PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Winston Churchill (ranked 87 p4p, 17 weight class) and Mathew Ridgeway (ranked 26 p4p, 3 weight class). Ridgeway comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Forgotten War kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Mathew Ridgeway has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Churchill
vs
Ridgeway

170 cm
33
165 lbs
29 - 23 - 0

174 cm
33
164 lbs
31 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
King of Clothes

Aspire Clothing
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Winston Churchill!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mathew Ridgeway!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Churchill tries to close the distance and clinch but Ridgeway swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ridgeway.

Churchill clinches with his opponent.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Churchill.
Ridgeway lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Churchill.
A head punch on the inside from Churchill fails to land.
Ridgeway blocks an uppercut.
I was talking to Churchill's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ridgeway blocking some punches.
Churchill's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ridgeway scores with a shot to the side of Churchill's head.
Ridgeway fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway blocking some punches.
Ridgeway working aggressively here.
A right handed body shot lands from Churchill.
Ridgeway working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Churchill can't find room to land a body shot as Ridgeway controls the action.
Churchill tries to work over Ridgeway's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Churchill has a couple of punches blocked by Ridgeway.
Churchill softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ridgeway has a couple of punches blocked by Churchill.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ridgeway.
Churchill tries a body shot but Ridgeway blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Churchill.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeway lands a left hand that snaps the head of Churchill backwards.
Ridgeway lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Ridgeway.
Churchill lands a nice shot to the body.
Churchill prevents a body shot from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway prevents a body shot from Churchill.
Ridgeway blocks a body shot from Churchill.
Ridgeway is stalling here.
Ridgeway misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ridgeway tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ridgeway working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ridgeway blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ridgeway creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ridgeway misses with the head strike.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Churchill controls his hands.
Churchill takes a shot to the head.
Churchill throws a punch but it's blocked by Ridgeway.
Churchill tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ridgeway blocking some punches.
Churchill blocks an uppercut.
Ridgeway softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ridgeway tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Churchill.
A left hand lands to the body for Ridgeway.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ridgeway.
Churchill misses with some punches.
Churchill misses with the head strike.
A short uppercut from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Ridgeway as the two fighters clinch.
A short uppercut from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway blocks an uppercut.
Ridgeway lands a hook that snaps the head of Churchill backwards.
Churchill lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ridgeway backwards.
Ridgeway lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ridgeway tries to throw a body punch but Churchill avoids it by throwing Ridgeway back against the cage.
Churchill goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ridgeway stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ridgeway tries to throw a body punch but Churchill avoids it by throwing Ridgeway back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ridgeway.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Churchill.
Churchill misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ridgeway lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Churchill.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Churchill controls the action.
Ridgeway is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Churchill.
Ridgeway gets through Churchill's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Churchill prevents a body shot from Ridgeway.
Churchill throws a punch but it's blocked by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway blocks a body shot from Churchill.
Ridgeway prevents a body shot from Churchill.
Ridgeway working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Churchill has a couple of punches blocked by Ridgeway.
Churchill misses with some punches.
Ridgeway leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ridgeway lands a body punch in the clinch.
Ridgeway misses with the head strike.
Churchill goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ridgeway lands a left hand that snaps the head of Churchill backwards.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Churchill misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway lands a left hand that snaps the head of Churchill backwards.
Nice body punch from Ridgeway - that landed with a thud.
Churchill doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hook to the body lands for Ridgeway.
A body shot lands from Ridgeway.
Churchill is breathing heavily.
Churchill throws a head punch that misses.
Churchill tries to throw a body punch but Ridgeway avoids it by throwing Churchill back against the cage.
Churchill working aggressively here.
Ridgeway tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Churchill's elbow.
Ridgeway throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ridgeway throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Churchills head.
Churchill can't find room to land a body shot as Ridgeway controls the action.
Churchill scores with a shoulder strike.
Ridgeway lands a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ridgeway buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Churchill takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Good standup being displayed there by Ridgeway as he connects with a hook.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ridgeway avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ridgeway lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ridgeway bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Jab from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands with a shot to the body.
Ridgeway throws a wild body kick that Churchill sees coming a mile off.
Churchill is looking to clinch.
Ridgeway is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ridgeway has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Churchill is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Ridgeway delivers a nice body kick.
Ridgeway thumps Churchill with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Ridgeway.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ridgeway lands a really nice looking cross but Churchill seems unphased.
Ridgeway cracks Churchill with an open hand slap.
Churchill throws an off balance right hand
and Ridgeway counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ridgeway is looking to slow Churchill down with leg kicks.
Good work by Churchill as he checks the leg kick.
Ridgeway connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ridgeway moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Churchill misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ridgeway.
Churchill pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ridgeway connects with a looping right hand.
Ridgeway scores with a jab. Churchill acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Churchill tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ridgeway paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Churchill blocks a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ridgeway, right into the meat.
Churchill throws a sloppy head kick and Ridgeway moves out of range easily.
Ridgeway lands a nice leg kick that just misses Churchill's sensitive parts.
Churchill moves in looking to clinch but Ridgeway pushes him off.
Churchill punishes Ridgeway's body with a nice straight punch.
Churchill tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ridgeway manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ridgeway fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Churchill.
Churchill scores with a nice body kick.
Churchill tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ridgeway tests Churchill's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A big right from Churchill misses.
Churchill takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ridgeway steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Churchill.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Churchill chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ridgeway can pounce on him.
A left lands for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway throws a nice inside leg kick.
Churchill throws a body punch but Ridgeway moves out of range.
Ridgeway takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Churchill is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Churchill attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Churchill throws a hook to the side of Ridgeway's head but Ridgeway sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ridgeway only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ridgeway buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ridgeway.
Churchill tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ridgeway swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Churchill lands a jab to the nose.
Ridgeway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ridgeway has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Churchill finds it's way round the side to connect with Ridgeway's head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Churchill, right into the meat.
Ridgeway moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ridgeway bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Churchill thuds his shin into the meat of Ridgeway's side.
Churchill looks for the body kick but Ridgeway saw that one coming.
Churchill on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churchill has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ridgeway finds it's way round the side to connect with Churchill's head.
Ridgeway just misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Churchill throws the left hand but Ridgeway avoids the punch easily.
Ridgeway ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Churchill pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Churchill wants to clinch up but Ridgeway keeps it at a distance.
A jab from Ridgeway does it's job there.
Churchill misses the jab.
A countering left hand to the body from Ridgeway misses.
Churchill is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Churchill throws the left hand but Ridgeway avoids the punch easily.
Ridgeway lands a body shot.
Churchill throws a body shot but no joy.
Ridgeway connects with a right hand. Churchill shakes it off.
Ridgeway lands an overhand right.
Jab, jab by Churchill - just one landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Churchill avoids a kick to the body.
Churchill fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Churchill is looking to land body kicks.
Churchill tries to score with a low kick but Ridgeway moves his leg out of the way.
Churchill fails in his attempt to clinch.
Churchill moves forwards but Ridgeway connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Churchill takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ridgeway misses with a wild body shot.
Ridgeway moves out of range as Churchill throws a body kick.
Ridgeway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Churchill manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Churchill.
Churchill misses with a body kick.
Ridgeway counters with a body kick.
Ridgeway digs a good hook to Churchill's body.
Ridgeway throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Churchill sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ridgeway bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A punch combination from Churchill misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A cross from Ridgeway lands.
Ridgeway scores with a punch to the head.
Churchill wants to clinch up but Ridgeway keeps it at a distance.
Churchill moves in looking to clinch but Ridgeway pushes him off.
Ridgeway defending well as Churchill loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ridgeway fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Churchill checks it well.
Ridgeway keeps the fight on the outside.
Ridgeway throws a nice inside leg kick.
Churchill scores with a kick to the body.
Churchill throws out a loose jab but Ridgeway uses good head movement to avoid it.
Churchill has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ridgeway.
A looping hook to the body misses from Churchill. Ridgeway does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ridgeway fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Churchill looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ridgeway turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Churchill on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ridgeway scores with a nice body kick.
Ridgeway dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Churchill bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ridgeway scoring well with a low kick there.
Churchill getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ridgeway looks to land a right hand but Churchill moved out of range.
Ridgeway fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ridgeway lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ridgeway lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeway fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Churchill looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Churchill tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ridgeway was well out of range. Poor timing from Churchill.
Churchill with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ridgeway to score with a decent uppercut.
Churchill throws a big shot that misses.
Ridgeway keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ridgeway throws a shot to the body.
Ridgeway keeps the fight on the outside.
Ridgeway is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
That kick from Ridgeway tenderised Churchill's leg. Churchill is trying to keep his angry face on.
Churchill throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ridgeway sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ridgeway throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ridgeway connects with a jab.
Churchill is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ridgeway waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Churchill.
Ridgeway smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Churchill has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway works Churchill's body with a nice hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ridgeway throws a nice outside leg kick.
Ridgeway scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway thumps Churchill with a low kick.
Churchill pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Churchill just misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ridgeway lands a nice leg kick that just misses Churchill's sensitive parts.
Ridgeway swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Churchill wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Churchill pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Ridgeway tries to keep at a distance but Churchill has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ridgeway blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ridgeway swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Churchill blocks a body shot from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway blocks an uppercut.
Ridgeway makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Churchill lands a left hand.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from Ridgeway as the two fighters clinch.
Ridgeway pushes Churchill back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
Churchill looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Churchill working aggressively here.
Churchill throws a punch but it's blocked by Ridgeway.
Churchill tries a body shot but Ridgeway blocks it.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Churchill controls the action.
Churchill can't find room to land a body shot as Ridgeway controls the action.
Ridgeway blocks an uppercut.
Churchill fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ridgeway lands with a right to the head.
Ridgeway blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ridgeway throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Churchills head.
Churchill prevents a body shot from Ridgeway.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ridgeway scores with a shoulder strike.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ridgeway digs a right hand underneath Churchill's ribcage. Churchill let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
Churchill tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Churchill cracks Ridgeway with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ridgeway working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ridgeway makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Churchill controls his hands.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Churchill is rocked!
Ridgeway lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Oh Churchill is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Churchill struggles to land a body shot inside as Ridgeway controls his hands.
Ridgeway lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ridgeway lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ridgeway misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands a shoulder strike.
Ridgeway lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Churchill struggles to land a body shot inside as Ridgeway controls his hands.
Churchill misses with the head strike.
Ridgeway creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Churchill's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Churchill drops to his knees and Ridgeway pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mathew Ridgeway! Mathew Ridgeway retains his lightweight title!
An out of breath Mathew Ridgeway thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.