PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charlie Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trip Porter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Porter has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Charlie Ray has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ray
vs
Porter

164 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Charlie Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Trip Porter!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Porter tries to close the distance and clinch but Ray swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ray shoots in but Porter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ray could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Porter throws a right hand that Ray ducks under and follows up with a left that Ray also avoids with ease.
Ray shoots in but Porter avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Ray clinches with his opponent.
Ray wants to take the fight to the mat but Porter manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Charlie Ray. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Porter tries to avoid it but Ray manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Porter to the ground. Porter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Ray has Porter up against the cage in a clinch.
Porter is trying to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porter is trying to break the clinch but Ray is controlling him.
Ray has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Porter after a bit of a struggle.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Porter enables Ray to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Porter manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ray stopping the sweep attempt from Porter.
Porter looks winded!
Ray throws a big elbow that misses.
Porter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ray.
Ray throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Porter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ray gets to his feet. Porter looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Ray gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ray is trying to pull guard but Porter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Porter works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Ray looking for a guillotine here but Porter defends easily.

Ray working for a triangle but Porter defends it easily.
Ray might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ray not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray wants to sweep here but Porter controlling him for the moment.
Porter throws a big elbow that misses.
Porter wants to get up but he can't break Ray's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Ray shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Porter but Porter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Porter tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ray moves into the clinch.

Porter has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ray regains guard immediately.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ray is trying to keep Porter in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Trip Porter will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horrible takedown attempt by Ray or perhaps it was just good defense by Porter, which made it look bad.
Ray takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Ray darts in and clinches Porter up against the cage.

Porter jumps into guard, dragging Ray to the mat.

Ray gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Ray, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Ray shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Porter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ray postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Porter is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Porter is working an open guard so Ray takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Ray closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ray thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ray thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Porter's head.
Porter blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ray.

Ray escapes and gets back to his feet.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray shoots in for a double leg but Porter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Porter looking to score a takedown here. Ray is defending well but Porter drives through and ends up in Ray's guard.

Ray has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Porter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Porter throwing strikes from guard but Ray blocks nicely.
Porter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Porter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ray is trying to control the position but Porter postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Porter gets to his feet. Ray looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Ray moves into the clinch.

Ray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Ray, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Porter scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Porter wants to control but Ray is keeping him busy.
Porter throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ray tries to escape but Porter is in control.
Trip Porter has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries to buck Porter off but Porter is having none of it.
Porter working away.
Porter wants to control for a moment but Ray uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Porter tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Ray avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Porter.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ray wants to control but Porter is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Ray with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Charlie Ray will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck for Ray with that takedown attempt.
Porter doesn't manage to clinch there - Ray circles away.
No joy there for Ray, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ray throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ray moves into the clinch.

Ray jumps guard.
Porter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Porter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ray works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ray works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ray utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ray looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Porter has picked Ray up and slammed him! Ray can't keep hold of the triangle and Porter manages to pass to side control!
Ray is looking for a sweep.
Ray is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Porter's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Porter seems to be working for a kimura but Ray defends the submission attempt.
Ray is looking for a sweep. Porter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porter wants to control but Ray is keeping him busy.

Ray looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ray trying to hold on to Porter's head to control him but Porter postures up.
Porter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ray controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ray has closed the distance and engaged Porter in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porter is trying to force a seperation but Ray has the dominant position.
Ray tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Porter just stands there and leans against the cage.

Porter is trying to trip Ray. He has hold of a leg but Ray is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Porter persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ray is trying to keep Porter in close.
Ray pulls Porter in to control the position.
Porter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ray is keeping the position for now.
Ray working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Porter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Porter postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ray is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Porter, into his guard.

Ray missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Porter looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Ray has picked Porter up and slammed him! Porter can't keep hold of the triangle and Ray manages to pass to side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Porter is trying to control Ray's posture but Ray avoids it.

Ray working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charlie 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Trip Porter!