PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Black Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lance Raters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lance Raters is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ninja
vs
Raters

193 cm
20
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 New York, Black Ninja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Lance Raters!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raters lands a jab to the nose.
Raters doesn't manage to clinch there - Ninja circles away.
Ninja pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raters lands with a slapping head kick.
Ninja swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Raters scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Ninja throws a sloppy head kick
and Raters counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Raters cracks the inside of Ninja's front leg.
Ninja is breathing heavily.
Raters throws a nice inside leg kick.
Raters plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Black Ninja has been cut.
Raters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ninja swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raters lands a big head kick that sends Ninja tumbling to the mat! Raters takes a step backwards and waves Ninja back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Ninja is rocked!
Raters fails in his attempt to clinch.
Raters is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raters tries to clinch there but Ninja circles away.

Raters closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ninja taking punishment in the form of punches.
Raters works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Raters cracks Ninja with a big right hand but Ninja just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Raters working the head with strikes.
Raters cracks Ninja with a big right hand but Ninja just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raters scores with punches from side control.
Raters lands some shots froms side control.
Raters working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ninja on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Raters scores with punches from side control.
Raters scoring with punches from side control.
Ninja pushes Raters away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Raters gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ninja trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Raters lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ninja is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raters landing strikes.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet but Raters drags him back down.
Raters is putting a hurting on Ninja here, landing some big shots from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raters lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ninja down.
Ninja is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Raters has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raters cracks Ninja with a big right hand but Ninja just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ninja is working to avoid the ground and pound but Raters connects with a decent elbow.
Ninja taking a bit of punishment here - Raters scoring with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ninja tries to escape but Raters is in control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ninja takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ninja throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Raters closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ninja did well to prevent Raters getting side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ninja has one foot on Raters's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Raters fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ninja avoids it really well and circles away.
Raters shoots for a double leg takedown but Ninja sprawls well. He's pushed Raters's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ninja tries to bum rush Raters with a series of wild strikes but Raters uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Raters tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Raters dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Black Ninja's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ninja tries to land a front kick but Raters steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Raters thumps Ninja with a low kick.
Raters tries to clinch there but Ninja circles away.
Raters tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ninja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A good leg kick by Raters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raters doesn't manage to clinch there - Ninja circles away.
A lazy body kick from Ninja

and Raters decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ninja's guard.
Ninja is looking to stand up but Raters isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raters working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ninja is looking to stand up but Raters isn't so interested in that idea.
Raters is in close to Ninja's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ninja wants to get back to his feet but Raters is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Raters is working Ninja over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ninja throws a left and a right that both miss
and Raters counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Raters scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Raters looks up at the clock and then as Ninja takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Raters smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ninja is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Raters is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raters looks up at the clock and then as Ninja takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Raters smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Ninja tries to escape but Raters is in control.
Raters creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Raters prevents Ninja from escaping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ninja lands with a kick to the temple. Raters shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Raters scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ninja in his tracks.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Raters.
Ninja is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Raters has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raters working the ground and pound from side control.
Ninja pushes Raters away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Raters gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Raters lands a few punches from side control.
Raters prevents Ninja from escaping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ninja fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Raters.
Good leg kick by Raters there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Raters has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Raters rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ninja moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Raters's corner calls for a 1-2. Raters obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ninja thows a leg kick but Raters checks it

and Raters counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ninja!
Ninja is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Raters.
Raters fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Raters unloading with bombs!
Raters connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Raters raining down shots from the mount!
Raters working away from the top, dropping strikes.
You get the feeling that Ninja really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Lance Raters has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raters looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ninja tries to buck Raters off but he can't manage it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lance Raters showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Black Ninja's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ninja showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Raters.
No luck for Raters with that takedown attempt.
Raters throws a push kick but Ninja slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ninja connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Raters throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ninja.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raters is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ninja.
Raters avoids the head kick by Ninja.
Raters looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Raters avoids the head kick by Ninja.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Raters.
Black Ninja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninja is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Raters is controlling him well.
Raters lands some shots froms side control.
Ninja is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Raters cracks Ninja with a big elbow.
Ninja is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Raters has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ninja tries a head kick but it misses.
Raters shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ninja defends it nicely.
Black Ninja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lance Raters.
Ninja swats away the attempt to clinch by Raters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raters tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ninja was well out of range. Poor timing from Raters.
Raters throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Raters tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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.
Ninja throws a right hand that Raters ducks under and follows up with a left that Raters also avoids with ease.
Raters closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ninja circles away.
Ninja lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Raters shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Raters showed some decent athleticism there.
Raters stops Ninja from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lance Raters is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ninja throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lance Raters comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Raters 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 26:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lance Raters!