PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erin Riley (ranked 25228 p4p, 0 weight class) and Al Baghdadi (ranked 5814 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Baghdadi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Erin Riley's chin.

Riley
vs
Baghdadi

167 cm
20
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Pit Bull Development

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erin Riley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Al Baghdadi!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riley is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Baghdadi.

It looks like Erin Riley has been cut.
Baghdadi shoots in and drives through. Riley sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Riley.
Baghdadi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Baghdadi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baghdadi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Baghdadi misses with a body shot.
Riley moves out of range of the body kick from Baghdadi.

Baghdadi pushes Riley up against the cage in a clinch.
Riley avoids a wild elbow strike from Baghdadi.
With the fighters up against the cage, Baghdadi throws an elbow but misses.
Baghdadi throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Riley drags the fight down to the ground.

Riley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Baghdadi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baghdadi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Baghdadi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Baghdadi preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baghdadi controlling from the top position.
Baghdadi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Baghdadi pushes down on Riley's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Riley on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Baghdadi is pressing down on Riley's thigh, looking to free his foot. Riley is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Baghdadi lands a nice short elbow.
Riley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Baghdadi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Riley wants to sweep here but Baghdadi controlling him for the moment.

Riley pushes Baghdadi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Baghdadi lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Riley throws a body kick that misses.
Baghdadi tries to score with a low kick but Riley moves his leg out of the way.
Baghdadi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Riley is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riley plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Oh Riley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Baghdadi has closed the distance and engaged Riley in a clinch.

Riley successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riley pushes Baghdadi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Baghdadi closes the distance and clinches.
Baghdadi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A bit of stalling here from Baghdadi.

Riley has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Baghdadi uses from the top position.
Riley wants to stand but Baghdadi is controlling the position.
Riley is breathing heavily.
Baghdadi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Baghdadi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Baghdadi scoring with some ground and pound.
Riley looking for a sweep. Not yet Riley, not yet.
Baghdadi cracks Riley with a solid left hand.

Baghdadi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Baghdadi landing some decent shots from guard.

Riley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Baghdadi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Baghdadi 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.
Riley could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Baghdadi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Baghdadi scoring with some ground and pound.
Baghdadi prevents Riley from getting back to his feet.
Baghdadi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baghdadi working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baghdadi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Riley seems a little lost for a moment, as Baghdadi dominates the positioning.

Baghdadi in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Riley is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Al Baghdadi!