PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean McNamara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Ripgut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McNamara comes to the cage accompanied by Massive Attack - Teardrop (House M.D.). Sean McNamara had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 206.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Sean McNamara has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McNamara
vs
Ripgut

180 cm
45
225 lbs
22 - 34 - 0

190 cm
42
217 lbs
29 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

GREEN!160
Conquer

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 22 - 34 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sean McNamara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Ripgut!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McNamara looks to land a combination but Ripgut avoids it well.
McNamara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ripgut feints and as McNamara raises his hands in defense, Ripgut changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
McNamara managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ripgut stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McNamara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ripgut throwing strikes but missing.
McNamara wants to sweep here but Ripgut controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNamara trying to keep a closed guard but Ripgut is proving a slippery customer.
Ripgut throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ripgut working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ripgut has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ripgut trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ripgut distracts McNamara with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ripgut throwing strikes but missing.
Ripgut with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ripgut is working McNamara over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ripgut throws an elbow that misses. McNamara uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ripgut's guard. Nice move by McNamara!

Ripgut keeping moving, preventing McNamara from controlling successfully.
Ripgut doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McNamara postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McNamara stands and throws Ripgut's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ripgut throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Ripgut is trying to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here as McNamara stalls from top position.
McNamara trying to control the action but Ripgut is working from the bottom.
Ripgut striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
McNamara trying to control the position but Ripgut is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripgut throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Ripgut tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McNamara in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
McNamara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ripgut keeps working.
Ripgut tries to improve position but can't.
McNamara staying calm.
McNamara working the body and head with strikes.
Ripgut tries to improve position but can't.
Ripgut is not content to let McNamara control the position.
Ripgut manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ripgut is looking for a sweep. McNamara is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ripgut is refusing to be controlled, as McNamara sits in half guard.

Ripgut looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McNamara is keen to just control but Ripgut is a slippery customer.

Ripgut is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McNamara pulls his head out easily.
Ripgut is looking to escape.
McNamara content to control rather than advance.
Ripgut is not content to let McNamara control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ripgut tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
McNamara moves into full mount! Ripgut won't be happy about that!
McNamara can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ripgut is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sean McNamara will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McNamara swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from McNamara.
McNamara tries to bum rush Ripgut with a series of wild strikes but Ripgut uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sean Ripgut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McNamara swinging wildly here.

A momentary lapse in concentration from McNamara enables Ripgut to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McNamara manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ripgut in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McNamara working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ripgut.
Ripgut working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ripgut missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ripgut postures up in McNamara's guard and throws a big left but McNamara blocks it.

Ripgut stands up and waves to McNamara to follow him.

Ripgut is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McNamara's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ripgut not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ripgut looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ripgut missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Ripgut is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McNamara defends it well.
McNamara wants to get back to his feet.
Ripgut thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McNamara's head.
Sean Ripgut has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ripgut prevents McNamara from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ripgut looks to land a strike but McNamara avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
McNamara looking to control.
Ripgut throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McNamara works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Ripgut drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McNamara manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ripgut has McNamara in his guard.

McNamara wants to control from the top but Ripgut keeps moving.
Ripgut trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
McNamara wants to control from the top but Ripgut keeps moving.
Ripgut looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Ripgut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ripgut looking for submissions from the bottom but instead McNamara passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara controls the position from side control.
Ripgut throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Ripgut tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McNamara wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ripgut seems a little lost for a moment, as McNamara dominates the positioning.
Ripgut is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ripgut misses with an elbow from the bottom.
A lull in the action here.
McNamara avoids the strikes from the bottom by Ripgut.
McNamara trying to control the position but Ripgut is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McNamara moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
McNamara wants to control but Ripgut is keeping him busy.
Ripgut gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Ripgut actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ripgut missing with punches from the bottom.
McNamara wants to take a breather but Ripgut is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Ripgut showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ripgut shoots in for a takedown but McNamara shows good takedown defense.
McNamara misses with the combination.

Ripgut closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McNamara wants to get back to his feet.

Ripgut is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McNamara knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ripgut throwing strikes but McNamara manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
McNamara just content to control the position.
Ripgut throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ripgut manages to get back to half guard.
McNamara wants to take a breather but Ripgut is having none of it.
McNamara not doing much here.
Ripgut moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Ripgut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ripgut has his foot on McNamara's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McNamara works his way back into a safe position though.
McNamara wants to control from the top but Ripgut keeps moving.

Ripgut is looking for a triangle but McNamara pushes his legs off easily.

McNamara got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ripgut has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McNamara has managed to get both his arms back between Ripgut's legs - danger averted.
McNamara is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara stuffs the takedown attempt from Ripgut. Ripgut gets slowly back to his feet.

Ripgut fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McNamara sprawls well initially but Ripgut persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ripgut looks to land a strike but McNamara avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ripgut throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ripgut postures up in McNamara's guard and throws a big left but McNamara blocks it.
Ripgut with a flurry of punches that miss.
McNamara preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ripgut gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ripgut drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ripgut cracks McNamara with a solid left hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ripgut has gone for a leg lock! McNamara slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ripgut's guard.

McNamara trying to control but Ripgut is working from the bottom.
Ripgut throws a nice elbow from the bottom.

Ripgut has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McNamara can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
McNamara trying to control the position from guard on top but Ripgut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ripgut working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McNamara doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McNamara manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McNamara showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Ripgut comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ripgut has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Ripgut!