PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Steller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Rick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Steller
vs
Rick

172 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Steller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Rick!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Steller darts in and clinches Rick up against the cage.
Steller blocks an uppercut.
Rick goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Steller slowing the pace effectively.
Steller drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rick lands an uppercut.
Rick scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rick stops a takedown attempt from Steller.
Rick lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Steller backwards.
Steller has Rick pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rick manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Steller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rick lands with a light punch inside.
Steller throws a punch but it's blocked by Rick.
Rick misses with the head strike.
Steller working aggressively here.
Steller has a couple of punches blocked by Rick.
Steller blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rick.
Steller misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steller is looking for a takedown.
A shot in the inside from Rick.
Rick lands a right hand.
Rick prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steller drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A nice left hand lands by Rick.
Rick working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Steller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rick lands a nice shot to the body.
Rick lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Steller backwards.
Rick misses with a punch on the inside.
Rick lands with a short shot to the head.
Rick lands a hook that snaps the head of Steller backwards.

Steller wants the takedown. Rick is fighting it off but Steller persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rick's guard against the cage.
Steller throwing strikes but missing.
Steller is working Rick over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rick seems keen to control Steller's posture.
Rick really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Steller. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steller with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steller is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steller with a nice head shot there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rick can do anything to dispel that myth.
Steller trying to control the position from guard on top but Rick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Steller throws a big right hand that misses.
Steller has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Steller content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steller throwing strikes from guard but Rick blocks nicely.
Steller throwing strikes but missing.
Rick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steller.
Steller in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Steller throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Steller working some strikes from top position.
Steller scoring with some ground and pound.
Steller postures up.
Rick looks winded!
Rick wants to sweep here but Steller controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Steller.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Steller postures up and lands a big shot to Rick's brow.
Steller missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Steller trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Steller throwing strikes from guard but Rick blocks nicely.
Steller is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Steller lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Steller won't allow Rick to sweep him here.
Steller working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Rick will probably get the nod.
That's time! Steller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Steller forces Rick back against the cage and clinches.
Steller misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Rick.
Steller wants a takedown.
Steller is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rick presses Steller against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Steller drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rick is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Steller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rick is leaning against Steller and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rick.
Steller blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rick lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rick has a couple of punches blocked by Steller.
Steller looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Steller misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steller blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rick stalling in the clinch but Steller improves position.
Rick misses with some punches.
Steller misses with some punches.
Good body shot from Rick.
Rick has a couple of punches blocked by Steller.
Steller goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rick prevents it.
Rick throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stellers head.
A short uppercut from Rick.
Rick misses with a punch on the inside.
Rick scores with a hook to the body.
Rick is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rick working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rick throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rick stops a takedown attempt from Steller.
Rick works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Steller is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rick lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rick blocking some punches.
Rick has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rick pushes Steller back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Steller has hold of one of Rick's legs. Rick is fighting the takedown attempt but Steller gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rick 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.
Rick is pulling down on Steller's head. It's preventing any offense from Steller, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Steller chips away with some ground and pound.
Rick looking to hit a scissor sweep but Steller is one step ahead there.
Steller makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four 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.
Steller stands up over Rick, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Steller throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rick works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steller trying to control the position from guard on top but Rick is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Steller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Steller pushing down on Rick's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Steller throwing shots but Rick is blocking nicely.
Rick has hold of Steller's hands but Steller slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steller is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Steller slips a nice elbow through Rick's hands, connecting with Rick's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but James Rick will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Steller misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Rick clinches.
Steller is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rick gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rick lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Steller backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Steller fails to land.
Steller drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rick gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Steller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steller tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rick holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rick makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rick lands with a left to the head.
Rick lands a right hand that snaps the head of Steller backwards.
Rick working aggressively here.
Rick working aggressively here.
Rick lands a body punch.
Steller misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steller digs a right hand underneath Rick's ribcage. Rick let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rick is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Steller taking a breather.
Rick prevents the takedown attempt.
Still in the clinch, Rick scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rick softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rick gets through Steller's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rick makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James Rick seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rick tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rick lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rick misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steller is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steller takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steller drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rick gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rick creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rick dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rick is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rick lands with a short shot to the head.
Rick lands an uppercut.
Rick lands a shot to the body.
Rick lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Rick.
Steller is looking for a takedown.
Rick scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rick lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rick gets through Steller's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick throws a punch but it's blocked by Steller.
Steller struggles to land a body shot inside as Rick controls his hands.
Rick digs a right hand underneath Steller's ribcage. Steller let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rick scores with a hook to the body.
Steller takes a shot to the head.
Steller is trying to drag Rick to the mat but Rick just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rick lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rick scores with a shot to the side of Steller's head.
Rick stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rick stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rick lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short left from Rick.
Rick blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rick prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short body shot lands from Rick as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Rick.
Steller throws a punch but it's blocked by Rick.
Rick makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Steller misses with some punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rick stops a takedown attempt from Steller.
Rick lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steller backwards.
Rick throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stellers head.
Ben Steller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rick creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rick throws a punch but it's blocked by Steller.
Steller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rick is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rick lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steller backwards.
Steller prevents a body shot from Rick.
A nice left hand lands by Rick.
Rick working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rick.
Rick gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Steller.
Good body shot from Rick.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Rick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rick winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 26:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Rick!