PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wesley Poker (ranked 3379 p4p, 359 weight class) and Ricardo Rico (ranked 4826 p4p, 460 weight class). Rico has chosen Molly By Playboi Carti as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Poker
vs
Rico

180 cm
27
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

182 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wesley Poker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricardo Rico!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rico gets caught flat footed, as Poker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rico is looking to stand up but Poker isn't so interested in that idea.

Poker stands up and waves to Rico to follow him.
Wesley Poker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Poker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Poker is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rico will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Poker decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Rico tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Poker shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rico scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Poker manages to mount him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poker controlling from mount.
Rico is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Poker looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico tries to hold on but Poker postures up.
Poker tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rico is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Poker content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poker's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Further stalling from Poker.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Poker is stinking the place up with his stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Poker avoids the attempt from Rico to control.
Rico bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Poker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rico.
Rico is looking to work some ground and pound but Poker has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rico wants to stand but Poker has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rico slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Poker dominated that round.
That's time! Poker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Poker tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rico is able to avoid easily.

Poker shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rico's guard.
Poker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Rico working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Poker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Poker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Poker stands up from Rico's guard - Poker perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rico shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Poker defends it nicely.
Rico dodges the punch combination from Poker.
Rico raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rico is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Poker dives into side control.

Who's going to make the next move?
Rico is trying to get back to his feet.

Poker decides to stand back up.
Poker throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rico stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poker throws a right and a left that Rico avoids nicely.
Rico tries to clinch but Poker is having none of it.
We've been informed that Rico has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Poker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rico on his heels. He'll look to pass Rico's guard now, I'm sure.
Rico is breathing heavily.

Rico has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Poker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

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

Poker has Rico up against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Poker - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
I was talking to Poker's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Poker breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poker clinches up with Rico and pushes him back against the cage.
Poker trying to land knees to the body.
Rico tries to pull guard but Poker holds him up against the cage and eventually Rico drops back down to his feet.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but Poker is controlling him.

Rico breaks from the clinch.
Poker misses with a leg kick.
A left and a right from Poker both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Ricardo Rico has been cut.
Rico has his takedown stuffed

and Poker counters by clinching up.
Wesley Poker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rico.
Poker displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rico up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poker breaks from the clinch.

Poker closes the distance and clinches.
Rico is trying to pull guard but Poker turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Poker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Poker clinches.

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

Poker lands a left and a right that send Rico crashing to the mat, dazed. Poker thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Rico is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Poker has Rico up against the cage in a clinch.
Rico is still on wobbly legs! Can Poker finish him?

Poker breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wesley Poker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ricardo Rico's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rico gets clipped by a big right hand and goes down spinning to the canvas! Poker gets the back mount and begins to drop bombs on his rocked foe! Rico is too out of it to defend against the strikes and the referee jumps in to save him from the beatdown!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Wesley Poker!
Our winner, Wesley Poker, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
The defeated Ricardo Rico had this to say: 'I'll just come back stronger and smarter everytime. Me and my manager make sure of that.'.