PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe McConnell (ranked 1703 p4p, 2409 weight class) and Lipe Ribeiro (ranked 88 p4p, 118 weight class). 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.

McConnell
vs
Ribeiro

200 cm
26
300
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
26
280
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Primal

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Joe McConnell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lipe Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McConnell looks to clinch
and Ribeiro counters with a lovely straight right hand!

McConnell gets a clinch.
Ribeiro takes an elbow to the temple.
McConnell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ribeiro tries to break free but McConnell pushes him back against the cage.

Ribeiro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McConnell is looking to clinch.
McConnell wants to clinch up but Ribeiro keeps it at a distance.
Ribeiro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ribeiro circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Ribeiro counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from McConnell misses the target.

Ribeiro tries to keep at a distance but McConnell has taken the fight into the clinch.
McConnell misses with a knee to the head.
Ribeiro's coach down at Elite Boxing Club was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ribeiro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro tries to stall but McConnell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ribeiro is trying to force a seperation but McConnell has the dominant position.
Ribeiro takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Lipe Ribeiro has been cut.
McConnell misses with a knee strike.
McConnell lands a damaging elbow.
McConnell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ribeiro's efforts to push away.
McConnell lands a damaging elbow.
Still in the clinch, Ribeiro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ribeiro lands a left hand that snaps the head of McConnell backwards.
Ribeiro is trying to force a seperation but McConnell has the dominant position.
McConnell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ribeiro is looking to break free of the clinch but McConnell has double underhooks.

McConnell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

McConnell darts in and clinches Ribeiro up against the cage.
Ribeiro slows down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ribeiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ribeiro blocks an elbow strike.
Ribeiro takes an elbow to the forehead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McConnell swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ribeiro lands a nice uppercut.
McConnell lands a nice shot to the body.
Ribeiro looks winded!
McConnell misses with an elbow strike.
A right handed body shot lands from McConnell.
McConnell with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McConnell.

That has opened up Lipe Ribeiro's cut even more.
McConnell lands a nice elbow.
McConnell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

The cut above Lipe Ribeiro's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
McConnell lands a damaging elbow.
McConnell lands an elbow inside that Ribeiro shrugs off.

Ribeiro is rocked!
McConnell lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ribeiro is still on wobbly legs! Can McConnell finish him?
McConnell creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Ribeiro with a big uppercut! Ribeiro tries to clinch up but McConnell pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Ribeiro to the mat! Ribeiro covers up and McConnell unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Joe McConnell!
During a confident post fight interview, Joe McConnell thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.