PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Newton Ratliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Ocean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Newton Ratliff has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ratliff
vs
Ocean

195 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Newton Ratliff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Ocean!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ocean closes the distance and clinches.
Ratliff is trying to drag Ocean to the mat but Ocean just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ratliff has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ocean avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ratliff can't break the clinch.
Ratliff looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Ocean manages to pull guard.
Ocean trying to control the position.
Ocean is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ratliff sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ocean should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ocean utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ocean is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ratliff lands a couple of elbows.
Ratliff will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ratliff chips away with some ground and pound.
Ratliff landing with the ground and pound.
Ocean looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ocean not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ocean wants to get back to his feet but Ratliff is in a dominant position and won't allow 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.
Ratliff's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ocean has eaten all the pies!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ratliff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Newton Ratliff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ocean swings for the body but Ratliff moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ocean closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ratliff did well to prevent Ocean getting side control.
Ratliff is looking to control Ocean's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ratliff avoid being mounted?
Ratliff is controlling Ocean's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ocean tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ratliff controls his leg.
Ocean is looking to take a break and control but Ratliff is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ocean looks winded!
Ratliff regains full guard. Nicely done.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ratliff is on top in guard.
Ratliff trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ratliff with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ocean looking for a sweep. Not yet Ocean, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ratliff's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ratliff lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ratliff landing some decent shots from guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ratliff lands a couple of digs.
Ratliff would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Newton Ratliff dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ratliff gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ocean to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ratliff has a closed guard, preventing Ocean from standing up.

Ratliff is looking for a triangle but Ocean pushes his legs off easily.
Ratliff controlling the position.
Ratliff wants to sweep but no luck.
Ratliff pulls Ocean in close to prevent any damage.
Ocean is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ratliff holds on and takes a little breather.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Newton Ratliff just wasn't active enough.

Ocean shoots in and gets a takedown into Ratliff's guard.
Ocean is breathing heavily.
Ratliff trying to strike off his back.
Ratliff keeping moving, preventing Ocean from controlling successfully.
Ratliff is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ratliff looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ocean passes into side control.
Ratliff striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff tries to improve position but can't.
Ocean tries to move to mount but Ratliff blocks the move with his legs.
Ratliff manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ratliff is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ocean wants to improve his position but Ratliff is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff not doing much here.
Ratliff landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Newton Ratliff overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ratliff is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ocean has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nice strikes from Ratliff there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ocean is defending against the submission attempts here by Ratliff.
Ratliff slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ratliff connects with a nice short shot to Ocean's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Newton Ratliff 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!

Ocean closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ratliff did well to prevent Ocean getting side control.
Ratliff is holding on to half guard well.
Ratliff trying to hold on to Ocean's head to control him but Ocean postures up.

Ratliff kicks off Ocean and gets to his feet.

Ocean closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ratliff quickly recovers to half guard.
Ocean is looking to advance position but Ratliff won't allow it.
Ratliff is looking to control Ocean's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ratliff avoid being mounted?
Ocean takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ratliff kicks off Ocean and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ocean gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ratliff to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ocean is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ratliff is controlling him.

Ratliff decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ocean, up you get!

Ratliff closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ocean's guard.
Ratliff chips away with some ground and pound.
Ratliff scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ratliff controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ratliff lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ocean wants to get back to his feet but Ratliff is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ratliff showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Newton Ratliff just wasn't active enough.

Ratliff decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ratliff working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ratliff stops Ocean from getting back to his feet.
Ratliff slows the pace down in half guard.
Ratliff takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Newton Ratliff showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ratliff, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Newton Ratliff!