PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Koch (ranked 6763 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Ricoop (ranked 4351 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricoop comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bad to the Bone kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ed Ricoop will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Koch
vs
Ricoop

193 cm
25
194 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rashad Koch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ed Ricoop!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricoop throws a sloppy head kick and Koch moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Koch misses the target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Koch enables Ricoop to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Koch manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ricoop connects with a couple of short punches.
Koch wants to stand up but Ricoop is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koch has a closed guard, preventing Ricoop from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ricoop accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koch wants to stand up but Ricoop is controlling him.
Koch keeping moving, preventing Ricoop from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricoop won't allow Koch to sweep him here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

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

Ricoop drives through with a takedown into Koch's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Koch is adopting a defensive guard.
Ricoop wants to control from the top but Koch keeps moving.
Ricoop looking to sit in guard and control but Koch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Koch stands up over Ricoop, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Koch throws a big elbow that misses.
Ricoop utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ricoop trying to strike off his back.
Koch won't allow Ricoop to sweep him here.
Ricoop looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Koch puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Koch seems to be working for a kimura but Ricoop defends the submission attempt.

Koch decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricoop moves into the clinch.

Koch has picked Ricoop up - he's going for a ride! Koch dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Ricoop manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Ricoop misses with a double jab.
Koch throws a quick counter head kick but Ricoop was just out of range.
Ricoop throws a nice looking combination but Koch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
It appears Koch was looking to counter with a kick there.

Ricoop clinches up with Koch and pushes him back against the cage.
Ricoop looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Koch slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koch with a knee to the head.

Ricoop tightens his grip and picks Koch up, before dumping him to the ground. Koch manages to land in guard.

Koch manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ricoop looks winded!

Koch gets caught napping as Ricoop dives in and scores a takedown. Koch manages to retain guard.
Ricoop wants to control from the top but Koch keeps moving.
Koch has control of Ricoop's left arm, preventing Ricoop from doing any damage.
Ricoop really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Koch throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ed Ricoop will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ricoop pushes Koch up against the cage in a clinch.
Ricoop wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Koch taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Koch breaks the clinch.
Ricoop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Koch lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Koch moves into the clinch.
Koch just leaning against Ricoop, taking a breather.
Ricoop trying to stall but Koch improves his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricoop has a couple of punches blocked by Koch.

Koch has clasped his hands together around Ricoop's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Ricoop sneaks out the side door and pushes Koch away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ricoop looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch keeping control of the position.
Ricoop is pressing down on Koch's thigh, looking to free his foot. Koch is holding on for now.
Koch is pressing down on Ricoop's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ricoop stands up over Koch, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Koch holds on and takes a little breather.
Ricoop is looking to work some ground and pound but Koch has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ed Ricoop has got the better of the ground game so far.

Koch looking for a triangle here. Ricoop is fighting it but it looks tight! Koch pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ricoop is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Rashad Koch!
The defeated Ed Ricoop had this to say: 'You always have 15% left in the tank. Never give up.'.