PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rhett Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neighborhood Slugger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ray
vs
Slugger

177 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 New York, Rhett Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Neighborhood Slugger!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Eddie Farnsworth and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slugger tries to keep at a distance but Ray has taken the fight into the clinch.
Come on Ray - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ray could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Slugger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ray.
Ray takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ray tries to break the clinch but Slugger is controlling the position.
Slugger misses with a knee strike.
A bit of stalling here from Ray.
Slugger misses with a knee to the head.
Ray has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Slugger is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Slugger looks winded!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ray is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Slugger misses with a knee to the head.
Ray is looking to control Slugger's arms but Slugger gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ray has his back to the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Rhett Ray has been cut.
Ray on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Slugger misses with a knee to the head.
Ray avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Ray avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Ray has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ray is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ray will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Slugger up against the cage.
Slugger misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the head but Ray blocks with his arms.
Slugger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ray.
Ray is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Slugger pushes off an throws an elbow but Ray leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Slugger swings wildly with an uppercut but Ray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ray takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ray wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ray wants to break free but Slugger has control.
Slugger pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ray on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ray taking a breather.
Ray is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.

Ray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ray shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Slugger's coach down at Morbid Conditioning School $125 was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Slugger's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Slugger stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Slugger wants it to stay on the feet.

Ray closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slugger avoiding damage as Ray throws knees to the body.
Slugger can't find room to land a body shot as Ray controls the action.
Ray stalls.
Slugger prevents Ray from breaking the clinch.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.
Slugger misses with the head strike.
Ray has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Ray is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slugger misses with a knee strike.
Ray is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Neighborhood Slugger will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rhett Ray's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ray throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Slugger was covering up waiting for the punch and Ray finishes the takedown easily into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Slugger wants to get back to his feet but Ray is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ray landing some decent shots from guard.
Slugger is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ray is controlling him.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Slugger is breathing heavily.
Ray is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ray landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ray with a nice head shot there.
Slugger is wriggling around but Ray manages to pass to half guard.
Ray sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Slugger looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Rhett Ray wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Ray has closed the distance and engaged Slugger in a clinch.
Slugger tries to land knees in the clinch but Ray avoids the damage to the body.
Slugger missing with knees to the body.
Ray just leaning against Slugger, taking a breather.
Slugger tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ray stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Slugger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Slugger has a couple of punches blocked by Ray.
Ray taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Slugger creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ray avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
Ray is looking to break free of the clinch but Slugger has double underhooks.
Ray has had enough of the clinch but Slugger keeps him there for the moment.
Slugger tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ray's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray wants to stall.
Ray can't break the clinch.
Ray slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Rhett Ray.

Slugger has closed the distance and engaged Ray in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slugger presses Ray against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ray blocks the elbow strike.
Ray avoiding damage as Slugger throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rhett Ray dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rhett Ray's cut.
That's time! Ray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Slugger closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ray looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Slugger with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Slugger just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ray's brow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ray.
Ray avoids the elbow strike from Slugger, against the cage.
Slugger being controlled against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slugger.
Neighborhood Slugger seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Slugger trying to land knees to the body.
Ray stalls.
Slugger throws a head punch that misses.
Slugger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ray blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Slugger prevents Ray from breaking the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Slugger.
Ray working hard to break the clinch.
Ray is pushing Slugger up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Ray tries to circle away but Slugger has him pinned against the cage.
Ray dodges an elbow strike from Slugger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray is trying to maintain a safe position but Slugger gets an underhook and turns Ray into the cage.
Ray stalling.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ray shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ray stops Slugger from standing up.
Ray content to stall in guard here.
Ray with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slugger is looking to stand up but Ray isn't so interested in that idea.
Ray controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rhett Ray wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ray fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Slugger avoids it really well and circles away.

Slugger clinches with his opponent.
Ray dodges an elbow strike from Slugger.
Ray lands a body punch.
Slugger with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray stalling in the clinch.
Slugger keeps control of Ray as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ray is trying to break the clinch but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Slugger throws an elbow but it misses.
Ray avoids a wild elbow strike from Slugger.
Ray looking to stall.
Ray managing to block the knees to the body from Slugger.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ray wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Slugger has him pressed against the cage.
Ray has Slugger pressed against the cage.
Ray has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rhett Ray showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ray 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rhett Ray!