PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slick Rick (ranked 3454 p4p, 3566 weight class) and Nick Gage (ranked 369 p4p, 378 weight class). Nick Gage will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rick
vs
Gage

184 cm
26
210
1 - 1 - 0

199 cm
20
279
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Stoner's Killer Apparel
Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Slick Rick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nick Gage!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gage gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rick gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Gage regains guard.
Gage is trying to control the position but Rick postures up.

Gage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rick defends it easily.

Gage throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Gage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rick wants to control from the top but Gage keeps moving.
Rick trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rick content to stall in guard here.
Gage keeping moving, preventing Rick from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rick sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Gage looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rick wants to control from the top but Gage keeps moving.
Rick looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Gage trying to control the position.
Rick passes Gage's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rick thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rick is trying to control the action in half guard but Gage is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Gage looking for submissions off his back.

Gage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Rick is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rick looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Rick trying to control the action but Gage is working from the bottom.

Gage looking for submissions off his back.

Rick is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gage is not content to let Rick control the position.
Rick takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rick is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Gage is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rick wants to take a breather but Gage is having none of it.

Rick is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gage doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rick.
Gage gets full guard.

That's four 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.

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

Gage throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rick escapes and throws Gage's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Gage is trying to control Rick's posture but Rick avoids it.

Rick is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gage has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rick moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gage wants to control but Rick postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Slick Rick dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rick misses with a straight right.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Rick here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Gage digs a good body shot into Rick's ribs.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rick takes one to the side of the head.
Rick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gage stuns Rick with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Rick closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gage's guard.

Gage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rick doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rick manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rick is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gage can do to turn this around?

Gage looking for a guillotine here but Rick defends easily.

Gage is looking for a triangle but Rick pushes his legs off easily.
Rick lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rick accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Gage is looking for a triangle here but Rick uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rick trying to control the position but Gage is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gage is trying to get back to half guard.

Rick tries for a kimura but Gage is defending well.
Gage is not content to let Rick control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gage tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rick wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rick controls the position.
Rick wants to control but Gage is keeping him busy.
Gage is trying to get back to half guard.
Gage is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rick content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Gage is not content to let Rick control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick is working Gage over with some ground and pound from side control.
Rick tries to score with some ground and pound. Gage controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Slick Rick overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rick tries for a kimura but Gage is defending well.
Gage is not content to let Rick control the position.
Gage tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gage sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Gage looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gage looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gage actively working from the bottom here.
Rick seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Gage is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rick pulls his head out easily.
Rick is looking to take a break and control but Gage is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rick scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rick slows the pace down in half guard.
Gage avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Slick Rick dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rick throws out a loose jab but Gage uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gage wants to counter with a clinch but Rick pushes him away.
Gage fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rick looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Rick shoots in and bounces Gage off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Gage working for a triangle but Rick defends it easily.

Gage working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rick doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rick manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rick passes Gage's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rick wants to take a breather but Gage is having none of it.

Gage actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gage actively working from the bottom here.

Gage looking for submissions off his back.
Rick is nestled in close to Gage, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Gage actively working from the bottom here.

Gage is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rick pulls his head out easily.
Rick wants to take a breather but Gage is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gage trying to control from the bottom.
Rick uses his free foot to push down on Gage's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gage.
Rick controlling the pace for now.
Gage is bucking up trying to escape but Rick cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rick with a couple of short strikes.
Gage in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Gage working to try and regain half guard.
Gage is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rick lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gage hang on?

Rick looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rick throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gage because Rick loaded up on that one.
Gage tries to hold on but Rick postures up.
Rick trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rick putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gage avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rick.
Gage has given up his back here.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Rick doesn't have the hooks in and Gage manages to turn into his guard.

Gage drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rick manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gage has Rick in his guard.

Gage has an active guard here but Rick has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rick perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rick is looking to advance position but Gage won't allow it.

Gage actively working from the bottom here.

Gage actively working from the bottom here.
Rick takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gage trying to control but Rick postures up.
Nick Gage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Slick Rick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rick not doing much here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slick Rick showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rick, 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slick Rick!