PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Norris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saleem Ritte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Norris might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Motörhead - Rock Out. Ritte has chosen Hell's Bells as his entrance music. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Norris
vs
Ritte

186 cm
22
206 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

199 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chuck Norris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saleem Ritte!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Norris shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ritte is trying to defend but Norris finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ritte tries to get to full guard but Norris has control of the leg.
Norris looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ritte pushes Norris off looking to stand but Norris dives back in and keeps control.

Norris decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Norris shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ritte is trying to defend but Norris finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Norris is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Norris passes to side control.
Ritte is trying to improve his position.
Norris scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ritte to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Norris lands some shots froms side control.
Ritte pushes Norris away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Norris gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Norris has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ritte tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Ritte scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Norris tries to get to full guard but Ritte has control of the leg.
Norris is breathing heavily.
Norris wants to control but Ritte is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ritte is keen to just control but Norris is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Norris on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ritte is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Norris is trying to stand back up but Ritte is controlling him

Ritte stands up and beckons Norris to join him on the feet.
Ritte fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris fails with a takedown attempt.
Chuck Norris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ritte looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ritte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ritte swinging wilding here.
Norris tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ritte swivels and escapes.
Ritte throws a right and a left that Norris avoids nicely.

Ritte drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Norris sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritte working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Ritte is working for a kimura but Norris is defending it quite comfortably.
Norris is looking to improve his position.
Ritte is trying to control the action in half guard but Norris is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ritte looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ritte wants to lay and pray for a moment but Norris keeps working.

That's four 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.
Norris wants to get back to full guard.
Ritte slips a nice elbow through Norris's hands, connecting with Norris's forehead.

Ritte stands up and beckons Norris to join him on the feet.
Ritte misses with a double jab.
Ritte connects with a good right hand that stumbles Norris. Norris circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Norris fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Norris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ritte shoots in and drives through. Norris sprawls well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ritte is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Norris tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ritte sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Norris somewhat.
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 Chuck Norris will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ritte shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ritte was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ritte raining down shots from the mount!
A nice elbow there by Ritte.
Norris is squirming around, avoiding Ritte's attempts to control the action.
Ritte lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ritte landing shots from mount.
The referee warns Norris that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Norris wants to hold on but Ritte pushes him away.
Ritte has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ritte landing strikes from the mount.
Norris is squirming around, avoiding Ritte's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte content just to control the position here.
Norris might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Norris is desperately trying to improve his position but Ritte has a good base and remains in mount.
Ritte putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Saleem Ritte has got the better of the ground game so far.
Norris taking shots to the head.
Norris wants to control but Ritte is having none of it.
Ritte connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ritte lands a big elbow.

Ritte moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Norris has worked his arm free - good work by Norris!

Ritte decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritte lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ritte scores with a three punch combo!
Ritte looks to land a combination. Norris sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ritte lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A punch combination from Ritte misses.
Ritte fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Norris shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norris showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ritte.
Norris shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ritte as he avoids it easily.
Ritte throws a series of punches but Norris avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris swats away the attempt to clinch by Ritte.
Chuck Norris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Norris is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ritte sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Norris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Norris looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Ritte misses.
Ritte shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Norris tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ritte swivels and escapes.
Ritte scores with a one two! Norris had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Norris throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ritte's waist but Ritte gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Norris off to one side.
Ritte shoots and misses
and Norris counters with a stiff right hand.
Norris fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ritte avoids it really well and circles away.
Ritte misses with a takedown attempt

so Norris counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norris postures up.
Ritte keeping moving, preventing Norris from controlling successfully.
Norris wanted to stand there but Ritte had control of the position.
Ritte doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ritte trying to keep a closed guard but Norris is proving a slippery customer.

Ritte escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Norris gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Norris wants to control from the top but Ritte keeps moving.
Ritte lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Norris!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saleem Ritte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ritte misses with a low kick.
Norris misses with a straight right.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ritte!
Ritte fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Norris checks it well.
Norris looks for the body kick but Ritte saw that one coming.
Ritte tries to score a power double leg takedown but Norris sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ritte somewhat.
Norris throws a combination that misses

and Ritte counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ritte trying to stand up but can't free himself from Norris's guard.
Norris trying to control the position.
Ritte preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ritte stands up over Norris, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Ritte avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ritte stands and steps away. Norris gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ritte is trying hard to land a takedown here. Norris sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Norris closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ritte circles away.
Norris circles away from the clinch attempt.
Norris shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ritte counters with a two punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norris gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ritte counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Norris's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Norris. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ritte is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ritte working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Norris's head.
Ritte trying to control the position from guard on top but Norris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ritte drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Norris dives on top into guard.
Norris wants to stand but Ritte is controlling his posture from full guard.
Norris won't allow Ritte to get back to his feet.
Ritte is trying to control the position but Norris postures up.
Norris wants to control from the top but Ritte keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norris throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Norris prevents Ritte from getting back to his feet.

Ritte has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Norris off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Norris throws a half hearted mid kick.
Norris has his takedown stuffed
and Ritte counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ritte lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Norris fails to land the takedown.
Norris shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ritte counters with a series of strikes. Norris will be more careful next time no doubt.

Norris closes the distance and pushes Ritte back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Norris drags the fight down to the ground.
Norris wants to get back to his feet but Ritte is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ritte wants to control from the top but Norris keeps moving.
Ritte postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Norris uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Ritte swinging wilding here.
Ritte misses with a two punch combination.

Norris closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Norris lands in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saleem Ritte comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ritte 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saleem Ritte!