PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jay Ricji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Izrael Cero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Izrael Cero is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ricji
vs
Cero

175 cm
22
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
168 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jay Ricji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Izrael Cero!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Ricji.
Ricji changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ricji throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Cero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ricji fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ricji swats away the attempt to clinch by Cero.
Ricji looks to land a combination but Cero avoids it well.
Cero closes the distance and clinches up with Ricji, looking for a takedown. Cero pushes Ricji against the cage but Ricji circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ricji lands with a straight right. Cero didn't see that one coming.
Cero blocks a head kick by Ricji.
Ricji misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ricji connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cero looks for a takedown but Ricji sprawls well.
Cero shoots in looking for a takedown. Ricji tries to sprawl out of it but Cero keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ricji manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jay Ricji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Izrael Cero.
Cero shoots in for a takedown but Ricji shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick from Ricji lands but Cero takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Ricji does no damage.
Ricji throws a right and a left that Cero avoids nicely.
Ricji goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Cero moves forwards but Ricji connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab lands there for Ricji.
Cero shoots for a takedown but Ricji saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ricji throws a sloppy head kick and Cero moves out of range easily.
Cero avoids the head kick by Ricji.
Jay Ricji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cero shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ricji as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cero.
Cero looks gassed!
Ricji connects with a looping right hand.
Nice uppercut there from Ricji.
Ricji connects with a high kick.

Ricji moves into the clinch successfully.

Ricji's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick from Ricji lands but Cero takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ricji.
Jay Ricji is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ricji lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ricji scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cero tries for a takedown but Ricji sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cero is trying desperately to land a takedown but Ricji is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Cero.
Cero takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ricji lands with a thumping leg kick.
A head kick from Ricji lands but Cero takes it in his stride.
Cero takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Cero is rocked!

Ricji drops Cero with a nice combination! Ricji dives into Cero's guard, looking to finish!
Cero is still in real trouble! Can Ricji finish him?
Ricji would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Cero looking for a guillotine here but Ricji defends easily.
Cero seems to have recovered his senses.
Cero has a closed guard, preventing Ricji from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cero working for submissions but it's allowed Ricji to get to half guard.
Cero is looking for a sweep. Ricji is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ricji seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Cero trying to hold on to Ricji's head to control him but Ricji postures up.
Ricji wants to stand but Cero has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ricji lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cero backs up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ricji goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A combination from Ricji does no damage.
No joy there for Ricji, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Ricji dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ricji scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ricji lands with a slapping head kick.
Cero is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ricji.
Cero fails with the takedown.
Cero fails with a takedown attempt.
Cero tries to clinch but Ricji moves away
and Ricji counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ricji scores with a three punch combo!
Ricji lands a two punch combo.
Cero fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jay Ricji has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Izrael Cero.
A right-left combo lands from Ricji.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Ricji! Cero is out on his feet! Ricji rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Cero is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Cero is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jay Ricji!