PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Ritter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Player (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ritter
vs
Player

182 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hugo Ritter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Player!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ritter fails with a takedown attempt.

Player takes the fight into the clinch.
Ritter tries for a takedown but Player manages to get underhooks.
Ritter goes for a takedown attempt but Player pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Ritter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Player doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ritter decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Player's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ritter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ritter stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Player swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Player utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Player working a defensive guard here.
Ritter makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Player wriggles free and stands up.
Ritter tries to clinch up

so Player counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ritter wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Player is now in half guard.
Player controlling the pace.

Player decides to return to a standing position.
Ritter misses with a takedown
enabling Player to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Player fails with the takedown

and Ritter counters with a shoot takedown. Player fights it but they end up in guard.
Ritter is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Player keeping moving, preventing Ritter from controlling successfully.
Player keeping full guard, as Ritter tries to pass.
Ritter throws a strike but Player rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Player gets to his feet - Ritter follows without any prompting.
Player misses with a takedown

and Ritter counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritter tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ritter landing a few strikes.
Ritter is trying to ground and pound but Player uses the momentary lack of control by Ritter to regain half guard.
Ritter prevents Player from improving his position.
Ritter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Player wants to control but Ritter is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Player tries to get to full guard but Ritter has control of the leg.
Player on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Player regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ritter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ritter postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ritter throwing strikes from guard but Player blocks nicely.
Player avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Ritter dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Player shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ritter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Player won't be happy with that.
Player is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ritter happy to just control the position for now.
Ritter working the ground and pound from side control.
Player is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritter sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Player is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Player regains half guard.
Ritter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ritter is stalling here. Player is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ritter seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Player has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ritter is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A control attempt from Ritter but he's now mounted!
Player looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hugo Ritter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ritter is trying to reverse the position but instead Player has taken his back - oops!
Player controlling well, preventing Ritter from escaping the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ritter can't escape the position.
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.
Player not allowing Ritter to control his hands.
Player has good solid back control here.
Ritter is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Player really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Ritter.
Player struggling to keep hold of the position.
Ritter can't escape the position.
Player trying to control momentarily.
You can see the frustration on Ritter's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Player lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Player.
Ritter trying to control the action but Player just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Ritter dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Ritter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ritter trying to control but Player is working from the bottom.

Player wriggles free and stands up.
Ritter tries to clinch

and Player counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ritter!
Ritter tries to improve his position but instead Player has taken his back!
Player controlling well, preventing Ritter from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Player trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Ritter doesn't escape.
Ritter is trying to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritter is keeping busy.
Player controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
I really don't envy Ritter right now.
Player is trying to stick to Ritter's back but Ritter is turning into Player. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Player's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Ritter.
Player is trying to keep Ritter in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ritter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Player keeping moving, preventing Ritter from controlling successfully.
Ritter is looking to stand up but Player won't let him.
Ritter trying to control but Player is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ritter tries for a takedown but Player circles away easily

and Player counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Player is pushing down on Ritter's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ritter is fighting to maintain full guard but Player has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ritter is looking to improve his position.
Player wants to get back to his feet.
Ritter misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritter strikes from the bottom but Player uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Ritter is trying to improve his position.
Ritter is trying to work for a sweep but Player has mounted him!
Ritter looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
John Player has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ritter is in bad spot here.
Ritter takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Player has the hooks in. Ritter is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Player lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Player comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ritter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Ritter!