PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Ramirez (ranked 3821 p4p, 6650 weight class) and Marco Ephieldifos (ranked 467 p4p, 675 weight class). Marco Ephieldifos will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ramirez
vs
Ephieldifos

180 cm
20
200
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
25
210
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manny Ramirez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marco Ephieldifos!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ephieldifos throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ramirez's waist but Ramirez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ephieldifos off to one side.
It looked like Ramirez wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ephieldifos shoots in for a takedown but Ramirez shows good takedown defense.

Ramirez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ephieldifos on his heels. He'll look to pass Ephieldifos's guard now, I'm sure.
Ephieldifos doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ramirez landing with the ground and pound.
Ramirez distracts Ephieldifos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ephieldifos trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ramirez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ramirez distracts Ephieldifos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ramirez wants to control from the top but Ephieldifos keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramirez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ephieldifos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ramirez trying to control but Ephieldifos is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ephieldifos can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ephieldifos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ramirez wants to control from the top but Ephieldifos keeps moving.
Ephieldifos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ephieldifos looking for a sweep. Not yet Ephieldifos, not yet.
Ramirez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ephieldifos on the ground.
Ephieldifos lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ephieldifos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ramirez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ephieldifos.
Ephieldifos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ephieldifos accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ephieldifos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ephieldifos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ephieldifos throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ephieldifos makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ramirez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ephieldifos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ephieldifos is looking to work some ground and pound but Ramirez has wrist control.
Ephieldifos postures up in Ramirez's guard and throws a big left but Ramirez blocks it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ephieldifos throws an elbow that misses. Ramirez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ephieldifos's guard. Nice move by Ramirez!

Ramirez content to stall in guard here.
Ramirez wants to control from the top but Ephieldifos keeps moving.
Ramirez slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Ephieldifos.
Ephieldifos is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ephieldifos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ramirez is controlling the pace.
Ephieldifos manages to get to full guard.
Ramirez wants to control from the top but Ephieldifos keeps moving.
Ephieldifos throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ephieldifos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ramirez trying to control but Ephieldifos is working from the bottom.
Ephieldifos tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ephieldifos throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ramirez sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ramirez tests Ephieldifos's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheers as Ramirez lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ephieldifos doesn't seem phased though.

Ephieldifos closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ramirez's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ephieldifos's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ephieldifos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ephieldifos trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ephieldifos looks winded!
Ramirez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ephieldifos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ramirez has momentary wrist control but Ephieldifos slips an elbow through the middle.
Ramirez utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Manny Ramirez will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Ephieldifos fails with the takedown
and Ramirez counters with a stiff right hand.
Ephieldifos dives in for a single leg takedown but Ramirez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Ephieldifos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ramirez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manny Ramirez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Ephieldifos.
Ramirez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ramirez.
Ephieldifos tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Ramirez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ephieldifos keeps working.
Ephieldifos throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ephieldifos takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ephieldifos takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ramirez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Ramirez wants to control but Ephieldifos is keeping him busy.
Ephieldifos is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ephieldifos manages to get back to half guard.
Ephieldifos gets full guard.
Ramirez trying to control but Ephieldifos is working from the bottom.
Manny Ramirez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ephieldifos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ephieldifos doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ephieldifos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ramirez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ephieldifos swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ramirez trying to control but Ephieldifos is working from the bottom.
Ephieldifos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

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

Ephieldifos shoots in and bounces Ramirez off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Ephieldifos throws a big right hand that misses.
Ephieldifos is breathing heavily.
Ramirez has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ephieldifos throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ephieldifos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ephieldifos missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ephieldifos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ephieldifos scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ephieldifos postures up.
Ephieldifos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ephieldifos looking to pass the guard.
Ephieldifos throwing strikes from guard but Ramirez blocks nicely.
Ephieldifos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ramirez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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.
Ephieldifos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ephieldifos is working Ramirez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ephieldifos postures up in Ramirez's guard and throws a big left but Ramirez blocks it.
Ephieldifos throwing strikes but missing.
Ephieldifos cracks Ramirez with a solid left hand.
Ramirez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ephieldifos throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ephieldifos shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ephieldifos goes for a double leg but Ramirez avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Ramirez continues to drive forward.
Ramirez cracks Ephieldifos with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Ramirez dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ramirez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ephieldifos's guard.
Ephieldifos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ramirez manages to get himself to full guard.

Ephieldifos throwing strikes from guard but Ramirez blocks nicely.
Ephieldifos with a nice head shot there.
Ephieldifos landing some decent shots from guard.
Ephieldifos is looking to work some ground and pound but Ramirez has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ephieldifos throwing strikes but missing.
Ephieldifos is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ephieldifos throws an elbow that misses. Ramirez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ephieldifos's guard. Nice move by Ramirez!

Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ephieldifos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ramirez trying to control but Ephieldifos is working from the bottom.
Ephieldifos keeping full guard, as Ramirez tries to pass.
Ephieldifos trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ephieldifos trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ephieldifos thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ramirez wants to control from the top but Ephieldifos keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ephieldifos throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

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

Ephieldifos closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ramirez quickly recovers to half guard.
Ramirez trying to control here.
Ephieldifos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ramirez is controlling Ephieldifos's trapped leg to prevent Ephieldifos from advancing to side control.
Ramirez regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ephieldifos.
Ramirez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ephieldifos throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ephieldifos throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ephieldifos postures up in Ramirez's guard and throws a big left but Ramirez blocks it.
Ephieldifos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ramirez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ephieldifos throws a strike but Ramirez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ephieldifos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ephieldifos wants to hit a sweep here but Ramirez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ephieldifos there!
Ephieldifos gets back to half guard.
Ramirez wants to free his trapped foot but Ephieldifos is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ephieldifos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez trying to control the action but Ephieldifos is working from the bottom.
Ramirez seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ramirez trying to control from half guard but Ephieldifos is working away.
Ephieldifos tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Ephieldifos wants to get back to full guard.
Ramirez is nestled in close to Ephieldifos, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ephieldifos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ephieldifos trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ephieldifos looking for a sweep. Not yet Ephieldifos, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marco Ephieldifos.
I think Ramirez 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 Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Ramirez!