PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Rising (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xander Ralphinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rising
vs
Ralphinski

190 cm
23
250 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

225 cm
27
206 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maximus Rising!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xander Ralphinski!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rising loads up on a big right hand but Ralphinski slips the punch.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that Rising semi-blocks.
Rising misses with a combination
letting Ralphinski counter with a right hand.
A head kick from Ralphinski lands but Rising takes it in his stride.
Nice straight punches there by Ralphinski. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ralphinski.
Ralphinski lands a head kick. Rising smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rising on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ralphinski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rising.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Ralphinski throws a sloppy head kick and Rising moves out of range easily.
Rising throws a poor cross that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick.
Ralphinski is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ralphinski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rising.
Rising blocks a head kick by Ralphinski.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ralphinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Ralphinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rising blocks a head kick by Ralphinski.
Ralphinski goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ralphinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rising.
Ralphinski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ralphinski throws a sloppy head kick and Rising moves out of range easily.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rising takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rising misses with a double jab
enabling Ralphinski to counter with a crisp jab.
Ralphinski bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Rising throws a poor cross that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rising works over Ralphinski's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Xander Ralphinski has been cut.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralphinski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Ralphinski to counter with a crisp jab.
Rising is breathing heavily.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rising looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ralphinski scores with a head kick.
Rising takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ralphinski counters with a head kick that drops Rising to the mat! Rising scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Rising is rocked!
Ralphinski connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Oh Rising is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rising takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rising seems to have got his legs back now.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Ralphinski connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rising momentarily.
Rising gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ralphinski.
Ralphinski throws a nice head kick!
Rising blocks a head kick by Ralphinski.
Ralphinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rising.
Rising misses with an uppercut
and Ralphinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rising blocks a head kick by Ralphinski.
Ralphinski misses with a head kick.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ralphinski has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rising swings widly with a right hand
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick.
Rising takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rising swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ralphinski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ralphinski connects with a high kick.
Ralphinski might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ralphinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rising.
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ralphinski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rising takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ralphinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rising.
A head kick misses from Ralphinski.
Rising drops his hands momentarily and Ralphinski takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Rising throws a poor cross that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ralphinski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ralphinski connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ralphinski throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ralphinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Ralphinski throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rising's head.
Rising throws an off balance right hand
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rising avoids the head kick by Ralphinski.
Rising throws a combination that misses
enabling Ralphinski to counter with a crisp jab.
Rising swings widly with a right hand
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Rising blocks a head kick by Ralphinski.
Ralphinski connects with a high kick.
Ralphinski lands a head kick. Rising smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ralphinski is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rising had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Ralphinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ralphinski goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Ralphinski dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xander Ralphinski's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ralphinski throws a head kick but Rising moves out of range.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ralphinski has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ralphinski lands a head kick. Rising smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ralphinski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rising takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rising cracks Ralphinski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a stiff right hand.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rising is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ralphinski's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Rising misses with a hook
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ralphinski throws a sloppy head kick and Rising moves out of range easily.
Rising avoids the head kick by Ralphinski.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that misses.
Xander Ralphinski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rising lands a body shot.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rising thows a body shot but no joy.
Rising scores with a hook.
Rising fails to land with a series of punches.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Maximus Rising is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ralphinski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ralphinski throws a nice head kick!
Ralphinski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rising walks into a left hand.
Rising throws an overhand right that lands on Ralphinski's shoulder, as Ralphinski tries to avoid the shot.
Rising throws a combination that misses
letting Ralphinski counter with a right hand.
Ralphinski lands a head kick. Rising smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ralphinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rising takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Rising misses with a double jab
and Ralphinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rising has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Rising avoids the head kick by Ralphinski.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick.
Ralphinski connects with a right hand. Rising shakes it off.
Rising throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Ralphinski counter with a right hand.
Ralphinski lands a head kick. Rising smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ralphinski getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ralphinski throws a head kick but Rising moves out of range.
Ralphinski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ralphinski scores with a punch to the head.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rising misses with an uppercut
letting Ralphinski counter with a right hand.
Rising misses with a shot to the body
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rising looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ralphinski tries a head kick but it misses.
Rising gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ralphinski.
Ralphinski lands a head kick!
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ralphinski lands a head kick!
Ralphinski lands with a slapping head kick.
Ralphinski lands a high kick!
Rising misses with a looping right.
Rising swings widly with a right hand
and Ralphinski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Rising swings widly with a right hand
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rising misses with a body shot
and Ralphinski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that misses.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick.
Ralphinski throws a head kick but Rising moves out of range.
Ralphinski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rising takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ralphinski is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A head kick misses from Ralphinski.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ralphinski swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rising.
Rising blocks a head kick by Ralphinski.
Rising avoids the head kick by Ralphinski.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ralphinski plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rising throws a right and a left that Ralphinski avoids nicely.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ralphinski.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xander Ralphinski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xander Ralphinski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ralphinski throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rising's head.
A jab lands there for Ralphinski.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that half lands.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ralphinski.
Rising ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Rising might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Ralphinski slips a jab and a cross from Rising.
Rising throws a series of punches but Ralphinski avoids them all with ease.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ralphinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rising misses with a combination
enabling Ralphinski to counter with a crisp jab.
Rising takes a kick to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rising takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ralphinski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ralphinski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rising avoids the head kick by Ralphinski.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rising takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ralphinski throws a sloppy head kick and Rising moves out of range easily.
Maximus Rising seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ralphinski tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sloppy strikes from Rising. Those never looked like landing.
Rising misses with a hook
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Ralphinski's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rising under the eye.
Ralphinski dodges the punch combination from Rising.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ralphinski lands a head kick!
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ralphinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rising.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ralphinski connects with a jab.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rising misses with a hook
and Ralphinski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rising takes a kick to the side of the head.
Rising misses with a double jab
enabling Ralphinski to counter with a crisp jab.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a nice uppercut.
Ralphinski lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ralphinski scores with a decent looking hook.
Ralphinski misses with a head kick.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Ralphinski counter with a right hand.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that Rising semi-blocks.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that half lands.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a stiff right hand.
Ralphinski throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rising's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ralphinski throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rising on the side of the head.
Rising misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ralphinski.
A head kick from Ralphinski lands but Rising takes it in his stride.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a straight right hand.
Ralphinski connects with a high kick.
Rising swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ralphinski counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rising is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rising misses with a combination
letting Ralphinski counter with a right hand.
Ralphinski connects with a high kick.
Ralphinski feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Risings jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ralphinski lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that misses.
Ralphinski throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rising.
Rising throws a combination that misses
and Ralphinski counters with a big head kick but Rising shrugs it off.
Rising throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick.
Rising misses with a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ralphinski throws a sloppy head kick and Rising moves out of range easily.
Maximus Rising has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ralphinski counters with a head kick. That will keep Rising thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Rising walks into a straight right hand from Ralphinski.
Rising falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ralphinski counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ralphinski throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Ralphinski throws a sloppy head kick and Rising moves out of range easily.
Ralphinski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rising swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rising takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xander Ralphinski comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ralphinski has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xander Ralphinski!