PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Patricio Freire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monroe has chosen Deep Ocean - Island drumming as his entrance music. Ricky Monroe told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Freire
vs
Monroe

165 cm
28
145 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

166 cm
27
143 lbs
11 - 9 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Lion Fightwear

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patricio Freire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ricky Monroe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Monroe shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Freire avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Monroe.
Monroe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Freire has hold of Monroe's hands but Monroe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Monroe is nestled in close to Freire, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Freire taking some punishment here, with Monroe in his half guard.
Monroe landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Monroe is nestled in close to Freire, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Monroe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Freire is looking to improve his position.
Freire's coaches at Rain's have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Monroe is nestled in close to Freire, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Freire tries to get to full guard but Monroe has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe working the head and body with strikes.
Monroe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Freire is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Monroe pulls his head out easily.
Monroe looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Freire has hold of Monroe's hands but Monroe slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Freire manages to get to full guard.
Monroe trying to control but Freire is working from the bottom.
Monroe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Freire's head.
Monroe trying to control but Freire is working from the bottom.

Freire looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe trying to control but Freire is working from the bottom.
Monroe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Freire's head.
Freire controls Monroe momentarily but Monroe frees himself.
Monroe connects with a couple of short punches.
Monroe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Monroe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Freire is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Monroe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Monroe landing with the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monroe lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Freire's head.
Monroe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Monroe is in close to Freire's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Monroe scoring with some ground and pound.
Monroe distracts Freire with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Freire working a defensive guard here.

Freire throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Monroe stopping the sweep attempt from Freire.
Freire lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Freire looking to pass the guard.
Monroe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe 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.
Monroe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Freire pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Monroe is keeping the position for now.
Freire forces his way into half guard.

Freire is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Monroe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Freire.
Monroe gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Monroe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Freire.
Freire is looking to counter punch.
Freire moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Monroe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Freire takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Monroe throws a hook but Freire avoids it easily.
Monroe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freire was well out of range. Poor timing from Monroe.
Freire feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Freire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Freire throws a big shot that misses.
Monroe is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Monroe scores with a hook to the body. Freire takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Freire tries to clinch but Monroe moves away
and Monroe counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Patricio Freire has been cut.
Freire moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monroe scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Freire shoots in but no luck this time.
Monroe swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Freire misses with a left hand
and Monroe counters with a nice low kick that buckles Freire's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A swing and a miss from Monroe.
Nice defenses there by Monroe.
Monroe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Freire misses the shot to the body.
Freire uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monroe.
Freire seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A shot to the body from Monroe misses
and Monroe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Freire scores with a body shot.
Freire avoids the body shot from Monroe.
Ricky Monroe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A big left from Monroe misses.
Monroe lands a nice hook to Freire's body. Freire takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Monroe punishes Freire's body with a nice straight punch.
Monroe's corner calls for a 1-2. Monroe obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freire shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Monroe defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a body punch but Freire moves out of range.
Freire is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Monroe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Freire.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patricio Freire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monroe throws a right and a left that Freire avoids nicely.
Monroe lands a nice looking body shot.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Monroe lands a lovely overhand right.
Freire throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Monroe's waist but Monroe gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Freire off to one side.
Freire jabs at Monroe's body.
Monroe stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Freire is looking to counter punch.

Freire moves into the clinch successfully.
Freire tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Monroe smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Freire moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Freire ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Monroe moves away.
Freire takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Monroe misses with a hook.
Freire misses with an uppercut. Monroe saw that one coming.
Freire shoots in for a double leg but Monroe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Monroe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Monroe jabs at Freire's body.
Monroe dips to his left and cracks Freire with an uppercut!
Monroe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Freire.
A jab from Monroe misses.
Freire feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Monroe lands with a nice body punch.
Monroe lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe cracks Freire with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Freire moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monroe. Freire does a little dance to reset his feet.
Freire swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Freire looks for a takedown but Monroe sprawls well.
Monroe loads up on a big right hand but Freire slips the punch.
Freire takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Monroe cracks Freire with an open hand slap.
Monroe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Freire was well out of range. Poor timing from Monroe.
Monroe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Monroe lands a jab to the nose.

Monroe scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Monroe lands strikes from half guard.
Freire moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monroe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Patricio Freire's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Freire throws a body punch but Monroe moves out of range.
Freire throws a big shot that misses.
Monroe looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Monroe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Freire cracks Monroe with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Monroe throws a hook but Freire blocks it.
Monroe connects with the punch.
Monroe misses with a hook. Freire ducked under it nicely.
Freire swings for the body but Monroe moves out of range.
A lazy left from Monroe finds it's target.
Monroe misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freire tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Monroe swivels and escapes.
Freire throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Monroe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Monroe lands with a good body shot.
Freire throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Freire tries to move into range but Monroe moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freire misses with a left hand
and Monroe counters with a nice uppercut.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Freire, as that shot connected.

Monroe 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.

Freire looking for a guillotine here but Monroe defends easily.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.
Freire wants to sweep here but Monroe controlling him for the moment.
Freire is working hard here to advance position.
Freire keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.
Monroe landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Freire's head.
Monroe stands up over Freire, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Freire is on top in guard.

Freire stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monroe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Monroe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Freire gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monroe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Freire trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Monroe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Freire has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Monroe has managed to get both his arms back between Freire's legs - danger averted.
Monroe wants to control from the top but Freire keeps moving.
Monroe postures up and lands a big shot to Freire's brow.
Monroe won't allow Freire to sweep him here.

Freire has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Monroe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Monroe lands a couple of elbows.

Freire escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Monroe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe trying to control but Freire is working from the bottom.
Monroe connects with a couple of short punches.
Freire manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Monroe manages to get himself to full guard.

Monroe trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Freire looking to pass the guard.
Patricio Freire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freire accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Monroe throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ricky Monroe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Monroe seems keen to control Freire's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monroe wants to sweep here but Freire controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Monroe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Monroe 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Monroe!
A very excited looking Ricky Monroe made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Patricio Freire was interviewed post fight and said 'This is the last time you will see me. I feel like I'm getting too old for the sport and most people have better skills than me, I've lost all desire to compete, best of luck to Ricky and his managera and everyone in tycoon world!'.