt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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!
Hewitt wants to sweep but no luck.
Hewitt is trying to keep Rider in close.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hewitt looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rider wants to pass the guard but Hewitt is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hewitt holds on and takes a little breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rider pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hewitt is keeping the position for now.
Hewitt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rider tries to clinch up.
Hewitt scores with a body shot.
Hewitt tries to bum rush Rider with a series of wild strikes but Rider uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hewitt throws a series of punches but Rider moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Hewitt.

Rider shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Rider was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rider moves to the back position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hewitt defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Rider's arms.
Hewitt takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Rider is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Rider keeps control of the position as Hewitt tries to break free.
Brooklin Rider overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rider punishes Hewitt with strikes from the back mount.
Rider missing with punches from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Rider manages to miss with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rider throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Rider is trying to stick to Hewitt's back but Hewitt is turning into Rider. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rider's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Hewitt.
Hewitt seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hewitt won't allow Rider to get back to his feet.
Hewitt with a nice head shot there.

Rider looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hewitt has picked Rider up and slammed him! Rider can't keep hold of the triangle and Hewitt manages to pass to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hewitt taking a breather here.
Rider is looking for a sweep.
Hewitt is looking to take a break and control but Rider is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hewitt blocks the strikes from Rider.
Rider is trying to improve his position.
Rider sneaks back into half guard.
Thomas Hewitt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rider moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brooklin Rider showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rider, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brooklin Rider!