PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rick Rypien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdual Jemall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rick Rypien has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rypien
vs
Jemall

175 cm
21
160 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rick Rypien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Abdual Jemall!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jemall defending well as Rypien loads up on a big left hand.
Rypien defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jemall.
Jemall uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rypien.
Rypien avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jemall fails with a takedown attempt.
Rypien works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rypien misses with a hook. Jemall ducked under it nicely.

Jemall closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jemall lands in his opponent's guard.

Rypien has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jemall can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rypien working a defensive guard here.
Jemall wants to control from the top but Rypien keeps moving.
Rypien working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jemall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jemall throwing strikes but missing.

Jemall drops back looking for a leg! Rypien is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rypien manages to kick Jemall off! Jemall jumps back into Rypien's guard.

Jemall avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jemall tries to free his leg and advance position but Rypien is retaining full guard.
Jemall has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rypien controls Jemall momentarily but Jemall frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rypien throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Jemall closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jemall looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Rypien is avoiding damage well.
Rypien holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rypien manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jemall makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jemall.
Jemall looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rypien is one step ahead there.
Rypien wants to control from the top but Jemall keeps moving.
Rypien wants to stand but Jemall is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rypien has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rypien trying to control the position from guard on top but Jemall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jemall wants to stand but Rypien is controlling the position.

Jemall escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rypien gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rypien trying to control the position from guard on top but Jemall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rypien is working Jemall over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Jemall had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rypien defends it easily.

That's four 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.
Rypien tries to free his leg and advance position but Jemall is retaining full guard.
Rypien is working hard here to advance position.

Jemall escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rypien gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Jemall is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Rypien trying to control but Jemall is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Abdual Jemall will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jemall tries for a takedown but Rypien sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jemall throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rypien's waist but Rypien gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jemall off to one side.
Jemall fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rypien avoids it really well and circles away.
Rick Rypien has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdual Jemall.
A big right from Rypien misses.
Rick Rypien seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Jemall misses.
Jemall misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jemall closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rypien circles away.
Jemall dodges the punch combination from Rypien.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rypien defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jemall.
Jemall shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rypien as he jumps to the side.
Abdual Jemall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jemall will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Jemall.
Jemall is breathing heavily.

Rypien takes the fight into the clinch.
Rypien gets underhooks to prevent Jemall's takedown attempt.

Rypien lands a takedown into guard.
Rypien trying to control but Jemall is working from the bottom.
Rypien advances to half guard.
Jemall is not content to let Rypien control the position.
Rypien stalling away here and it's allowed Jemall to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rypien trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rypien looking to sit in guard and control but Jemall gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jemall keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rypien's head.

Jemall has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Rypien to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Jemall is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Rypien pulls down on the head and he's put Jemall to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rick Rypien!