PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rex Rich (ranked 25041 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Hampton (ranked 5454 p4p, 0 weight class). Rex Rich has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rich
vs
Hampton

173 cm
19
161 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
165 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 lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rex Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Hampton!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hampton forces Rich back against the cage and clinches.
Hampton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hampton tries to land knees in the clinch but Rich avoids the damage to the body.
Rich is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hampton to keep the fight standing.
Stalling in the clinch from Rich.
Hampton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rich smiles and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Rich. No joy for Hampton on that attempt.
Rex Rich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Hampton.
Rich stuffs the takedown attempt from Hampton. Hampton gets slowly back to his feet.

Rich looking to score a takedown here. Hampton is defending well but Rich drives through and ends up in Hampton's guard.

Hampton pushes Rich off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Hampton instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rich leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rich slowing the pace effectively.
Hampton tries to break the clinch but Rich is controlling the position.
Rich stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rich managing to block the knees to the body from Hampton.
Come on Rich - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rex Rich.
Hampton looks for a takedown but Rich sprawls well.
Rich tries to counter by clinching up but Hampton breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hampton fails with a takedown attempt.
Rich swings for the body but Hampton moves out of range.
Hampton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A low kick from Hampton is predictable there

and Rich counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rich.
Rich working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hampton is looking to stand up but Rich isn't so interested in that idea.

Rich gets to his feet. Hampton looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hampton gets a clinch.
The referee calls for Rich to work.
Hampton jumps guard but Rich turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hampton jumps guard but Rich turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hampton tries to pull guard but Rich holds him up against the cage and eventually Hampton drops back down to his feet.
Rich keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hampton's efforts to push away.
Hampton is trying to force a seperation but Rich has the dominant position.
Come on Rich - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rich avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rich - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hampton tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rich smiles and moves away.
Hampton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rich defends it nicely.
Hampton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rich is fending him off so far but Hampton persists. Nope, Rich circles away and we're back to standing.
Hampton looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hampton or perhaps it was just good defense by Rich, which made it look bad.
Rich drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hampton sprawls and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Rich dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hampton rushes Rich and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hampton is trying to break free.
Rich stalling against the cage.
Rich slowing the pace effectively.
Rich tries to pull guard but Hampton holds him up against the cage and eventually Rich drops back down to his feet.
Hampton fails to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hampton is trying to pull guard but Rich turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hampton fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rex Rich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Hampton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rich taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rex Rich.

Hampton forces Rich back against the cage and clinches.
Rich is stalling here.
Rich gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hampton.
Rich has Hampton pressed against the cage, preventing Hampton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hampton is looking to break free of the clinch but Rich has double underhooks.

Hampton pulls guard successfully.
Rich has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hampton is proving hard to escape from.
Rich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rich lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rich gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hampton fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hampton has his takedown stuffed

and Rich counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hampton won't be happy with that.
Hampton is breathing heavily.
Rich working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Rich stands up and beckons Hampton to his feet.

Rich takes the fight into the clinch.
Rich stalling against the cage.
Rich is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hampton can do to turn this around?

Rich jumps guard and drags Hampton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Rich wants to get back to his feet but Hampton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rich seems keen to control Hampton's posture.
Rich is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rich has his hands on Hampton's head, controlling the position.
Rich's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rich throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hampton with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rich counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Rich dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rich bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Rich lands an elbow.
A lull in the action here as Rich stalls from top position.

Rich stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Hampton has closed the distance and engaged Rich in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rich leaning against his opponent.
Rich avoiding damage as Hampton throws knees to the body.
Hampton stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich avoiding damage.
Hampton is trying to maintain a safe position but Rich gets an underhook and turns Hampton into the cage.
Hampton tries to circle away but Rich has him pinned against the cage.
Hampton is trying to force a seperation but Rich has the dominant position.
Rex Rich has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Rich is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hampton slowing the pace effectively.
Hampton is trying to push Rich away but Rich has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hampton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rich walks away with a smile on his face. Hampton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hampton closes the distance and pushes Rich back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Rich ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rich no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rich is on top in guard.

Rich stands and steps away. Hampton gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
George Hampton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hampton fails with the takedown.
Hampton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rich misses with a wild body shot.
As Rich backs off Hampton throws a huge counter combo but Rich manages to avoid it all.
Hampton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rich was well out of range. Poor timing from Hampton.
Rich is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hampton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hampton has a takedown stuffed.
Rex Rich has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Hampton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hampton closes the distance and pushes Rich back into the cage.
Rich effectively controlling the action here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Rich.
Rich gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Hampton missing with knees to the body.
Hampton is looking to break free of the clinch but Rich has double underhooks.
Rich is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hampton to keep the fight standing.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rich takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hampton is working for takedown but Rich is calmly controlling the position for now.

Rich jumps guard.
Rex Rich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rich pulls Hampton in close to prevent any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rich trying to strike off his back.
George Hampton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rex Rich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rich 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.

Hampton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rex Rich showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rich has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rex Rich!