PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joao Freitas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Ridgeon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freitas comes into the arena with Attack - 30 Seconds to Mars blaring out of the sound system. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Freitas
vs
Ridgeon

150 cm
19
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

TGC WEAR
KINGDOM

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joao Freitas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Ridgeon!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ridgeon gets caught flat footed, as Freitas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Freitas wants to pass the guard but Ridgeon is keeping the position.
Ridgeon wants to hit a switch here but Freitas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ridgeon there!

Freitas is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ridgeon to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ridgeon shrugs it off.
Freitas tries to push Ridgeon's head away but Ridgeon is holding on tight.
Ridgeon tries to hold on but Freitas postures up.

Freitas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
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.
Ridgeon is working to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Freitas there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Freitas throwing strikes but Ridgeon uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Freitas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ridgeon defends it well.
Freitas throwing shots but Ridgeon is blocking nicely.
Freitas wants to control but Ridgeon is keeping him busy.

Freitas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Freitas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ridgeon is just riding it out for now. Freitas eventually gives up the hold.

Freitas is working for a submission of some sort.
Ridgeon trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freitas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Freitas works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ridgeon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Freitas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Freitas seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Ridgeon is holding on tight.

Freitas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ridgeon is on top in guard.
Ridgeon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ridgeon working Freitas over with strikes.

Ridgeon is trying to work for a kimura but Freitas is defending well.
Freitas trying to control but Ridgeon postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ridgeon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ridgeon prevents Freitas from improving his position.
Freitas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ridgeon slips a nice elbow through Freitas's hands, connecting with Freitas's forehead.
Ridgeon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ridgeon is thwarting Freitas's attempts to control the position.
Ridgeon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Freitas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ridgeon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ridgeon blocks the strikes from Freitas.
Ridgeon is trying to control the action in half guard but Freitas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ridgeon is working for a submission of some sort.

Freitas looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Freitas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Freitas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ridgeon's waist but Ridgeon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Freitas off to one side.
Nice takedown defense from Ridgeon. No joy for Freitas on that attempt.
Freitas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Freitas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joao Freitas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freitas doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ridgeon counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Freitas is staying active underneath Ridgeon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ridgeon seems to be looking for submissions.
Ridgeon slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Freitas's head.
Freitas wants to improve his position but Ridgeon is controlling well.
Freitas trying to hold on to Ridgeon's head to control him but Ridgeon postures up.
Ridgeon looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ridgeon throwing shots but Freitas is blocking nicely.
Ridgeon trying to control from Freitas's half guard. Freitas has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Freitas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ridgeon is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Freitas is keeping the position for now.
Freitas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ridgeon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Freitas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ridgeon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ridgeon keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Freitas's head.
Freitas throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Freitas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ridgeon gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ridgeon trying to control the position from guard on top but Freitas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ridgeon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Freitas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ridgeon has managed to get both his arms back between Freitas's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ridgeon trying to control but Freitas is working from the bottom.

Freitas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ridgeon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ridgeon seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Freitas can't keep his opponent in guard - Ridgeon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Freitas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Freitas is pressing down on Ridgeon's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ridgeon is looking to advance position but Freitas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Freitas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ridgeon is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freitas wants to take Ridgeon's back here but Ridgeon is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Freitas looking for a guillotine from mount but Ridgeon is having none of it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ridgeon is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Freitas goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ridgeon turns into him and now he's in Freitas's guard.
Ridgeon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dave Ridgeon will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Freitas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Freitas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ridgeon's guard.
Freitas passes Ridgeon's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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

Freitas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ridgeon sees it coming and defends easily.

Ridgeon is defending against the submission attempts here by Freitas.
Ridgeon controlling the position well.

Freitas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ridgeon sees it coming and defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeon is looking to control Freitas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ridgeon avoid being mounted?
Joao Freitas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Freitas wants to control but Ridgeon is keeping him busy.

Freitas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ridgeon is just riding it out for now. Freitas eventually gives up the hold.

Freitas is trying to work for a kimura but Ridgeon is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Freitas trying to control from half guard but Ridgeon is working away.
Ridgeon controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Freitas trying to control the action but Ridgeon is working from the bottom.

Freitas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ridgeon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Freitas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freitas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Freitas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Freitas is working for a kimura but Ridgeon is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Freitas is trying to control. Ridgeon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ridgeon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Freitas advances to half guard.
Ridgeon is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ridgeon manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Freitas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Freitas 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 Steven Brown scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Joao Freitas!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Joao Freitas!

Joao Freitas wins by majority decision!
Our winner, Joao Freitas, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.