PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karl Maguire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Ricketts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ray Ricketts is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Maguire
vs
Ricketts

200 cm
23
280 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Karl Maguire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ray Ricketts !
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricketts will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maguire takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ricketts slaps away a takedown attempt from Maguire, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ricketts throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ray Ricketts is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maguire is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ricketts .
Maguire takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ricketts swinging wildly here.
Maguire shoots for a takedown but Ricketts saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maguire tries to move into range but Ricketts moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Maguire shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ricketts pinned against the cage. Ricketts gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Maguire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ricketts misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maguire takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maguire avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maguire has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maguire throws a combination that misses
and Ricketts counters with a left and a right that stings Maguire.
Maguire misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ricketts counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ricketts swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Ricketts dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ricketts throws a combination that misses

and Maguire counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Maguire drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ricketts looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ricketts looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ricketts !
Ricketts wants to stand but Maguire is controlling his arm.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Maguire tries to bench press Ricketts off him but Ricketts keeps the position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ricketts has eaten all the pies!
Maguire sneaks back into half guard.
Maguire wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maguire actively working from the bottom here.

Maguire looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Maguire is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ricketts pulls his head out easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ricketts throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Maguire counters with a takedown into side control.

Maguire is trying to get an arm triangle but Ricketts is defending well.
Ricketts is pushing Maguire's head away, looking to escape. Maguire manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maguire will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Maguire tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maguire has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ricketts pushes Maguire away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Maguire gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Maguire thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maguire swings around for an armbar but Ricketts sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maguire's guard.

Ricketts avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maguire with a poor takedown
and Ricketts counters with a one-two to the body.
Maguire is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ricketts .

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.
A combination from Ricketts does no damage.
Maguire shoots and misses
and Ricketts counters with a nice body kick.
A combination from Ricketts does no damage.
Ricketts throws a series of punches but Maguire avoids them all with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Maguire dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ricketts tries to bum rush Maguire with a series of wild strikes but Maguire uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ricketts misses with a double jab.
Ricketts misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricketts throws a series of punches but Maguire avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maguire shoots and misses
and Ricketts counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Maguire tries for a takedown but Ricketts circles away easily
and Ricketts counters with a good, hard body kick but Maguire shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A jab from Ricketts finds it's way through Maguire's defenses.
Maguire with a poor takedown
and Ricketts counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karl Maguire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ricketts throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maguire.
Maguire gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ricketts counters with a low kick, right behind Maguire 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maguire dodges the punch combination from Ricketts .
Ricketts closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ricketts 's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Ricketts duly obliges.
Ricketts throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maguire with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ricketts counters with a one-two to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maguire dodges the punch combination from Ricketts .

And that's the end of the fight!
Ray Ricketts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ricketts 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ray Ricketts !