PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saleem Ritte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and frank Duncombe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ritte comes to the cage accompanied by Hell's Bells. frank Duncombe acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ritte
vs
Duncombe

199 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saleem Ritte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, frank Duncombe!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ritte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Duncombe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ritte counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Duncombe closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ritte is trying to stand.
Ritte regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ritte trying to control the position.
Duncombe wants to control from the top but Ritte keeps moving.
Duncombe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Duncombe really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ritte. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ritte preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ritte is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Ritte scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Ritte is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Duncombe is just riding it out for now. Ritte eventually gives up the hold.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duncombe trying to hold on to Ritte's head to control him but Ritte postures up.
Ritte has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ritte is pressing down on Duncombe's thigh, looking to free his foot. Duncombe is holding on for now.
Duncombe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ritte.
Ritte trying to control the action but Duncombe is working from the bottom.
Ritte landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ritte not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Ritte is looking for a kimura but Duncombe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ritte to get the leverage.
Ritte working Duncombe over with strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Duncombe can do anything to dispel that myth.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ritte lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Duncombe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ritte throws a series of punches but Duncombe avoids them all with ease.

Duncombe moves into the clinch successfully.
Duncombe lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritte is trying to stall.
Ritte has Duncombe pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Duncombe manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ritte tries to pull guard but Duncombe holds him up against the cage and eventually Ritte drops back down to his feet.

Duncombe gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ritte tries to kick Duncombe off but Duncombe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ritte is breathing heavily.
Duncombe with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ritte tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Duncombe is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Duncombe wants to stand up but Ritte has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ritte missing with punches from the bottom.
Ritte is looking to control Duncombe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ritte avoid being mounted?
Ritte controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ritte swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Duncombe counters with a takedown into side control.
Ritte wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Duncombe working away.

Ritte throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Ritte misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ritte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ritte tries to clinch but Duncombe is having none of it.
Duncombe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ritte pinned against the cage. Ritte gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Duncombe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Saleem Ritte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of frank Duncombe.
Duncombe throws a sloppy head kick and Ritte moves out of range easily.
Ritte fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritte throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ritte is defended easily by Duncombe.
Ritte will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Ritte. No joy for Duncombe on that attempt.
Ritte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ritte moves in looking to clinch but Duncombe pushes him off.
Duncombe fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ritte tries to clinch there but Duncombe circles away.
Duncombe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ritte is fending him off so far but Duncombe persists. Nope, Ritte circles away and we're back to standing.
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 Saleem Ritte will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ritte shoots in for a takedown but Duncombe shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ritte stalks Duncombe and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Duncombe's face. Duncombe staggers backwards, shaken.
Duncombe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ritte shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Duncombe pinned against the cage. Duncombe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Duncombe dives in and grabs Ritte's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ritte pushes down on Duncombe's head and hops out.
Duncombe misses with a combination
and Ritte counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ritte looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saleem Ritte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ritte fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ritte fails with a takedown attempt.
Duncombe shoots in but Ritte avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Duncombe circles away quickly and effectively.
Duncombe has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Duncombe has a takedown stuffed.
Ritte scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ritte fails to land with a series of punches.
Ritte displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Duncombe.
Nice uppercut lands for Ritte. That snapped Duncombe's head back.
Saleem Ritte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ritte goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Duncombe wants to clinch.
Ritte tries to clinch there but Duncombe circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritte fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Duncombe avoids it really well and circles away.
frank Duncombe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duncombe tries to clinch up.
Ritte shoots for a takedown but Duncombe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A big right from Ritte misses.
Ritte throws a right and a left that both miss.
Duncombe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ritte sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Duncombe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ritte sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Duncombe somewhat.
Duncombe with a poor takedown

and Ritte counters with a takedown into side control.
Duncombe struggling a bit here.
Duncombe taking punishment in the form of punches.

Ritte stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right-left combo lands from Ritte.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritte slips a jab from Duncombe.
Ritte keeps the fight on the outside.
Ritte looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Duncombe 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.
Ritte keeping moving, preventing Duncombe from controlling successfully.
Ritte managing to control the position.

Ritte has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Duncombe off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Duncombe tries for a takedown but Ritte circles away easily
and Ritte counters with a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritte misses with a low kick.
Ritte is working the combinations to good effect here.
Ritte fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Duncombe shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Duncombe was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ritte is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ritte is in a horrible position here. Duncombe smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ritte can't escape the position.
Ritte wants to hold on but Duncombe pushes him away.
Ritte is desperately trying to improve his position but Duncombe has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Duncombe with the ground and pound from mount.
Ritte tries to lock up and control but Duncombe gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ritte throwing hammer fists to the chest of Duncombe. What's that going to do exactly?
Ritte tries to buck Duncombe off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saleem Ritte dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Duncombe moves into the clinch successfully.
Ritte jumps guard but Duncombe stands there with Ritte around his waist. Ritte gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ritte goes for a takedown in the clinch but Duncombe prevents it.
Ritte changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Duncombe fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Saleem Ritte. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duncombe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ritte tries to avoid it but Duncombe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ritte to the ground. Ritte escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ritte throws a series of punches but Duncombe moves out of range.
Duncombe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ritte keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ritte tries to bum rush Duncombe with a series of wild strikes but Duncombe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ritte looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Duncombe shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritte regains full guard. Nicely done.
Duncombe wanted to stand there but Ritte had control of the position.

Ritte is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Duncombe defends well.
frank Duncombe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ritte is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Duncombe distracts Ritte with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ritte wants to stand and escape but Duncombe is having none of it.
Ritte tries to strike from the bottom.
Duncombe chips away with some ground and pound.
Ritte not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ritte wants to get back to his feet but Duncombe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ritte wants to sweep but no luck.
Duncombe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Duncombe throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ritte.
Duncombe closes the distance and clinches up with Ritte, looking for a takedown. Duncombe pushes Ritte against the cage but Ritte circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Duncombe closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ritte circles away.
Ritte misses with a wild combination.
Ritte doesn't manage to clinch there - Duncombe circles away.
Ritte fails to land with a series of punches.
Duncombe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ritte avoids it really well and circles away.
Ritte tries for a takedown but Duncombe sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritte goes for a takedown in the clinch but Duncombe prevents it.

Duncombe gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Duncombe is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ritte is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ritte looking to hit a scissor sweep but Duncombe is one step ahead there.
Duncombe wanted to stand there but Ritte had control of the position.

Ritte looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Duncombe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ritte not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
frank Duncombe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duncombe stopping the sweep attempt from Ritte.
Duncombe thows a big elbow that misses.
Duncombe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ritte is looking to stand up but Duncombe isn't so interested in that idea.

Ritte working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Duncombe has passed into half guard!
Ritte missing with punches from the bottom.
Saleem Ritte is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ritte.

And that's the end of the fight!
frank Duncombe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ritte 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:29

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