PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Ravenhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bisping (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Ravenhill
vs
Bisping

172 cm
26
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
27
145 lbs
4 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ritchie Ravenhill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Michael Bisping!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bisping slaps away a takedown attempt from Ravenhill, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bisping looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Bisping tries to sprawl but Ravenhill drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ravenhill takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ravenhill is trying to control. Bisping wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ravenhill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ravenhill tries to stand and escape but Bisping is controlling the position.
Ravenhill 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.
Ravenhill winds up and cracks Bisping with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ravenhill missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ravenhill working over Bisping with some ground and pound. Bisping looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ravenhill seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Ravenhill escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ravenhill fails to land the takedown.

Ravenhill has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bisping prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ritchie Ravenhill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bisping tries to break free but Ravenhill pushes him back against the cage.

Ravenhill escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ravenhill takes the fight into the clinch.

Ravenhill breaks from the clinch.
Ravenhill is looking to clinch but Bisping is avoiding it.
Ravenhill misses with a takedown attempt - Bisping sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bisping throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ravenhill counters by clinching up.

Ravenhill gets control of Bisping's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ravenhill will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ravenhill wants to stand and escape but Bisping is having none of it.
Bisping must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ravenhill is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ravenhill manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Ravenhill working for a submission but Bisping is keeping him at bay.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill scoring with strikes but Bisping is staying in there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ravenhill lands a heavy elbow.
Ravenhill wants to control the pace but Bisping is squirming around nicely.

Ravenhill swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bisping is now in Ravenhill's guard. A big mistake from Ravenhill there, giving up the dominant position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill trying to keep a closed guard but Bisping is proving a slippery customer.
Ravenhill is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bisping wants to get up but he can't break Ravenhill's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bisping postures up in Ravenhill's guard and throws a big left but Ravenhill blocks it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ravenhill is trying to control the position but Bisping postures up.
Bisping won't allow Ravenhill to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Ravenhill dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice takedown defense from Bisping. No joy for Ravenhill on that attempt.

Ravenhill shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bisping manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Ravenhill decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bisping is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Ravenhill drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ravenhill content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Ravenhill stands up from guard. Let's bang!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ravenhill.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ravenhill moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bisping ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bisping no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ravenhill postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ravenhill thows a big elbow that misses.

Ravenhill gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bisping avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bisping stuffs the takedown attempt from Ravenhill. Ravenhill gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ritchie Ravenhill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ravenhill tries to clinch up.
Ritchie Ravenhill is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ravenhill tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bisping swivels and escapes.
Bisping tries to land a front kick but Ravenhill steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bisping gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ravenhill counters with a takedown into side control.

Ravenhill decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bisping to his feet.
Bisping misses with a double jab

and Ravenhill counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ravenhill is trying to control. Bisping wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bisping is trying to stand back up but Ravenhill is controlling him
Ravenhill lands with a punch from half guard.
Ravenhill looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill wants to pass to mount but Bisping is defending the position.
Bisping blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ravenhill.
Ravenhill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ravenhill sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bisping defending well though.
Ravenhill missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bisping keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ravenhill trying to control from half guard but Bisping is working away.

That's four 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.
Ravenhill missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Ravenhill stands up from half guard.
Bisping throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ravenhill counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ravenhill wants to control but Bisping is keeping him busy.
Ravenhill thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bisping throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ritchie Ravenhill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bisping kicks Ravenhill off and gets back to his feet.
Bisping shoots in looking for a takedown but Ravenhill manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bisping's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ravenhill shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bisping but Bisping pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Ravenhill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bisping quickly recovers to half guard.
Ravenhill thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ravenhill works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ravenhill is landing with some decent strikes but Bisping is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ravenhill landing strikes, looking to finish!
Ravenhill unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ravenhill looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ravenhill raining down hammerfists from mount.
A nice elbow there by Ravenhill.
Ravenhill with good strikes from the mount here!

Ravenhill is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bisping has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bisping is bucking up trying to escape but Ravenhill cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bisping is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Ravenhill is working for a guillotine from mount but Bisping frees his head quite easily.

Ravenhill goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Bisping turns into him and now he's in Ravenhill's guard.

Bisping stands up from Ravenhill's guard - Bisping perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bisping swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ravenhill counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bisping!
Ravenhill working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ravenhill connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Ravenhill wants to finish this one by submission but Bisping is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ravenhill.
Ravenhill trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ravenhill looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill lands a big elbow.
Ravenhill working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ravenhill wants to control the pace but Bisping is squirming around nicely.
Ravenhill scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bisping?
Bisping is trying desperately to improve position.
Michael Bisping has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ritchie Ravenhill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ravenhill is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bisping can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ritchie Ravenhill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ravenhill, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Ritchie Ravenhill!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Ritchie Ravenhill!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Ritchie Ravenhill!

Ritchie Ravenhill wins by unanimous decision!