PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sarah Northcote (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lipidio Ribeiro (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.

Northcote
vs
Ribeiro

165 cm
25
138 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

174 cm
26
140 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Cage Wars Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sarah Northcote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lipidio Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Northcote shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Northcote showed some decent athleticism there.
Northcote wants to free his trapped foot but Ribeiro is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Northcote seems to be looking for submissions.
Ribeiro tries to kick Northcote off but Northcote keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Northcote is looking for a kimura here.
Northcote misses with a head shot. Ribeiro uses the momentum to regain guard.
Northcote advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Northcote wants to work for an arm triangle but Ribeiro is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Northcote is trying to work for a kimura but Ribeiro is defending well.

Northcote is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ribeiro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Northcote.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Northcote is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ribeiro!

Northcote moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Ribeiro has worked his arm free - good work by Ribeiro!
Northcote is breathing heavily.

Northcote goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ribeiro rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Northcote's guard! Nice work there by Ribeiro!

Northcote is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Northcote looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ribeiro passes into side control.
Northcote wants to control but Ribeiro postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Northcote is controlling his arm.

Ribeiro stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ribeiro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Northcote moves out of range of the strikes.
Northcote tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ribeiro swivels and escapes.
Ribeiro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Northcote moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ribeiro looks to throw the jab but Northcote is out of range.
Ribeiro will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ribeiro circles away from the clinch attempt.
Northcote chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ribeiro can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro looks to score with a jab to the body but Northcote is just out of range.
Ribeiro throws a push kick but Northcote slaps the foot to one side.
Ribeiro throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Northcote.

Northcote drives through and clinches with Ribeiro against the cage.
Ribeiro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Northcote.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch.

Northcote looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Northcote looking to sit in guard and control but Ribeiro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ribeiro wanted to stand there but Northcote had control of the position.
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 Sarah Northcote 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.

Ribeiro lands a front kick.
Northcote throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ribeiro's waist but Ribeiro gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Northcote off to one side.
Ribeiro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ribeiro misses with a jab, cross combination.

Northcote feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Northcote passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ribeiro is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Northcote is controlling him well.
Ribeiro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Northcote. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Northcote is trying to get an arm triangle but Ribeiro is defending well.

Northcote is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ribeiro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Northcote looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ribeiro can do anything to dispel that myth.

Northcote is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ribeiro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Northcote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ribeiro keeps working.

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.
Northcote prevents Ribeiro from escaping the position.

Northcote thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Northcote tries for a kimura but Ribeiro is defending well.
Ribeiro pushes Northcote away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Northcote gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Northcote working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ribeiro misses with an uppercut. Northcote saw that one coming.
Northcote avoids the head kick by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Northcote closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ribeiro wants to get back to his feet.
Ribeiro wants to get back to his feet but Northcote is dominant here and he's now got Ribeiro's back!

Northcote is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Ribeiro defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Northcote is looking for the choke from the back position but Ribeiro is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Northcote's arms.
Northcote wants to control but Ribeiro manages to buck him off and is now in Northcote's guard! Nice work there by Ribeiro!
Ribeiro trying to stand up but can't free himself from Northcote's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sarah Northcote dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Northcote looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Well, if Northcote is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Northcote escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ribeiro avoids the head kick by Northcote.
Northcote looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ribeiro is fending him off so far but Northcote persists. Nope, Ribeiro circles away and we're back to standing.
Ribeiro throws a front kick aimed at Northcote's knee but Northcote avoids it well.

Northcote is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ribeiro's half guard.

Northcote is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Ribeiro is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sarah Northcote!