PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joanderson Ribeiro (ranked 1261 p4p, 935 weight class) and Klaas Jan Tijhoff (ranked 152 p4p, 111 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Ribeiro might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Tropkillaz-Gorilla. Klaas Jan Tijhoff will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ribeiro
vs
Tijhoff

172 cm
33
165
17 - 10 - 0

183 cm
24
164
9 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Nevermore Clothing Co
HELL'S BALLS NUTRITION

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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joanderson Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Klaas Jan Tijhoff!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Tijhoff darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Ribeiro manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Tijhoff keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Tijhoff tries to pull guard but Ribeiro forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tijhoff tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ribeiro smiles and moves away.
We've been hearing reports that Ribeiro has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ribeiro moves to clinch but Tijhoff breaks away

and Tijhoff counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ribeiro!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tijhoff is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ribeiro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Tijhoff tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tijhoff has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tijhoff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ribeiro keeps working.
Tijhoff throws an elbow but Ribeiro slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tijhoff tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tijhoff landing a few strikes.
Tijhoff working away.
Ribeiro is not content to let Tijhoff control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tijhoff gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tijhoff looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Tijhoff looking for subs from the bottom but Ribeiro mounts him!
Tijhoff really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ribeiro dominating with strikes here.
Tijhoff is desperately trying to improve his position but Ribeiro has a good base and remains in mount.
Tijhoff looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Ribeiro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tijhoff is looking to escape.
Tijhoff is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro controlling the pace for now.
Tijhoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tijhoff is still trying to improve position.
Ribeiro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ribeiro trying to control but Tijhoff is having none of it.
Tijhoff is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tijhoff keeps trying to improve his position.
Tijhoff sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ribeiro seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ribeiro content to control rather than advance.
Ribeiro is looking to take a break and control but Tijhoff is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ribeiro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joanderson Ribeiro dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ribeiro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tijhoff drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ribeiro defends it well.
Tijhoff gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ribeiro.
The fighters circling - Tijhoff throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ribeiro cracks Tijhoff with an open hand slap.

Ribeiro moves into the clinch successfully.
Tijhoff drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ribeiro gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tijhoff is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ribeiro gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tijhoff fails to pull guard.
Joanderson Ribeiro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klaas Jan Tijhoff.
Ribeiro crunches a lovely knee into Tijhoff's ribcage.
Ribeiro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ribeiro landing knees to the head.

It looks like Klaas Jan Tijhoff has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ribeiro looking to slow down the pace here.
Ribeiro misses with a knee strike.
Ribeiro scores a nice knee to the body.
Ribeiro crunches a lovely knee into Tijhoff's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tijhoff tries to score a body lock takedown but Ribeiro shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tijhoff is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ribeiro is trying to stall.
Tijhoff's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tijhoff is trying to pull guard but Ribeiro has him pressed against the cage.
Ribeiro looking to throw knees to the head but Tijhoff is blocking nicely.
Tijhoff is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Ribeiro pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Tijhoff lands a takedown into guard.
Joanderson Ribeiro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ribeiro controls Tijhoff momentarily but Tijhoff frees himself.
Tijhoff wants to pass the guard but Ribeiro is keeping the position.
Ribeiro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ribeiro prevents Tijhoff from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tijhoff actively working from the bottom here.
Ribeiro content to control rather than advance.
Ribeiro looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Tijhoff is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ribeiro pulls his head out easily.

Tijhoff looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Ribeiro there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tijhoff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tijhoff looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tijhoff is breathing heavily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Tijhoff looking for submissions off his back.
Tijhoff is staying active underneath Ribeiro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four 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.
Tijhoff slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ribeiro might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ribeiro controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ribeiro has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Tijhoff looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ribeiro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ribeiro'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.
Ribeiro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tijhoff can do to turn this around?
Ribeiro trying to control but Tijhoff is working from the bottom.

Tijhoff working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ribeiro doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ribeiro manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tijhoff working for a triangle but Ribeiro defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joanderson Ribeiro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Klaas Jan Tijhoff's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ribeiro tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Tijhoff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ribeiro won't be happy with that.
Ribeiro regains half guard.
Ribeiro is looking to improve his position.
Tijhoff sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ribeiro defending well though.

Tijhoff is looking for a kimura here.
Ribeiro has his hands clasped together around Tijhoff's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tijhoff is trying to control the action in half guard but Ribeiro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ribeiro wants to improve his position but Tijhoff is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro wants to control but Tijhoff is keeping busy.
Tijhoff seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ribeiro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Tijhoff is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ribeiro is not content to let Tijhoff control the position.
Ribeiro is looking to control Tijhoff's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ribeiro avoid being mounted?

Tijhoff wants to work for an arm triangle but Ribeiro is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ribeiro is positioning himself well to prevent Tijhoff advancing to mount.

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.
Ribeiro trying to control here.

Tijhoff seems to be working for a kimura but Ribeiro defends the submission attempt.
Ribeiro is looking to control Tijhoff's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ribeiro avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ribeiro - that will leave a mark!
A good leg kick by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tijhoff has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tijhoff has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ribeiro.
Ribeiro fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tijhoff.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro doesn't manage to clinch there - Tijhoff circles away.
And Tijhoff tries to counter it with a takedown but Ribeiro pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ribeiro tries to clinch there but Tijhoff circles away.
Tijhoff is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ribeiro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ribeiro swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tijhoff.
Ribeiro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tijhoff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ribeiro tries to clinch but Tijhoff moves out of range.

Tijhoff shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Tijhoff was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tijhoff sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ribeiro is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Klaas Jan Tijhoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tijhoff wants to control but Ribeiro is keeping him busy.

Tijhoff goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ribeiro has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tijhoff but great work by Ribeiro.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tijhoff takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ribeiro taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro continues to stall.
Tijhoff tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ribeiro wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tijhoff prevents Ribeiro from improving position.
Ribeiro gets to mount! Tijhoff was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Tijhoff can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joanderson Ribeiro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ribeiro 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joanderson Ribeiro!
Joanderson Ribeiro was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.