PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Slaughter Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Oswald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slaughter Rico has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rico
vs
Oswald

165 cm
24
130 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

179 cm
23
134 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Slaughter Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Oswald!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oswald blocks a head kick by Rico.
A punch combination from Rico misses.
Rico throws a head kick that misses.
Rico tries to close the distance and clinch but Oswald swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Oswald lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rico backs up against the cage.
Rico throws a combination that misses
and Oswald counters with a series of strikes. Rico will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rico misses with a takedown
and Oswald counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rico's knee momentarily.

Oswald moves into range and clinches up with Rico.
Rico is trying to break free.
Rico letting Oswald take a breather here.
Oswald pushes Rico back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Rico drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Oswald lands an uppercut.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but Oswald is controlling him.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rico moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oswald wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald taking a breather.
Oswald keeps control of Rico as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rico has Oswald pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Oswald manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slaughter Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oswald pushes Rico back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oswald is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rico trying to land knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Oswald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rico drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Oswald gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rico is breathing heavily.
Rico looking to throw knees to the head but Oswald is blocking nicely.
Oswald dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Oswald has Rico pressed against the cage, preventing Rico from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rico is trying to break free.
Oswald scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rico goes for a takedown attempt but Oswald pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rico throws a hook to the side of Oswald's head but Oswald sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rico throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Slaughter Rico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rico swings for the body but Oswald moves out of range.
Rico tries to clinch up
and Oswald finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Oswald closes the distance and clinches.
Rico tries to circle away but Oswald has him pinned against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Oswald.
Oswald lands with a light punch inside.
Oswald softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Oswald breaks the clinch.
Oswald lands with a nice combination. Rico backs away looking to recover.

Oswald clinches with his opponent.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but Oswald is controlling him.
Oswald gets through Rico's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Oswald lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico wants to get back to striking at distance but Oswald won't allow it.

Oswald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rico closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rico takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A nice inside leg kick there by Oswald. That's going to slow Rico down.

Oswald drives through and clinches with Rico against the cage.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Oswald fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oswald misses with the combination.
Oswald lands a nice shot to the body.
Oswald scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rico misses with a combination

and Oswald counters by moving into the clinch.
Rico prevents Oswald from breaking the clinch.
Oswald lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oswald tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Oswald throws a right hand that Rico ducks under and follows up with a left that Rico also avoids with ease.

Oswald closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Oswald prevents Rico from breaking the clinch.

Rico's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rico falls off balance throwing a combination
and Oswald counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oswald throws a head kick that Rico semi-blocks.
Oswald scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
No joy there for Oswald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Oswald darts in and clinches Rico up against the cage.

Oswald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Oswald counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rico takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Oswald bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Oswald closes the distance and pushes Rico back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Oswald dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rico fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Oswald avoids it really well and circles away.

Oswald moves into range and clinches up with Rico.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but Oswald is controlling him.
Rico tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Oswald's elbow.

Rico's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rico swats away the attempt to clinch by Oswald.

Rico rushes Oswald and presses him up against the cage.
Oswald is trying to break the clinch but Rico is controlling him.

Oswald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oswald throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rico misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oswald fails with an attempt to clinch.
Oswald misses with a jab, cross combination.

Oswald gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald tries a knee to the head but Rico blocks it.

Rico breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Slaughter Rico is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rico has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rico there as he acknowledges the shot.
Rico shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Oswald sprawls well. Oswald wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rico gets slowly back to his feet.
Rico throws a head kick that misses
and Oswald counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mark Oswald seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Oswald tries to clinch but Rico moves out of range.
A head kick by Rico misses

and Oswald counters by moving into the clinch.
Oswald prevents Rico from breaking the clinch.
Rico wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Oswald fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rico.
Oswald throws a combination. Rico tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Oswald scores with a sloppy right hand. Rico should have avoided that one.

Oswald moves into the clinch.
Oswald has Rico pressed against the cage, preventing Rico from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Oswald prevents Rico from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Oswald.
Oswald stalling the fight.
Rico prevents Oswald from breaking the clinch.

Oswald breaks the clinch.
Oswald scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Rico is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Oswald.
Rico throws a left and a right that both miss
and Oswald counters with an inside leg kick.
Rico on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Oswald moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Oswald lands a right hand.
Oswald is looking to break free of the clinch but Rico has double underhooks.
Oswald looking to stall.
Oswald gets underhooks to prevent Rico's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slaughter Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rico is trying to force a seperation but Oswald has the dominant position.
Rico misses with a hook from the clinch.
Oswald blocks a body shot from Rico.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oswald dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Oswald blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rico tries to break free but Oswald pushes him back against the cage.
Rico wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Oswald lands a hook that snaps the head of Rico backwards.
Oswald tries to stall but Rico uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Oswald.
Rico is trying to break the clinch but Oswald is controlling him.

Oswald breaks from the clinch.
Rico throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Oswald.
A telegraphed right hand from Rico misses the target.
Oswald connects with a right hand. Rico shakes it off.
Oswald is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rico tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Oswald counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Oswald has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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.
Rico throws a sloppy head kick
and Oswald connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Oswald gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Oswald gets a clinch.
Rico keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Oswald's efforts to push away.
Rico misses with a hook to the ribs.

Oswald's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Oswald throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rico misses with a double jab
and Oswald counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rico pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mark Oswald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Oswald doesn't manage to clinch there - Rico circles away.
Oswald tries to clinch but Rico is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Oswald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Oswald lands with a nice combination. Rico backs away looking to recover.
Rico misses with a shot to the body
and Oswald counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rico thinking.
Rico wants to clinch but Oswald slips to the side
and Oswald cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Oswald paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rico wants to clinch up but Oswald keeps it at a distance.
Rico looks to land a combination but Oswald avoids it well.
A nice combination there by Oswald.
Oswald ducks under a wild hook from Rico.
Oswald tries to clinch but Rico is having none of it.
Rico misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oswald.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rico looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rico shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oswald as he jumps to the side.
Rico swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Oswald counters with a stiff right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Oswald closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Oswald.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald lands a hook that snaps the head of Rico backwards.
Rico letting Oswald take a breather here.
Rico tries to circle away but Oswald has him pinned against the cage.
Rico wants to get back to striking at distance but Oswald won't allow it.

Oswald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rico darts in trying to clinch
and Oswald counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rico misses with a few strikes there.

Oswald takes the fight into the clinch.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Oswald scores with a leg kick.

Oswald moves into the clinch.
Oswald misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Rico changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Oswald fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Oswald moves into the clinch successfully.
Rico tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Oswald prevents Rico from breaking the clinch.
Rico wants to get back to striking at distance but Oswald won't allow it.

Oswald manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rico is trying to break free.
Rico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Oswald can't break the clinch.

Rico breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rico swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Oswald holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico is trying to force a seperation but Oswald has the dominant position.
A right hook to the body lands for Oswald.
Oswald lands with a left to the head.
Oswald lands an elbow that stopped Rico in his tracks for a moment.

Oswald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Rico or perhaps it was just good defense by Oswald which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Slaughter Rico. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Oswald fails in his attempt to clinch.

Oswald has Rico up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rico fails to land.

Oswald pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Oswald looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rico lands a head shot.
A combination from Rico does no damage.
Oswald tries to clinch up but Rico circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
Oswald thuds a left hand into Rico's body.
Oswald moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rico swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Oswald scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Oswald goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Oswald tries to close the distance and clinch but Rico swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from Rico misses.
Oswald throws a series of punches but Rico avoids them all with ease.
Slaughter Rico has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oswald stuffs the takedown attempt from Rico. Rico gets slowly back to his feet.
Oswald's corner calls for a 1-2. Oswald obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Oswald moves into the clinch successfully.
Mark Oswald is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rico tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Oswald avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Oswald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Oswald has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Oswald!