PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Adams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Adams
vs
Rice

183 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
23
177 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 Las Vegas, John Adams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Rice!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rice forces Adams back against the cage and clinches.
Rice lands an uppercut.
Adams takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like John Adams has been cut.

Rice breaks from the clinch.
Adams thows a leg kick but Rice checks it

and Rice moves into the clinch.
Adams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rice has him pressed against the cage.
Rice connects with a nasty looking knee right to Adams's face.

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

Adams gets tackled into the cage by Rice. Rice maintains the clinch.
Rice crunches a lovely knee into Adams's ribcage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rice landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Adams is breathing heavily.
Adams looking to stall.
Rice with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rice lands a knee to the head.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rice pushes Adams up against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Rice.
Rice lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Rice manages to break the clinch.

Rice has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rice is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Rice.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rice.
Rice lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rice lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice is struggling to control the position.
Rice lands an elbow inside.
Rice leaning his opponent against the cage.

Rice breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Adams throws a combination that misses

and Rice counters by clinching up.
A nice left hand lands by Rice.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rice as Adams tries to tie him up.
Rice pushes Adams back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rice fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Adams, pushing him back against the cage.
Adams is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rice is defending well for now.
Rice lands a body shot.
Rice comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rice softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Adams's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rice gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Rice.
Rice lands with a right to the head.

Adams is rocked!

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Oh Adams is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rice moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Rice as the two fighters clinch.
Adams seems to have got his legs back now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rice.
Rice lands a nice shot to the body.
A knee to the head by Rice.
Rice scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rice lands a right hand.
Rice lands an elbow that stopped Adams in his tracks for a moment.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rice throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rice lands a nice uppercut.

Rice breaks the clinch.

Rice closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rice landing knees to the head.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rice fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Adams, pushing him back against the cage.
Rice putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Adams in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rice lands an elbow inside that Adams shrugs off.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rice closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rice creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Adams's defenses.
Rice working Adams over with knees to the body.
Rice manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Rice breaks from the clinch.
Adams misses with a combination

and Rice counters by moving into the clinch.
Adams letting Rice take a breather here.
Rice presses Adams against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rice lands an elbow inside that Adams shrugs off.
Rice has Adams pressed against the cage, preventing Adams from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rice scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rice lands a nice knee to the body.
Rice lands a body punch in the clinch.

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

Rice has Adams up against the cage in a clinch.

Rice breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for Adams.

Rice gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rice lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rice lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rice gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rice lands an elbow inside.
Rice is working Adams over against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rice obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A knee to the head by Rice.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rice.
Rice with a knee to the head.
Rice lands a left hand.
Rice lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rice gets through Adams's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice body punch from Rice - that landed with a thud.

Rice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Adams throws a combination that misses

and Rice holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nice body punch from Rice - that landed with a thud.
Rice lands with a left to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rice dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Adams's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rice moves into the clinch successfully.
Rice lands a body punch.

Rice manages to break the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rice in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Adams throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rice moves into the clinch.
Adams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rice has him pressed against the cage.

Rice breaks from the clinch.
Nice cross by Adams.

Adams gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Adams stalling in the clinch but Rice improves position.
Adams is trying to break the clinch but Rice has him pressed against the cage.
Rice lands a damaging elbow.
Adams is looking to break free of the clinch but Rice has double underhooks.
Rice connects with a knee to the head.

Rice breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No joy there for Adams, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rice moves into the clinch successfully.
Rice cracks Adams with a nice body shot.
Adams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rice has him pressed against the cage.
Rice has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A nice left hand lands by Rice.
Rice works on Adams's body with a couple of short punches.
John Rice seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rice is struggling to control the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Rice crunches a lovely knee into Adams's ribcage.
Rice lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rice.
Adams takes a knee to the side of the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rice.

Rice breaks from the clinch.

Rice forces Adams back against the cage and clinches.
A hook to the body from Rice.
Rice leaning against his opponent.
A short left from Rice.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rice clinches up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Rice.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rice has managed to clinch.
Rice using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rice lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Adams moves into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Rice.
Rice digs a right hand underneath Adams's ribcage. Adams let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rice lands with a short shot to the head.
Rice landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Adams wants to get back to striking at distance but Rice won't allow it.
Rice comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rice scores with a knee to the head.

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rice moves into the clinch.

Rice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rice gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rice lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rice prevents Adams from breaking the clinch.
Adams is working for takedown but Rice is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rice scores with a shot to the side of Adams's head.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rice clinches with his opponent.

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rice clinches.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Adams throws out a powerful jab.

Rice clinches.

Rice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Adams pushes Rice up against the cage in a clinch.
Adams is trying to break the clinch but Rice has him pressed against the cage.
Adams tries to break the clinch but Rice is controlling the position.
Adams looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rice scores a nice knee to the body.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Adams gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rice lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adams creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Rice manages to break the clinch.
Adams misses with a wild combination.
Adams swings widly with a right hand

and Rice counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rice creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rice digs a right hand into Adams's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Adams's gas tank.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rice has Adams up against the cage in a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rice.
Adams is trying to break the clinch but Rice has him pressed against the cage.
Rice lands a shot to the body.
Rice lands an elbow inside that Adams shrugs off.
Rice lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Rice manages to break the clinch.

Rice clinches up with Adams and pushes him back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Rice clinches with his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rice breaks the clinch.

Adams tries to keep at a distance but Rice has taken the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rice showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Adams's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rice takes the fight into the clinch.

Rice breaks the clinch.
Rice doesn't manage to clinch there - Adams circles away.
Adams tries to work over Rice's front leg with a kick but Rice checks it.
Adams throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rice.

Rice pushes Adams up against the cage in a clinch.

Rice breaks from the clinch.
Adams throws a combination that misses

and Rice holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Adams tries to stall but Rice uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Adams wants to get back to striking at distance but Rice won't allow it.
Adams tries to stall but Rice uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rice stalling against the cage.
Rice keeps control of Adams as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rice fails in his attempt to clinch.
John Adams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adams lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rice circles away quickly and effectively.
Adams falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rice counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rice manages to break the clinch.

Rice clinches with his opponent.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rice moves into the clinch successfully.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adams misses with a double jab

and Rice counters by moving into the clinch.
Rice connects with a knee to the head.
Rice creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Adams's defenses.

Rice's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rice moves into the clinch.
John Adams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Rice is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rice breaks the clinch.
Adams falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rice moves into the clinch.

Rice breaks from the clinch.
Adams misses with a two punch combination.
Adams throws a right and a left that both miss.

Adams rushes Rice and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rice with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rice.
Rice lands a knee to the head.
Rice pushes Adams back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rice makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Adams can't break the clinch.

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

Rice gets tackled into the cage by Adams. Adams maintains the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rice connects with a knee to the head.
Rice landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice lands a nice uppercut.
Rice stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Adams takes an elbow to the forehead.

Rice breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rice has managed to clinch.
Rice makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rice avoiding damage.

Rice breaks the clinch.

Rice gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice elbow from Rice.
Rice stalling in the clinch.
Rice creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Adams's defenses.
Rice connects with a nasty looking knee right to Adams's face.
Rice keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Adams's efforts to push away.
Rice lands a hook that snaps the head of Adams backwards.
Adams is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adams taking a breather.

Rice pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Adams takes the fight into the clinch.
Rice gets through Adams's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Rice escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adams throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rice moves into the clinch.
Rice lands with a right to the head.
Adams working hard to break the clinch.
Rice avoiding damage as Adams throws knees to the body.
Rice lands an elbow inside.
Rice lands an elbow just above Adams 's eye.
Adams has had enough of the clinch but Rice keeps him there for the moment.
Knees to the body from Rice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rice prevents Adams from breaking the clinch.
A knee to the head by Rice.
Rice landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rice - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Adams missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Rice comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rice has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Rice!