PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Robert Pride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merv Ridley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ridley has chosen Don't Turn Off The Lights - Enrique Iglesias as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Merv Ridley is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Pride
vs
Ridley

176 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
163 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Pride!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Merv Ridley!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Daniel Bishop and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ridley takes a kick to the side of the head.

Pride scores with a takedown into Ridley's guard.
Ridley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ridley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pride accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ridley looking for a guillotine here but Pride defends easily.
Ridley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pride.

Ridley has his foot on Pride's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pride works his way back into a safe position though.
Ridley trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pride wants to pass the guard but Ridley is keeping the position.
Pride throwing strikes but missing.
Pride sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridley keeping moving, preventing Pride from controlling successfully.
Pride looking to pass the guard.
Ridley thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Pride trying to control but Ridley is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A combination from Pride does no damage.
A combination from Pride does no damage.
Pride misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pride closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ridley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pride counters with a takedown into side control.
Ridley sneaks back into half guard.
Pride wants to take a breather but Ridley is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridley won't allow Pride to pass to mount.

Ridley looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pride wants to work for an arm triangle but Ridley is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ridley tries to roll over but Pride keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Pride shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ridley napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pride is breathing heavily.
Pride in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pride trying to control the position but Ridley is working away.
Pride wants to stand but Ridley has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Pride is pressing down on Ridley's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ridley is holding on for now.
Pride is looking to take a break and control but Ridley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ridley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Horrible takedown by Pride or perhaps it was just good defense by Ridley which made him look bad.

Ridley drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridley wants to control from the top but Pride keeps moving.
Ridley throws a big right hand that misses.
Pride looking for a sweep. Not yet Pride, not yet.
Ridley trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ridley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pride keeping moving, preventing Ridley from controlling successfully.
Pride keeping full guard, as Ridley tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Robert Pride will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Ridley or perhaps it was just good defense by Pride which made him look bad.
Good shot there by Pride.
Ridley shoots for a takedown but Pride saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Robert Pride seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ridley looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Left hook, right uppercut from Pride.
Pride with a hook.
Pride lands a jab-cross combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pride.
No joy there for Pride, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pride scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Ridley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pride's half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pride trying to control but Ridley postures up.
Ridley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pride's head.
Pride is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ridley's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ridley's back!
Ridley wants to escape the position.
Ridley breaks Pride's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Ridley won't allow Pride to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pride keeping moving, preventing Ridley from controlling successfully.
Ridley with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pride keeping moving, preventing Ridley from controlling successfully.
Ridley throws a big right hand that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pride throws a nice looking combination but Ridley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pride swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ridley.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pride.
Ridley is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Pride is trying to work for a kimura but Ridley is defending well.
Pride throwing shots but Ridley is blocking nicely.
Ridley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ridley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Pride is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Ridley has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Pride is looking to defend but Ridley has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Pride! Ridley pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Pride taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Merv Ridley!