PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Neville Champman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merv Ridley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ridley's choice of entrance music: Don't Turn Off The Lights - Enrique Iglesias . Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Champman
vs
Ridley

178 cm
22
161 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
163 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Behold The Beast - 159 Promo almost over

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Neville Champman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Merv Ridley!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ridley swats away the attempt to clinch by Champman.
Ridley shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ridley closes this distance looking for a takedown but Champman circles away.
Champman is looking to clinch.

Champman has Ridley up against the cage in a clinch.
Champman misses with a knee strike.
Champman digs a right hand underneath Ridley's ribcage. Ridley let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ridley blocks the elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Champman lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Merv Ridley has been cut.

Ridley decides to pull guard.
Champman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Champman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ridley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ridley being controlled here, momentarily.

Ridley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Champman works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ridley is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Champman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Champman's back!
Ridley keeps control of the position as Champman tries to break free.
Champman trying to control the action but Ridley just sinks the hooks in.

Ridley looking for the choke from the back.
You can see the frustration on Champman's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Champman trying to control but not successfully.
Champman avoids the strikes from Ridley.
Champman tries to break free.
Champman turns into Ridley and is now in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Champman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley keeping full guard, as Champman tries to pass.

Ridley had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Champman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ridley Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Champman's back instead.
Ridley looks gassed!
Champman can't escape the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ridley is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Champman has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Champman tries to escape the position.
Champman rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Champman is trying to control but can't.
Champman preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ridley is trying to work for a kimura but Champman is defending well.
Ridley wants to free his trapped foot but Champman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Ridley is working for a kimura but Champman is defending it quite comfortably.
Champman is trying to maintain the position but Ridley is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neville Champman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Merv Ridley's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Champman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ridley is trying to defend but Champman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Champman performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Ridley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Ridley has his foot on Champman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Champman works his way back into a safe position though.
Champman is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Neville Champman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Champman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Champman is thwarting Ridley's attempts to control the position.
Ridley throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ridley is not content to let Champman control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridley trying to control from the bottom.
Champman is controlling the pace.
Champman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ridley is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ridley gets the takedown into side control.
Champman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ridley's best efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champman trying to control but Ridley postures up.
Champman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ridley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ridley is looking to take a break and control but Champman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ridley is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ridley trying to mount his opponent but Champman defends it.
Champman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Champman keeping moving, preventing Ridley from controlling successfully.
Champman wants to stand and escape but Ridley is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Champman tries to clinch up but Ridley circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A left lands for Champman.
Ridley moves out of range of the strikes.
Champman is looking to clinch but Ridley is avoiding it.

Ridley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Champman did well to prevent Ridley getting side control.
Champman wants to get back to his feet.

Ridley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Champman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ridley.
Ridley stops Champman from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Neville Champman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Merv Ridley'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!

Ridley misses with a takedown attempt
and Champman counters with a one-two to the body.
Champman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ridley manages to avoid it.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ridley tries for a takedown but Champman circles away easily

and Champman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ridley!
Neville Champman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Champman lands a big shot there that rocks Ridley but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Champman content just to control the position here.
Champman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ridley really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridley tries to lock up and control but Champman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Champman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ridley is looking to improve his position but Champman isn't that keen on the idea.
Champman controlling the pace for now.
Merv Ridley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ridley keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Champman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ridley is trying to escape the mount.
Champman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Champman trying to control but he's not successful this time.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Neville Champman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Danga de danga de dang - Champman scores with a four punch combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Champman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ridley's guard.
Neville Champman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Merv Ridley.
Champman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Champman wants to control from the top but Ridley keeps moving.

Ridley looking for a guillotine here but Champman defends easily.
Ridley keeping full guard, as Champman tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Champman trying to control but Ridley is working from the bottom.
Champman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Ridley is looking for a triangle but Champman pushes his legs off easily.
Champman works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Ridley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neville Champman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Champman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neville Champman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Champman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neville Champman!