PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ritchie Ravenhill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Wright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Wright will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Ravenhill
vs
Wright

172 cm
26
145 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Absolute Clothing (GTT)

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ritchie Ravenhill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Wright!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ravenhill closes the distance and clinches.
Ravenhill looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Wright fails to pull guard.
Wright misses with the head strike.
Ravenhill tries to break the clinch but Wright is controlling the position.
Ravenhill tries to break free but Wright pushes him back against the cage.
Wright keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ravenhill's efforts to push away.
Ravenhill can't break the clinch.
Ravenhill tries to break the clinch but Wright is controlling the position.

Ravenhill has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Wright clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Wright grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Ravenhill is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Wright trying to control the hands but Ravenhill won't let him.
You can see the frustration on Wright's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Wright breaks Ravenhill's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Wright slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ravenhill holds on and takes a little breather.
Ravenhill is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

James Wright has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ravenhill avoids the body shot from Wright.
Wright misses with a takedown

so Ravenhill counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenhill stopping the sweep attempt from Wright.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ravenhill's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ravenhill working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ravenhill won't allow Wright to sweep him here.
Wright is looking to sweep but instead, Ravenhill has passed into half guard.
Ravenhill scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Wright is staying active underneath Ravenhill, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wright keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wright is looking to improve his position.
Ravenhill is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ravenhill wants to get back to his feet.
Wright is looking for a sweep. Ravenhill is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ravenhill.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ravenhill connects with a nice short shot to Wright's temple.
Wright is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wright trying to control here.
Ravenhill throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ravenhill wants to take a breather but Wright is having none of it.
Ravenhill throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ravenhill tries to pass to full mount but Wright defends it.
Ravenhill is breathing heavily.
Wright wants to control but Ravenhill is keeping busy.
Ravenhill working Wright over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wright manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ravenhill loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wright is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ravenhill trying to control but Wright is working from the bottom.
Wright looking for a sweep. Not yet Wright, not yet.
Ravenhill postures up.

Wright has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ravenhill can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Wright is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ravenhill is aware though and is defending well.

Wright had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ravenhill defends it easily.

Wright looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ritchie Ravenhill dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ravenhill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Wright quickly recovers to half guard.
Wright punching from the bottom.
Ravenhill sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Ravenhill lands strikes from half guard.
Wright trying to hold on to Ravenhill's head to control him but Ravenhill postures up.
Wright is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Wright throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ravenhill. What's that going to do exactly?
Wright is breathing heavily.
Ravenhill unloading with bombs!
Ravenhill pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Wright tries to hold on but Ravenhill postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ravenhill postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Wright looks a forlorn figure.
A nice elbow there by Ravenhill.
Ravenhill lands a big shot there that rocks Wright but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wright wants to control but Ravenhill is having none of it.
Wright flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Wright is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ravenhill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wright is looking to escape.
Ravenhill avoids the attempt from Wright to control.

That's two 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.
Wright slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ravenhill tries to stand and escape but Wright actually recovers to full guard.
Ravenhill throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ravenhill accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ravenhill looking to pass the guard.
Ravenhill in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wright bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ravenhill's guard.
Wright not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ravenhill might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Let's hope that Wright has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright won't allow Ravenhill to get back to his feet.
Wright trying to control the position from guard on top but Ravenhill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. James Wright hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ravenhill tries to clinch up but Wright circles away and keeps his distance.

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.

Wright feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Wright stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Wright is looking to clinch.
Wright with a poor takedown

and Ravenhill counters with a takedown into side control.
Wright is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ravenhill's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ravenhill is keen to just control but Wright is a slippery customer.

Ravenhill is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wright has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ravenhill is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ritchie Ravenhill will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Wright with a poor takedown

and Ravenhill counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ravenhill scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ravenhill sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wright defending well though.
Wright trying to control from the bottom.

Ravenhill is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ravenhill working Wright over with strikes.
Wright tries to kick Ravenhill off but Ravenhill keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wright tries to roll over but Ravenhill keeps him under control.
Ravenhill lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wright wants to control but Ravenhill is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wright misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Wright wants to control the action here but instead Ravenhill manages to pass to full mount!
Wright flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Ravenhill putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wright is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wright is wriggling around trying to escape.
Wright taking shots to the head.
Wright is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Ravenhill jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Wright manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Wright sneaks back into half guard.
Ravenhill trying to control the action but Wright is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wright misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Wright is trying to maintain the position but Ravenhill is very close to passing his half guard.

Ravenhill seems to be looking for submissions.

Ravenhill is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wright blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ravenhill.
Wright blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ravenhill.

Ravenhill is looking for a kimura but Wright is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ravenhill to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wright is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ravenhill's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ravenhill's back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Will Wright go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

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.
Ravenhill is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Wright is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Wright looking for the choke but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ritchie Ravenhill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ravenhill 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Ritchie Ravenhill!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Ritchie Ravenhill!
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Ritchie Ravenhill!

Ritchie Ravenhill wins by unanimous decision!