PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh Foster (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. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Foster
vs
Ridley

176 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
163 lbs
6 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Foster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Merv Ridley!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foster scoring well with a low kick there.
Ridley stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Foster.
Foster lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Foster swings for the body but Ridley moves out of range.
Foster with a jab.
Foster lands a lovely overhand right.
Foster fakes the leg kick and cracks Ridley in the body.
Foster lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Foster is looking to slow Ridley down with leg kicks.
Nice body punch from Foster.
Foster throws a nice head kick!
Ridley chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Foster can pounce on him.
Foster sizes up Ridley with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Ridley closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Foster is trying to control Ridley's posture but Ridley avoids it.
Foster wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foster tries to bench press Ridley off him but Ridley keeps the position.

Ridley tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ridley has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ridley taking a breather here.
Ridley looks gassed!
Ridley advances to mount.
Foster is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ridley prevents Foster from getting the reversal.

Ridley has control of Foster's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Foster regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Foster trying desperately to get to his feet.
Foster tries to hold on but Ridley pushes him away.
Ridley landing strikes, looking to finish!
Foster wants to control 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
BOOM! Ridley connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Foster knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ridley on the ground.

Ridley working for a choke but Foster reverses nicely into Ridley 's guard.
Foster trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ridley looking for a guillotine here but Foster defends easily.
Foster wants to stand but Ridley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Foster advances to half guard.
Foster trying to pass the guard but Ridley defending well.

Foster seems to be looking for submissions.
Ridley wants to get back to full guard.
Ridley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Foster is looking to stand up but Ridley won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Merv Ridley will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Foster fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ridley.
Ridley avoids the body shot from Foster.
Foster scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Ridley scores with a takedown into Foster's guard.
Ridley wants to pass the guard but Foster is keeping the position.
Ridley won't allow Foster to sweep him here.
Foster is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ridley is controlling him.

Foster uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Foster fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ridley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Foster.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No joy there for Foster, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Foster works Ridley's body with a nice hook.
Foster goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Foster moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Foster misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ridley takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ridley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Foster's waist but Foster gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ridley off to one side.
Ridley's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Foster lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Foster throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Foster lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster digs a good body shot into Ridley's ribs.
Ridley takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Foster is looking to wear down Ridley with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Foster moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ridley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Foster fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ridley crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Foster - the referee stops the clock and Ridley gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Foster. Ridley manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Foster lands a lovely overhand right.
Foster goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ridley takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Foster stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Foster wants it to stay on the feet.
Josh Foster is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ridley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Foster connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Foster slams his shin into Ridley's torso.
Foster lands with a kick to the temple. Ridley shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Foster thows a body kick. Ridley tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Ridley takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ridley takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Foster lands with a slapping head kick.
Foster goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Merv Ridley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick from Foster lands but Ridley takes it in his stride.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Foster, right into the meat.
A nice inside leg kick there by Foster. That's going to slow Ridley down.
Foster lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ridley will feel that in the morning.
Foster lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Foster.
A solid leg kick lands there for Foster.
Ridley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Josh Foster has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Merv Ridley.
Ridley takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Foster cracks the inside of Ridley's front leg.
Foster ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Foster lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Josh Foster seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Foster cracks the inside of Ridley's front leg.
Josh Foster is winning the standup battle so far.
Foster throws a head kick that Ridley semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Foster dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Foster feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ridley's calf.
Ridley takes a jab right on the kisser.
A slapping body kick lands there for Foster.
Foster throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ridley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ridley throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Foster's waist but Foster gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ridley off to one side.
Foster scores with a kick to the midsection.
Foster connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Foster cracks a nice hook into Ridley's ribs.
Foster works over Ridley's head and body with a nice combination.
Foster throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Ridley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Good leg kick by Foster there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ridley has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Foster.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Foster catches Ridley right on the button with a cross.
Foster thuds his right hand into Ridley's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Foster lands a high kick!
A chopping leg kick lands by Foster.
Foster feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ridley's calf.
Foster moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Foster changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Foster lands a head kick!
Foster with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Foster throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ridley's head.
Foster moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foster throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jab, jab by Foster - just one landing.
Foster lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Foster throws a nice head kick!
Ridley takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A chopping leg kick lands by Foster.
Foster scores with a push kick.
Ridley stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Foster.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Foster lands a nice looking body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Ridley crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Foster - the referee stops the clock and Ridley gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Foster. Ridley manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Foster lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice body punch from Foster.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Foster works Ridley's body with a nice hook.
Ridley takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ridley sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Foster. That's going to slow Ridley down.
Ridley takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Foster - that will leave a mark!
Foster fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ridley on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Ridley takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Foster lands a nice looking body shot.
Foster lands a high kick!
Foster connects with a high kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster stalks Ridley and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ridley's face. Ridley staggers backwards, shaken.
No joy there for Foster, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Foster turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Foster lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ridley's sensitive parts.
Foster scores with a body shot.
Foster delivers a nice body kick.
Foster comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
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!
Foster connects with a high kick.
Foster throws a head kick that Ridley semi-blocks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Foster fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ridley.
Ridley blocks a head kick by Foster.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Foster.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Foster showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Foster has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Foster!