PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Gibbons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conrad Ratliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Conrad Ratliff has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Gibbons
vs
Ratliff

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
147 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Gibbons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conrad Ratliff!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gibbons is defended easily by Ratliff.

Gibbons closes the distance and clinches.
Ratliff tries to circle away but Gibbons has him pinned against the cage.
Ratliff wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gibbons has had enough of the clinch but Ratliff keeps him there for the moment.
Gibbons avoiding damage.

Ratliff tightens his grip and picks Gibbons up, before dumping him to the ground. Gibbons manages to land in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Gibbons working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ratliff.
Gibbons keeping moving, preventing Ratliff from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ratliff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ratliff decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gibbons, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratliff swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Gibbons counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ratliff is looking to clinch but Gibbons is avoiding it.
Gibbons tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gibbons tries for a takedown but Ratliff circles away easily
and Ratliff counters with a straight right hand.
Ratliff fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gibbons misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Gibbons. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ratliff takes a jab right on the kisser.
Gibbons looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ratliff has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Gibbons.
Ratliff tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gibbons was well out of range. Poor timing from Ratliff.
Gibbons shoots in looking for a takedown. Ratliff tries to sprawl out of it but Gibbons keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ratliff manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gibbons has a takedown stuffed.
Gibbons is breathing heavily.
Ratliff tries to clinch up but Gibbons circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ratliff feints and as Gibbons raises his hands in defense, Ratliff changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gibbons wants to sweep but no luck.
Ratliff throws a big right hand that misses.
Ratliff connects with a couple of short punches.
Ratliff wants to get up but he can't break Gibbons's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ratliff throwing strikes but missing.
Ratliff postures up.
Ratliff would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ratliff lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ratliff wants to stand but Gibbons is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons wants to sweep but no luck.
Ratliff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gibbons is keeping the position for now.

Ratliff decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gibbons, up you get!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gibbons scores with a push kick.
Gibbons misses with a takedown
and Ratliff counters with a lovely straight right hand!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ratliff fails with a takedown attempt.
Gibbons is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conrad Ratliff dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gibbons staying out of range there.
Gibbons shoots in looking for a takedown but Ratliff manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gibbons's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ratliff shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gibbons defends it nicely.
Ratliff avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ratliff takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gibbons checks a low kick from Ratliff.
Gibbons scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Gibbons wants to clinch up but Ratliff keeps it at a distance.
Gibbons shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratliff pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gibbons shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ratliff as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Gibbons. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gibbons tries to close the distance and clinch but Ratliff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ratliff drives through with a takedown into Gibbons's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Gibbons keeping moving, preventing Ratliff from controlling successfully.
Ratliff wants to stand but Gibbons has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ratliff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gibbons works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ratliff in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ratliff is looking to work some ground and pound but Gibbons has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gibbons keeping full guard, as Ratliff tries to pass.
Ratliff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ratliff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ratliff trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ratliff lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ratliff decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ratliff throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ratliff's waist but Ratliff gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gibbons off to one side.
Gibbons misses with a takedown attempt - Ratliff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ratliff shoots for a takedown but Gibbons saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ratliff fails to land with a series of punches.
Gibbons misses with a takedown attempt - Ratliff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ratliff shoots in looking for a takedown. Gibbons tries to sprawl out of it but Ratliff keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gibbons manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons blocks a head kick by Ratliff.
Gibbons shoots in for a takedown but Ratliff shows good takedown defense.

Ratliff darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ratliff lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gibbons manages to get to full guard.

Gibbons working for a triangle but Ratliff defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conrad Ratliff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ratliff lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Ratliff gets a takedown into half guard.

Gibbons looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gibbons moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ratliff trying to move into half guard but instead Gibbons has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ratliff pushes Gibbons off and gets back to his feet.
Ryan Gibbons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ratliff stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ratliff wants it to stay on the feet.
Ryan Gibbons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gibbons shoots and misses

and Ratliff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gibbons won't be happy with that.
Gibbons tries to bench press Ratliff off him but Ratliff keeps the position.
Ratliff creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ratliff lands some shots froms side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gibbons takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ratliff wants to control but Gibbons is keeping him busy.
Ratliff lands an elbow.

Ratliff looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Gibbons is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ratliff's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ratliff wants to stand up but Gibbons is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibbons wants to control but Ratliff is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Ratliff postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Gibbons to stand up.
Ratliff throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ratliff scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A jab lands there for Ratliff.
Ratliff slips a jab and a cross from Gibbons.
Gibbons on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ratliff keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Gibbons. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gibbons's waist but Gibbons gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ratliff off to one side.
Ratliff connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ratliff misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gibbons shoots in but no luck this time.
Ratliff goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Conrad Ratliff seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ratliff throws a head kick but Gibbons moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibbons wants to clinch up but Ratliff keeps it at a distance.
Ryan Gibbons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Conrad Ratliff is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ratliff connects with a single shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conrad Ratliff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ratliff 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conrad Ratliff!
During a confident post fight interview, Conrad Ratliff thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.