PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickhard Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rickhard Smith has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Ribeiro

185 cm
23
223 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

190 cm
21
212 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Convicted Trap House
Convicted Trap House

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rickhard Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mario Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith wants to clinch up but Ribeiro keeps it at a distance.
Smith tries to clinch there but Ribeiro circles away.
Smith tries to clinch there but Ribeiro circles away.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Ribeiro shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Smith defends it nicely.
Rickhard Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith tries to bum rush Ribeiro with a series of wild strikes but Ribeiro uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith throws a leg kick but Ribeiro moved away.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Ribeiro bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Ribeiro shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Smith is not content to let Ribeiro control the position.
Ribeiro is looking to advance position but Smith won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to improve his position but Ribeiro is controlling well.
Ribeiro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ribeiro is thwarting Smith's attempts to control the position.
Ribeiro wants to pass the guard but Smith is defending well.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.
Smith is looking to stand up but Ribeiro isn't so interested in that idea.
Smith tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro from controlling successfully.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith throws a front kick aimed at Ribeiro's knee but Ribeiro avoids it well.
Rickhard Smith is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ribeiro keeps the fight on the outside.

Ribeiro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Ribeiro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ribeiro is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ribeiro tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro from controlling successfully.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ribeiro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smith has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ribeiro trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

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.
Ribeiro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith tries to bench press Ribeiro off him but Ribeiro keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Ribeiro dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ribeiro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smith!
Smith is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Ribeiro has taken his back.
Smith manages to reverse the position and now he's in Ribeiro's guard. Nice work there by Smith.

Ribeiro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ribeiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Ribeiro, not yet.
Ribeiro pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ribeiro wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribeiro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ribeiro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribeiro has momentary wrist control but Smith slips an elbow through the middle.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ribeiro keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Ribeiro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smith defends well.

Ribeiro throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Ribeiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ribeiro pulls Smith in to control the position.
Smith postures up.
Ribeiro can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.

Ribeiro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ribeiro looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Smith drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ribeiro dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Ribeiro drops back looking for a leg! Smith is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smith manages to kick Ribeiro off! Ribeiro jumps back into Smith's guard.
Ribeiro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribeiro pushing down on Smith's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Ribeiro has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ribeiro is keen to just control but Smith is a slippery customer.
Ribeiro moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Ribeiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ribeiro avoids the head kick by Smith.
Ribeiro throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Smith lands a with a good body shot.
Smith throws a low kick but Ribeiro avoids it.
Ribeiro dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Ribeiro's head and hops out.
Ribeiro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ribeiro takes one to the chin there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ribeiro blocks a head kick by Smith.
A combination from Smith does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith swinging wilding here.
Ribeiro wants to clinch.
Ribeiro avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ribeiro decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ribeiro trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smith defends it well.
Smith wants to control but Ribeiro is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smith tries to roll over but Ribeiro keeps him under control.
Smith is staying active underneath Ribeiro, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smith keeping hold of Ribeiro's head, controlling as best he can.
Ribeiro passes into side control, despite Smith's attempt to control the position.

Ribeiro working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro looking to control but instead Smith has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Ribeiro wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.

Ribeiro in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Smith tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Ribeiro!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mario Ribeiro!