PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Rickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Whipple (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whipple has chosen On My Level as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Rickson
vs
Whipple

190 cm
25
197 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

194 cm
24
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zack Rickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keith Whipple!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rickson tries to close the distance and clinch but Whipple swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rickson punishes Whipple's body with a nice straight punch.
Whipple misses with a combination
and Rickson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Whipple throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rickson fails to land the takedown.

Rickson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rickson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Whipple backwards.
Whipple tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rickson is working Whipple over against the cage.
Whipple letting Rickson take a breather here.
Rickson is pressed up against the cage. Whipple has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rickson down to the mat. Rickson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rickson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Whipple manages to avoid it.
A punch combination from Whipple misses.
Whipple throws a shot from downtown. Rickson moves away and avoids it.

Rickson moves into range and clinches up with Whipple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rickson.

It looks like Keith Whipple has been cut.
Come on Rickson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rickson misses with a punch to the body.
Whipple tries to score a body lock takedown but Rickson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zack Rickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Whipple.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rickson prevents the takedown attempt.
Rickson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Whipple.
Rickson lands a body shot.
Whipple looks gassed!
Whipple drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice body punch from Rickson - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rickson stalls.
Rickson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rickson misses with a body punch.

Rickson breaks the clinch.
Rickson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whipple.

Rickson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Whipple was covering up waiting for the punch and Rickson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rickson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rickson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rickson trying to control but Whipple is working from the bottom.
Rickson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rickson is looking to stand up but Whipple won't let him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rickson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rickson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rickson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rickson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whipple working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rickson.
Rickson is working Whipple over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rickson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rickson throwing strikes from guard but Whipple blocks nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Whipple can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rickson thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rickson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Whipple is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rickson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Rickson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keith Whipple's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rickson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rickson connects with a looping right hand.
Whipple throws a looping overhand right but Rickson ducks down to avoid it.
Whipple takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Rickson tests Whipple's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Whipple on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Keith Whipple is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whipple misses with a left hand
and Whipple takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Whipple looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A punch combination from Whipple misses.

Rickson clinches up against the cage.
Rickson scores with a shoulder strike.
Rickson has Whipple pressed against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rickson tries a knee to the head but Whipple blocks it.
Rickson pushes Whipple back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Rickson.
Whipple is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rickson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Whipple backwards.
Whipple gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rickson.
Rickson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rickson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short body shot lands from Rickson as the two fighters clinch.
Rickson stalls.
A short right from Rickson.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rickson manages to break the clinch.
Rickson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Whipple looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Whipple looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
No joy there for Whipple, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rickson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rickson punishes Whipple's body with a nice straight punch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rickson gets through Whipple's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zack Rickson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rickson pushes Whipple back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Whipple tries to score a body lock takedown but Rickson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Rickson is working Whipple over against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whipple drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rickson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Whipple gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The referee calls for Rickson to work.
Whipple has Rickson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rickson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zack Rickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith Whipple.
Rickson tries to throw a body punch but Whipple avoids it by throwing Rickson back against the cage.
Rickson stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Rickson.
Still in the clinch, Rickson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rickson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rickson digs a right hand underneath Whipple's ribcage. Whipple let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rickson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rickson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rickson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Whipples head.
Rickson has Whipple pressed against the cage.
Rickson pushes Whipple back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rickson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rickson stalls.
Rickson lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Rickson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Keith Whipple's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rickson scores with a shot to the body.
Whipple takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rickson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Whipple but Whipple pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A lazy left from Rickson finds it's target.
Rickson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Whipple throws a body punch but Rickson moves out of range.
A lazy left from Rickson finds it's target.
Rickson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rickson cracks Whipple with an open hand slap.
Nice shot by Rickson.
Rickson shoots in and drives through. Whipple sprawls well.
Whipple misses with a few strikes there.

Rickson closes the distance and clinches.
Whipple takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rickson pushes Whipple back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Whipple is pressed up against the cage. Rickson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Whipple down to the mat. Whipple avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Rickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rickson lands a nice looking body shot.
Rickson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whipple can do to turn this around?
Nice body punch from Rickson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rickson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Whipple's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rickson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Whipple scrambles back to his feet.
Rickson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A solid leg kick lands there for Rickson.
Zack Rickson is winning the standup battle so far.
Whipple doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rickson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Whipple takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rickson gets through Whipple's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rickson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rickson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whipple is defending well for now.
Rickson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rickson works on Whipple's body with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees in the clinch landing for Rickson.
Good body shot from Rickson.
Rickson presses Whipple against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rickson taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Rickson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rickson is pushing Whipple up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rickson can't get the takedown.
Rickson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Whipple avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Whipple gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rickson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whipple goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rickson prevents it.
Rickson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rickson is leaning against Whipple and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rickson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Whipple fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rickson is defended easily by Whipple.
Rickson cracks Whipple with an open hand slap.
Good shot there by Rickson.
Zack Rickson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rickson shoots in for a takedown but Whipple shows good takedown defense.
Rickson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A cross from Rickson lands.
Whipple takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Whipple on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Whipple misses with a lunging right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Keith Whipple is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rickson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Rickson gets a clinch.
Rickson leaning against his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whipple drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rickson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rickson thuds a left hand into Whipple's body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rickson with a jab.
Keith Whipple has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right-left combo lands from Rickson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Rickson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rickson 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Rickson!