PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Rikko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Ripper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Rikko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jack Ripper's chin.

Rikko
vs
Ripper

178 cm
18
168 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

174 cm
23
159 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ben Rikko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jack Ripper!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Rikko.
Rikko lands a nice shot that snaps Ripper's head back.
A telegraphed right hand from Ripper misses the target.
Rikko throws a nice looking combination but Ripper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Ripper moves into the clinch successfully.
Ripper lands an elbow inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rikko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ripper has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ripper landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rikko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ripper lands a damaging elbow.
Rikko is trying to break the clinch but Ripper is controlling him.
Ripper lands a nice elbow.
Ripper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Ripper has Rikko pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ripper pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rikko tumbling to the mat - Ripper dives into Rikko's guard.
Ripper throws a big right hand that misses.
Rikko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rikko tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ripper stands up over Rikko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ripper accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ripper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ripper works over Rikko with some ground and pound from guard.
Ripper throwing strikes from guard but Rikko blocks nicely.
Ripper throwing strikes from guard but Rikko blocks nicely.
Ripper throws a big right hand that misses.
Ripper trying to control but Rikko is working from the bottom.
Ripper stops Rikko from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rikko missing with a left hand there. Ripper was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rikko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ripper tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rikko tries to bum rush Ripper with a series of wild strikes but Ripper uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ben Rikko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rikko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ripper.

Ripper looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ripper stops Rikko from getting back to his feet.
Rikko is breathing heavily.
Ripper lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripper scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ripper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ripper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rikko's head.
Ripper lands with a punch from half guard.
Rikko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ripper on the ground.

Ripper is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rikko sees it coming and defends easily.
Ripper trying to control the pace.
Ripper looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rikko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ripper working over Rikko with some ground and pound. Rikko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ripper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Ripper is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ripper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rikko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ripper winds up and cracks Rikko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ripper is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rikko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ripper.
Rikko wants to get back to his feet.
Ripper working over Rikko with some ground and pound. Rikko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ripper connects with a nice short shot to Rikko's temple.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ripper is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rikko is just riding it out for now. Ripper eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Ripper dominated that round.
That's time! Rikko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

No joy there for Rikko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rikko lands a jab to the nose.
Rikko throws a series of punches but Ripper avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikko misses with a series of wild punches.
Ripper blocks a jab.
Ripper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rikko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ripper throws a looping overhand right but Rikko ducks down to avoid it.

Ripper closes the distance and clinches.
Ripper pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ripper is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rikko pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ripper comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ripper misses with an elbow over the top.
Rikko avoids the elbow strike from Ripper, against the cage.
Ripper misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rikko.
Rikko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ripper gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rikko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ripper is pushing Rikko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Ripper is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rikko can't fight it off and eventually Ripper manages to take the fight to the floor. Rikko looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rikko is wriggling around but Ripper manages to pass to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ripper connects with a nice short shot to Rikko's temple.
Ripper not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rikko has hold of Ripper's hands but Ripper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rikko is trying to stand up here but Ripper is controlling him well.
Rikko trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Ripper lands strikes from half guard.
Ground and pound from Ripper.
Rikko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rikko pushes Ripper off looking to stand but Ripper dives back in and keeps control.
Ripper winds up and cracks Rikko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Rikko is defending against the submission attempts here by Ripper.
Ripper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rikko pushes Ripper off looking to stand but Ripper dives back in and keeps control.
Ripper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ripper keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ripper is keen to just control but Rikko is a slippery customer.

Rikko is defending against the submission attempts here by Ripper.
Ripper working over Rikko with some ground and pound. Rikko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rikko wants to get back to his feet.

Ripper is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rikko has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Ripper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ripper showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rikko.
Rikko misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ripper tries to clinch up but Rikko circles away and keeps his distance.
Rikko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ripper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rikko looks to land a left hand but Ripper moved out of range nicely.

Ripper rushes Rikko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ripper scores a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ripper lands an elbow that stopped Rikko in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Ben Rikko has been cut.
Ripper lands an elbow inside that Rikko shrugs off.
Ripper stalling the fight.
A frustrated look appears on Rikko's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rikko tries to score a body lock takedown but Ripper shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ripper lands an elbow inside.
Ripper lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ripper takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ripper comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ripper comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Ripper lands an elbow just above Rikko 's eye.

Rikko is rocked!
Ripper gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Oh Rikko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rikko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ripper leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on Ripper's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Ripper looking for a takedown.

Ripper is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rikko can't fight it off and eventually Ripper manages to take the fight to the floor. Rikko looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ripper slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rikko seems to have got his legs back now.
Ripper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rikko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ripper thows a big elbow that misses.
Jack Ripper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ripper throwing strikes but missing.
Ripper postures up in Rikko's guard and throws a big left but Rikko blocks it.
Rikko wants to get back to his feet but Ripper is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ripper's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ripper drops back looking for a leg! Rikko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rikko manages to kick Ripper off! Ripper jumps back into Rikko's guard.
Ripper landing with the ground and pound.
Ripper trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ripper works over Rikko with some ground and pound from guard.
Ripper postures up in Rikko's guard and throws a big left but Rikko blocks it.
Ripper is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Rikko is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ripper is controlling him.
Ripper passes Rikko's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ripper wants to take a breather but Rikko is having none of it.
Ripper throwing shots but Rikko is blocking nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ripper lands a nice short elbow.
Ripper seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rikko is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ripper scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rikko is trying to stand up here but Ripper is controlling him well.
Ripper scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ben Rikko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rikko pushes Ripper off looking to stand but Ripper dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Ripper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ripper winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Ripper!