PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cal Ripken Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hertz Tatz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hertz Tatz told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ripken Jr
vs
Tatz

193 cm
23
214 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
200 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cal Ripken Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hertz Tatz!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ripken Jr keeps the fight on the outside.
Ripken Jr throws a looping overhand right but Tatz ducks down to avoid it.

Ripken Jr lands a big head kick that sends Tatz tumbling to the mat! Ripken Jr takes a step backwards and waves Tatz back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Hertz Tatz has been cut.
Ripken Jr wants to clinch but Tatz slips to the side
and Tatz counters with a nice leg kick.
Ripken Jr throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tatz counters with an outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ripken Jr fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tatz, pushing him back against the cage.
Ripken Jr trying to stall but Tatz improves his position.
Ripken Jr landing knees to the body.
Ripken Jr on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tatz lands with a hook. Ripken Jr tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ripken Jr throws a lazy body kick

and Tatz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tatz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatz throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ripken Jr tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tatz avoids it.
Tatz misses with an elbow over the top.
Ripken Jr blocks an elbow strike from Tatz.
Tatz displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ripken Jr up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ripken Jr just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tatz's brow.
Ripken Jr lands an elbow inside that Tatz shrugs off.
Tatz looking to slow down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Ripken Jr's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ripken Jr leaning against his opponent.
Nice elbow from Tatz.

It looks like Cal Ripken Jr has been cut.
Ripken Jr leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tatz has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tatz just misses with a elbow thrown towards Ripken Jr's brow.

Ripken Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tatz scores with a jab to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ripken Jr tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tatz counters by moving into the clinch.
Nice elbow from Tatz.
Nice elbow from Tatz.

Cal Ripken Jr's cut is getting worse.
Ripken Jr avoids the elbow strike from Tatz, against the cage.
Tatz slowing the pace effectively.
Ripken Jr scores with a knee to the head.
Tatz creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Ripken Jr is trying to break the clinch but Tatz is controlling him.

Ripken Jr breaks from the clinch.
Ripken Jr tries to clinch up
and Tatz counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ripken Jr counters with a big head kick but Tatz shrugs it off.
Ripken Jr closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tatz counters with a straight right hand.
Ripken Jr fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tatz is out of range.
Ripken Jr takes one to the side of the head.
Tatz looks to clinch
and Ripken Jr counters with a body kick.
Nice shot by Ripken Jr.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ripken Jr attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ripken Jr wants to clinch but Tatz slips to the side

and Tatz counters by clinching up.
Tatz pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatz tries to clinch

and Ripken Jr counters by moving into the clinch.
Ripken Jr stalls.
Ripken Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tatz tries to clinch there but Ripken Jr circles away.
Ripken Jr digs a good body shot into Tatz's ribs.
Tatz darts in trying to clinch

and Ripken Jr counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tatz lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cal Ripken Jr dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ripken Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cal Ripken Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tatz has managed to clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Ripken Jr.
Tatz working hard to break the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tatz misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ripken Jr.
Ripken Jr is trying to break free.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tatz wants to clinch
and Ripken Jr counters with a nice leg kick.
Tatz closes the distance but Ripken Jr moves to the side

and Ripken Jr counters with a head kick that drops Tatz to the mat! Tatz scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
A lazy body kick from Ripken Jr
and Tatz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good shot there by Ripken Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ripken Jr takes the fight into the clinch.
Tatz lands an elbow that stopped Ripken Jr in his tracks for a moment.
Ripken Jr working hard to break the clinch.
Tatz misses with a knee strike.
Ripken Jr blocks the elbow strike.
Tatz has Ripken Jr pushed against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tatz throws an elbow but misses.
Tatz is trying to maintain a safe position but Ripken Jr gets an underhook and turns Tatz into the cage.
Tatz tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ripken Jr misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tatz.
Tatz lands an elbow just above Ripken Jr 's eye.

Cal Ripken Jr's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Tatz can't break the clinch.
Ripken Jr throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ripken Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ripken Jr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tatz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Tatz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ripken Jr avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ripken Jr is trying to force a seperation but Tatz has the dominant position.
Tatz wants to stall.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ripken Jr gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Tatz.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ripken Jr darts in and clinches Tatz up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tatz misses with an elbow strike.

Ripken Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ripken Jr swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Tatz tries to clinch but Ripken Jr moves away

and Ripken Jr counters by clinching up.
Ripken Jr wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tatz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ripken Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tatz swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripken Jr closes the distance but Tatz moves to the side

and Tatz holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Tatz.
Tatz keeps control of Ripken Jr as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ripken Jr scores a nice knee to the body.

Ripken Jr manages to break the clinch.

Ripken Jr rushes Tatz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tatz is trying to break the clinch but Ripken Jr has him pressed against the cage.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tatz tries to clinch but Ripken Jr moves out of range.
A lazy left from Ripken Jr finds it's target.
Ripken Jr tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tatz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ripken Jr counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ripken Jr throws a low kick, looking for Tatz's leg but Tatz calmly moves out of range.
Ripken Jr misses with a straight left.

Ripken Jr clinches.
Tatz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ripken Jr's efforts to push away.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ripken Jr being controlled against the cage.

Ripken Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ripken Jr wants to clinch but Tatz slips to the side
and Tatz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ripken Jr staying out of range there.
Tatz tries to clinch but Ripken Jr moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cal Ripken Jr dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tatz moves in looking to clinch but Ripken Jr pushes him off.
Ripken Jr tries to clinch up
and Ripken Jr takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ripken Jr lands a head shot.
Cal Ripken Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tatz moves into the clinch.
Tatz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tatz avoiding damage as Ripken Jr throws knees to the body.
Tatz missing with knees to the body.
Ripken Jr lands an elbow inside.

That has opened up Hertz Tatz's cut even more.
Ripken Jr wants to break free but Tatz has control.

Ripken Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tatz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tatz tries to clinch
and Ripken Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cal Ripken Jr is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatz ducks right into an uppercut from Ripken Jr.
Tatz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ripken Jr.
Ripken Jr tries to bum rush Tatz with a series of wild strikes but Tatz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tatz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ripken Jr.
Ripken Jr tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tatz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ripken Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tatz tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ripken Jr counters with a head kick. That will keep Tatz thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ripken Jr pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tatz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tatz connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ripken Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tatz counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tatz.
Tatz tries to break free but Ripken Jr pushes him back against the cage.
Ripken Jr tries to circle away but Tatz has him pinned against the cage.
Tatz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tatz taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ripken Jr managing to block the knees to the body from Tatz.

Ripken Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ripken Jr clinches but Tatz breaks the clinch
and Tatz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tatz digs a good body shot into Ripken Jr's ribs.
Some wild striking there from Tatz.
Ripken Jr has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ripken Jr there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ripken Jr tries to clinch up.
Tatz tries to clinch but Ripken Jr is having none of it.
Ripken Jr misses with a body shot
and Tatz counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tatz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ripken Jr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tatz tries to clinch up but Ripken Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Tatz tries to clinch but Ripken Jr moves away

and Ripken Jr holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tatz throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tatz has Ripken Jr pressed against the cage, preventing Ripken Jr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tatz has Ripken Jr pressed against the cage, preventing Ripken Jr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ripken Jr throws an elbow but it misses.
Ripken Jr dodges an elbow strike from Tatz.
Hertz Tatz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tatz lands an elbow that stopped Ripken Jr in his tracks for a moment.
Tatz with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Tatz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tatz checks a low kick from Ripken Jr.

Ripken Jr pushes Tatz up against the cage in a clinch.
Ripken Jr pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Tatz.
Tatz misses with an elbow over the top.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tatz lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Tatz trying to control the position but instead, Ripken Jr has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tatz into the cage.
Tatz keeps control of Ripken Jr as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cal Ripken Jr.
Well Ripken Jr has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cal Ripken Jr!