PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Monroe (ranked 620 p4p, 73 weight class) and Finnish Experiment Il (ranked 765 p4p, 88 weight class). Monroe comes to the cage accompanied by Deep Ocean - Island drumming. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Monroe
vs
Experiment Il

166 cm
37
149 lbs
26 - 18 - 2

175 cm
27
148 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 26 - 18 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finnish Experiment Il!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Monroe does it's job there.
A shot to the body from Monroe misses
and Experiment Il counters with a low kick, right behind Monroe 's knee.
Experiment Il throws a head kick that misses.
Monroe misses with a hook. Experiment Il ducked under it nicely.
Monroe connects with the punch.
Experiment Il scores with a one two! Monroe had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Monroe scores with a jab to the jaw.
Good leg kick by Experiment Il there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Nice jab there from Monroe.
Monroe has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gentlemans Offence and Defense System in the buildup to the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe lands a nice shot that snaps Experiment Il's head back.
A punch combination from Experiment Il misses.

Monroe drives through with a takedown into Experiment Il's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Monroe tries to free his leg and advance position but Experiment Il is retaining full guard.
Monroe throws a strike but Experiment Il rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experiment Il controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Experiment Il tries to free his leg and advance position but Monroe is retaining full guard.
Monroe 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.
Monroe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Experiment Il is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Monroe wants to sweep but no luck.
Experiment Il sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Monroe's guard.
Well, if Experiment Il is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Experiment Il prevents Monroe from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Experiment Il content to control rather than advance.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Experiment Il throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good standup being displayed there by Monroe as he connects with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Monroe blocks the low kick.
Experiment Il slips a jab from Monroe.
Experiment Il is looking to clinch but Monroe is avoiding it.
Monroe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good work by Monroe as he checks the leg kick.
Monroe swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe blocks a leg kick.
Experiment Il tries to work over Monroe's front leg with a kick but Monroe checks it.
Monroe was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Experiment Il fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Monroe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Monroe's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Monroe duly obliges.
Monroe throws a lazy right hand but Experiment Il sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice jab there from Monroe.
Monroe fails in his attempt to clinch.

Experiment Il moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monroe managing to block the knees to the body from Experiment Il.

Monroe has hold of one of Experiment Il's legs. Experiment Il is fighting the takedown attempt but Monroe gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Monroe throws an elbow that misses. Experiment Il uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Monroe's guard. Nice move by Experiment Il!

Monroe lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricky Monroe will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Experiment Il gets a clinch.
Experiment Il is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Monroe is defending well for now.
Experiment Il throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Monroes head.
Monroe throws a punch but it's blocked by Experiment Il.
Monroe tries to throw a body punch but Experiment Il avoids it by throwing Monroe back against the cage.
Monroe goes for a takedown in the clinch but Experiment Il prevents it.
Monroe lands a right hand.
Monroe throws a punch but it's blocked by Experiment Il.
Monroe is trying to pull guard but Experiment Il turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Experiment Il crunches a lovely knee into Monroe's ribcage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Experiment Il scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ricky Monroe has been cut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Experiment Il.
Experiment Il blocking some punches.
Monroe tries to throw a body punch but Experiment Il avoids it by throwing Monroe back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Experiment Il takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Experiment Il is stalling here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Experiment Il drops Monroe with a big knee straight up the middle! Monroe is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Monroe is rocked!
Nice uppercut lands for Monroe. That snapped Experiment Il's head back.
Experiment Il blocks a jab.
Experiment Il attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Experiment Il slips under a jab from Monroe.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Monroe scores with a jab. Experiment Il acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Finnish Experiment Il is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Monroe looks to score with a jab to the body but Experiment Il is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Monroe.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monroe has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Experiment Il.
Experiment Il throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Monroe was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Experiment Il uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monroe.
Monroe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Experiment Il looks to score with a jab to the body but Monroe is just out of range.
Experiment Il swings for the body but Monroe moves out of range.
Monroe throws a shot from downtown. Experiment Il moves away and avoids it.
Experiment Il takes a swing at Monroe's ribcage but misses.
Experiment Il scores with a nice head shot.
Experiment Il scores with a nice body kick.
Monroe throws a jab but it's blocked by Experiment Il.
Experiment Il misses with a body shot
and Monroe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Monroe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Experiment Il.
Monroe looks to land a left hand but Experiment Il moved out of range nicely.
Monroe takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Monroe misses with an uppercut. Experiment Il saw that one coming.
A slow jab from Monroe misses its intended target.
Ricky Monroe is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Experiment Il.

Experiment Il darts in and clinches Monroe up against the cage.

Experiment Il breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Experiment Il darts in and clinches Monroe up against the cage.
Monroe working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Monroe lands with a light punch inside.
Monroe digs a right hand underneath Experiment Il's ribcage. Experiment Il let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Monroe lands a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Experiment Il.
Monroe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Monroe tries a body shot but Experiment Il blocks it.
Monroe misses with the head strike.
Experiment Il blocks an uppercut.
Monroe lands a nice uppercut.
Monroe managing to block the knees to the body from Experiment Il.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Monroe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Experiment Il misses with a punch on the inside.
Experiment Il leaning his opponent against the cage.

Monroe has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Experiment Il clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Experiment Il has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Monroe.
Experiment Il trying to control the hands but Monroe breaks the grip.
Experiment Il might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Monroe haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Experiment Il covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Monroe controlling well, preventing Experiment Il from escaping the position.
Monroe is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Experiment Il up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricky Monroe will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ricky Monroe's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Monroe lands with a shot to the body.
Experiment Il looks to score with a jab to the body but Monroe is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Experiment Il.
Monroe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ricky Monroe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Monroe throws a hook to the side of Experiment Il's head but Experiment Il sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Monroe blocks a low kick nicely.
Experiment Il takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Monroe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Experiment Il counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Experiment Il ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A countering left hand to the body from Experiment Il misses.
Experiment Il avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Experiment Il displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Monroe throws out the jab.
Experiment Il tries to clinch but Monroe is having none of it.
Nice straight punches there by Monroe. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Monroe.
Experiment Il dodges the punch combination from Monroe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Experiment Il scores with a kick to the midsection.
Experiment Il fakes the leg kick and cracks Monroe in the body.
Monroe throws a big shot that misses.
Monroe connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Monroe throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Experiment Il was covering up waiting for the punch and Monroe finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Experiment Il seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Experiment Il wants to sweep here but Monroe controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Monroe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Monroe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Experiment Il has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Monroe wants to pass the guard but Experiment Il is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Experiment Il doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe misses with a two punch combination.
Monroe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Experiment Il sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice body punch from Monroe.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Monroe takes a swing at Experiment Il's ribcage but misses.
Experiment Il doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Experiment Il slips a straight right by Monroe.
Monroe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Experiment Il.
Experiment Il steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Monroe.
Experiment Il tries to clinch up but Monroe circles away and keeps his distance.

Experiment Il closes the distance and clinches.
Monroe swings wildly with an uppercut but Experiment Il uses good head movement to avoid it.
Experiment Il tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Monroe avoids it.
Monroe takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ricky Monroe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Experiment Il working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Experiment Il is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Experiment Il leaning against his opponent.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Finnish Experiment Il has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Experiment Il misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Monroe.
Experiment Il misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Monroe.
Experiment Il stops a takedown attempt from Monroe.
Monroe can't find room to land a body shot as Experiment Il controls the action.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Experiment Il is stalling here.
Monroe misses with the head strike.
Experiment Il is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Experiment Il putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Monroe in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Experiment Il - that landed with a thud.
Good body shot from Experiment Il.
Experiment Il utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricky Monroe.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Monroe, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Monroe!
Ricky Monroe thanked the fans post fight for their support.