PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taz Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ross has chosen Show me how to live as his entrance music. 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.

Devil
vs
Ross

175 cm
27
156 lbs
18 - 12 - 1

179 cm
26
167 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

KINGDOM

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

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 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taz Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rick Ross!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ross thows a body shot but no joy.
Devil avoids the head kick by Ross.
Devil thumps Ross with a low kick.
Devil digs a good body shot into Ross's ribs.
Devil misses with a low kick.
Ross slips under a jab.
Ross throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ross pivots, looking for a leg kick but Devil is out of range and Ross settles back down.
A cross from Ross lands.
Ross wants to clinch.
Devil avoids the head kick by Ross.
Devil looks for the body kick but Ross saw that one coming.
Ross throws a poor cross that misses
and Devil counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Devil.
A big right from Devil misses.
Rick Ross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Devil connects with a body shot that sends Ross's belly button to the back.
Devil throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ross keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Devil throws a lazy right hand but Ross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Devil looks to land a left hand but Ross moved out of range nicely.
Devil avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ross looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Devil takes a swing at Ross's ribcage but misses.
Devil throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Devil misses with a hook. Ross ducked under it nicely.
Ross connects with the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross throws a sloppy head kick and Devil moves out of range easily.
Ross avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab lands there for Devil.
Devil rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ross makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Devil slips under a jab.
Devil scores with a head kick. Ross tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Devil throws a sloppy head kick and Ross moves out of range easily.
Devil scores with a hook to the body. Ross takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Devil checks a leg kick nicely.
Ross tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Devil throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Devil throws a jab but it's blocked by Ross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross thuds his right hand into Devil's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Devil throws a leg kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ross moves in looking to clinch but Devil pushes him off.
Ross punishes Devil's body with a nice straight punch.
A head kick misses from Ross.
Ross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A low kick from Ross misses
and Devil counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ross swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Devil throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Devil wants to slow Ross down by chopping away at his legs.
Devil misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Devil moves away.
Ross thows a leg kick but Devil checks it
and Devil counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Devil thumps Ross with a low kick.
Devil misses with the combination.
Devil keeps the fight on the outside.
Devil keeps the fight on the outside.
Ross is looking to clinch but Devil is avoiding it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Devil tries to land a front kick but Ross steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ross pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Devil back to the cage. Ross follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Ross checks a low kick from Devil.
Devil buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Devil dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ross avoids a kick to the body.
Ross scores with a head kick. Devil tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Devil waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ross.
Devil ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.
Ross on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Devil.
Devil just misses with a punch to the body.
Devil avoids a kick to the body.
Ross moves out of range of the body kick from Devil.
Devil pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Devil with a jab.
Devil wants to slow Ross down by chopping away at his legs.
Ross lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ross moves away.
Devil moves out of range of the strikes.
Devil misses with a kick to the body.
Ross throws a jab but it's blocked by Devil.
Ross misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Devil thows a leg kick but Ross checks it
and Ross counters with a nice uppercut.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ross, right into the meat.
Ross throws a nice head kick!
Devil avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Devil chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ross can pounce on him.
Ross attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Devil digs a good body shot into Ross's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ross stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slow jab from Ross misses its intended target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ross throws a low kick, looking for Devil's leg but Devil calmly moves out of range.
Ross throws a leg kick which misses Devil's front leg but catches the back leg as Devil tries to avoid it.
Ross takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ross avoids a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Devil. Ross does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ross swings away with a body shot that misses
and Devil counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Devil connects with a solid leg kick.
Devil misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil misses the shot to the body.
Ross on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Devil misses with a lunging right hand

and Ross moves into the clinch.
Devil is trying to push Ross away but Ross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ross.
Devil looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ross stalling.
Ross struggles to land a body shot inside as Devil controls his hands.
Ross is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Devil's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice defenses there by Ross.

Ross darts in and clinches Devil up against the cage.
Ross misses with some punches.
Devil letting Ross take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Ross.
Ross misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ross lands with a light punch inside.
Ross swings wildly with an uppercut but Devil uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ross scores with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devil blocks an elbow strike.
Ross stalling in the clinch but Devil improves position.
Devil is trying to break the clinch but Ross is controlling him.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ross.
Ross lands a damaging elbow.

Devil breaks the clinch.
Ross wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Devil.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rick Ross will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ross connects with the punch.
Devil stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ross.
Ross attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ross ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A clash of legs there as Ross blocks the low kick.
Ross throws a shot from downtown. Devil moves away and avoids it.
Ross feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Devil's calf.
Devil circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ross throws a head kick that misses
and Devil cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ross looks to land a right hand but Devil moved out of range.
Devil scores with a body shot.
Ross attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Devil keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross walks into a jab.
Devil checks a low kick from Ross.
Ross misses with a few strikes there.
Ross misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Devil.
Ross fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Devil is out of range.
Ross tries to close the distance and clinch but Devil swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ross works over Devil's head and body with a nice combination.
Ross throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Devil stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Jab, jab by Ross - just one landing.
Ross swings for the body but Devil moves out of range.
Ross shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil wants to land a leg kick but Ross is out of range.
Devil displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ross throws out the jab.

Ross gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Devil blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Devil.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devil is trying to break free.
A short uppercut from Ross.

Ross manages to break the clinch.
Ross misses with a low kick.
Devil moves out of range as Ross throws a body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Ross finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Devil slips a straight right by Ross.
Devil takes a swing at Ross's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil just misses with a punch to the body.
Devil buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ross moves out of range as Devil throws a body kick.
Ross ducks right into an uppercut from Devil.
Ross stalks Devil and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Devil's face. Devil staggers backwards, shaken.
Devil ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A slapping leg kick lands for Devil.
Ross throws the left hand but Devil avoids the punch easily.
Taz Devil is winning the standup battle so far.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Devil moves away from the strike by Ross.
Ross throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross throws a sloppy head kick and Devil moves out of range easily.
Ross throws out a loose jab but Devil uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Devil paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ross fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Devil checks it well.
Devil thows a body shot but no joy.
Ross drops his hands momentarily and Devil takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ross missing with a left hand there. Devil was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ross just misses with a punch to the body.
Devil circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ross tries to score with a low kick but Devil moves his leg out of the way.
Ross smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Devil comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Ross comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ross has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Ross!
After winning the bout, Rick Ross thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.