PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rendo Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dallas Riley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Gracie
vs
Riley

176 cm
22
150 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

200 cm
22
155 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rendo Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dallas Riley!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie throws a head kick but Riley moves out of range.
Riley is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Riley moves into the clinch.

Gracie breaks from the clinch.

Riley gets a double leg takedown into Gracie's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gracie controls Riley momentarily but Riley frees himself.
Riley sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gracie's guard.
Gracie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gracie misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Riley is looking to take a break and control but Gracie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gracie is defending against the submission attempts here by Riley.
Riley is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gracie manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Riley is looking to stand up but Gracie won't let him.
Riley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gracie is keeping the position for now.

Gracie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Riley tries to stand but Gracie is controlling from the bottom.
Riley slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Riley prevents Gracie from improving his position.
Riley sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Riley wants to pass the guard but Gracie is defending well.

Riley seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Riley there.
Gracie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie looks like he's trying to stand up.
Riley slows the pace down in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Riley connects with a nice short shot to Gracie's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to get back to full guard here but Riley has managed to pass to side control instead.
Gracie takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gracie is looking to regain half guard here but Riley keeps moving and retains side control.
Gracie is being controlled here.
Riley has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gracie!
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Riley is keeping busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riley controlling the pace.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dallas Riley dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie tries to clinch but Riley moves away

and Riley moves into the clinch.

Riley gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Riley drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gracie looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gracie looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gracie!
Gracie takes a little break here. Riley wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Riley is looking to regain half guard here but Gracie keeps moving and retains side control.
Riley tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Riley is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gracie is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Riley because Gracie loaded up on that one.
Riley can't escape the position.
Gracie avoids the attempt from Riley to control.
Riley is desperately trying to improve his position but Gracie has a good base and remains in mount.
Gracie controlling his opponent.
Riley wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Gracie.
Riley tries to lock up and control but Gracie gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gracie wants to control the pace but Riley is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riley holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gracie tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Gracie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Riley can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Riley holds on for dear life, controlling Gracie's posture momentarily.
Riley can't escape the position.

Gracie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Riley is surviving well by controlling Gracie's body position as best he can.
Riley regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Riley is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Riley manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Riley's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Gracie tries to land a knee to the head but Riley blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Gracie is defending well.
Riley drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Riley wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Riley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Riley shoots in and gets a takedown into Gracie's guard.
Riley trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Riley passes Gracie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dallas Riley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie tries to clinch up but Riley circles away and keeps his distance.
Riley thuds his right hand into Gracie's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Riley sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
Riley slips a jab and a cross from Gracie.
Gracie fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Riley defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rendo Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie dives in and grabs Riley's left leg, looking for a takedown. Riley pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Riley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Riley.

Riley looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Riley is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riley thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gracie blocking the ground and pound attempt from Riley.
Gracie is looking to control Riley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gracie avoid being mounted?
Riley missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Riley decides to return to a standing position.

Gracie clinches with his opponent.
Riley stalling against the cage.
Gracie is trying to break the clinch but Riley is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riley jumps guard.
Riley is trying to keep Gracie in close.
Riley 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.
Riley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Riley keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gracie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Riley.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Riley looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Gracie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Riley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie misses with a series of wild punches.

Riley closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Riley content to control rather than advance.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Riley is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gracie keeps working.
Gracie is trying to control but Riley manages to pass to mount!
Gracie is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Riley stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Riley to score an easy takedown into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dallas Riley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Riley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

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