PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Ritter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jones
vs
Ritter

188 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jon Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Ritter!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch but Ritter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ritter drives through with a takedown into guard.

Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ritter drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ritter jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ritter preventing the sweep.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ritter stands up over Jones, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ritter drops back looking for a leg! Jones is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jones manages to kick Ritter off! Ritter jumps back into Jones's guard.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones is working hard here to advance position.
Ritter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jones trying to keep a closed guard but Ritter is proving a slippery customer.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Ritter from controlling successfully.

Ritter drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jones looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jones looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jones!
Ritter regains half guard.
Jones is looking to advance position but Ritter won't allow it.

Ritter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jones wants to pass to mount but Ritter is defending the position.
Ritter trying to control from the bottom.
Jones trying to control from half guard but Ritter is working away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jones blocks the strikes from Ritter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ritter trying to control here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ritter shoots for a double leg takedown but Jones sprawls well. He's pushed Ritter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ritter looks gassed!
Jones displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Jones tries to clinch up but Ritter circles away and keeps his distance.

Jones scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ritter wants to control but Jones is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jones passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones advances to mount.

Jones has control of Ritter's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ritter regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ritter gets back to half guard.
Ritter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ritter.
Jones stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ritter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ritter throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ritter trying to strike off his back.
Jones trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ritter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Ritter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ritter manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Ritter's guard.

Ritter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jones doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jones manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ritter trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ritter is on top in guard.
Ritter won't allow Jones to sweep him here.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ritter makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
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 Jon Jones will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ritter feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ritter postures up.

Ritter stands up from Jones's guard - Ritter perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jones shoots and misses

and Ritter counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Jones is looking to improve his position but Ritter isn't that keen on the idea.
Ritter scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jones?
Ritter unloading with bombs!
Ritter with shots to the head and body - Jones looks very uncomfortable down there.
Jones is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ritter is going olschool here, as he tries to force Jones to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Jones shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ritter working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to control but Ritter is having none of it.
Ritter landing strikes, looking to finish!
Jones sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Jones tries to roll over but Ritter keeps him under control.
Ritter working Jones over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Ritter.
Ritter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jones with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ritter throwing shots but Jones is blocking nicely.
Ritter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jones defending well though.
Ritter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jones with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jones is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones tries for a takedown but Ritter circles away easily

and Ritter counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to roll over but Ritter keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ritter landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ritter lands a nice short elbow.
Ritter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jones is trying to maintain the position but Ritter is very close to passing his half guard.
Ritter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Ritter has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Jones gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jones throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ritter is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ritter looking to pass the guard.
Jones avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blake Ritter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ritter postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ritter throws a big right hand that misses.
Ritter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones looks to clinch

and Ritter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Jones won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking for a sweep.
Ritter scoring with punches from side control.
Jones is looking for a sweep.
Ritter has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ritter looks up at the clock and then as Jones takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ritter smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Jones is trying to get back to half guard.

Ritter thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Ritter is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Jones has escaped the position, nice work there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones struggling a bit here.
Jones is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Ritter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ritter fails with the takedown
and Jones finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ritter closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ritter counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ritter working the ground and pound from side control.
Jones manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jones tries to pass to full mount but Ritter defends it.
Jones is thwarting Ritter's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritter tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.
Jones passes the guard and advances to mount!
Jones wants to stand but Ritter is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Jones prevents Ritter from getting the reversal.
Ritter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jones looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ritter is trying desperately to improve position.

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.
Ritter is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.
Ritter really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Jones punishing his opponent with strikes.
Jones prevents Ritter from getting the reversal.
Ritter tries to hold on but Jones pushes him away.

Jones has hold of Ritter's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ritter manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jones trying to control but Ritter is having none of it.
Jones controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to control but Ritter wriggling away.
Jones blocks Ritter's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Jones looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ritter regains half guard.
Ritter moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jones being controlled here momentarily.

Ritter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jones drops back looking for a leg! Ritter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ritter manages to kick Jones off! Jones jumps back into Ritter's guard.
Ritter scores with a nice shot.

Jones thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ritter keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Ritter thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ritter will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Ritter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ritter is trying to keep Jones in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Ritter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ritter 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Ritter!