PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stan Fredrick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Rittier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blake Rittier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fredrick
vs
Rittier

180 cm
26
179 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

191 cm
24
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stan Fredrick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Rittier!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rittier shoots in but Fredrick avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fredrick looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Fredrick misses with a jab, cross combination.

Rittier shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Fredrick is trying to defend but Rittier finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fredrick looking for submissions off his back.

Rittier seems to be looking for submissions.

Rittier is working for a kimura but Fredrick is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rittier seems to be looking for submissions.
Rittier trying to control the action but Fredrick is working from the bottom.

Rittier is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fredrick trying to control but Rittier postures up.
Rittier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

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.

Rittier is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rittier thows a huge punch but Fredrick dodges it nicely.
Rittier trying to control the action but Fredrick is working from the bottom.

Fredrick actively working from the bottom here.
Fredrick is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rittier tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rittier moves into the clinch successfully.
Rittier is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fredrick wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rittier jumps into guard, dragging Fredrick to the mat.

Rittier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fredrick trying to control the position from guard on top but Rittier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rittier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rittier keeping moving, preventing Fredrick from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rittier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rittier trying to keep a closed guard but Fredrick is proving a slippery customer.

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

Rittier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rittier working a defensive guard here.

Rittier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Fredrick thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Rittier dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rittier is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fredrick sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stan Fredrick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rittier tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fredrick sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rittier somewhat.
Rittier closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fredrick circles away.
Stan Fredrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Rittier.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fredrick digs a good hook to Rittier's body.
Fredrick throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rittier shoots in but Fredrick avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fredrick swinging wildly here.
Fredrick connects with a nice looking jab.
Fredrick displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rittier.
Fredrick misses with a body shot.

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.

Rittier changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fredrick looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fredrick is trying to improve his position.
Fredrick is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fredrick missing with punches from the bottom.
Fredrick tries to get to full guard but Rittier has control of the leg.

Fredrick looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fredrick has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rittier is working away from the top position though.
Rittier is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Rittier wants to work for an arm triangle but Fredrick is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rittier seems to be looking for submissions.
Rittier takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Rittier is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fredrick is pressing down on Rittier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Rittier thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Fredrick controls Rittier momentarily but Rittier frees himself.
Fredrick looking for a sweep. Not yet Fredrick, not yet.
Rittier must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rittier postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Fredrick is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rittier passes into half guard.

Rittier seems to be looking for submissions.
Rittier lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fredrick manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fredrick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rittier drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rittier jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rittier throws and elbow that misses. Fredrick uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rittier's guard. Nice move by Fredrick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Blake Rittier will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rittier uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fredrick.
Rittier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rittier fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Fredrick avoids it really well and circles away.

Rittier changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fredrick looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rittier prevents Fredrick from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rittier looks up at the clock and then as Fredrick takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rittier smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fredrick wants to control but Rittier postures up.
Rittier in side control lands a decent elbow.
Fredrick wants to control but Rittier postures up.

Rittier tries for a kimura but Fredrick is defending well.

Rittier thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Fredrick is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rittier's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rittier tries to stand and escape but Fredrick is controlling the position.
Rittier sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fredrick defending well though.

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.
Rittier landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fredrick trying to control but Rittier postures up.
Rittier is nestled in close to Fredrick, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Fredrick wants to control but Rittier is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fredrick throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rittier slips a jab and a cross from Fredrick.

Rittier darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Fredrick might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rittier seems to be looking for submissions.
Fredrick is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fredrick is defending against the submission attempts here by Rittier.
Fredrick gets full guard.
Fredrick managing to control the position.
Rittier wants to pass the guard but Fredrick is keeping the position.
Stan Fredrick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rittier's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rittier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fredrick looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fredrick looking to control.
Rittier preventing the sweep.
Blake Rittier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rittier cracks Fredrick with a solid left hand.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rittier shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fredrick sprawls well. Fredrick wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rittier gets slowly back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rittier is defended easily by Fredrick.
Stan Fredrick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Rittier.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fredrick stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fredrick wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Rittier comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rittier winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Rittier!