PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Morientes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Venable (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morientes comes to the cage accompanied by Rap Das Armas. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Morientes
vs
Venable

185 cm
18
182 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

187 cm
20
194 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Bushido Clothing
Fighters Formula (New Ownership!)

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Morientes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Venable!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Venable misses with a head kick.
Venable misses with a body kick.
Venable keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morientes fails with a takedown attempt.

Morientes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Venable trying to control but Morientes postures up.

Morientes is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venable is trying to control but can't.
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.
Morientes works his foot free and advances to mount.
Morientes fails to take his opponent's back.

Morientes is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Venable can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Venable tries to lock up and control but Morientes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Venable keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Morientes avoids the attempt from Venable to control.
Venable slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Venable missing with punches from the bottom.
Venable is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Venable is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Venable is holding on to half guard well.
Venable tries to roll over but Morientes keeps him under control.
Venable slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Venable is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venable trying to control the position here.
Morientes looking to pass the guard.
Morientes preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Venable holds on and takes a little breather.
Morientes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Venable swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Morientes postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Venable is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Morientes, into his guard.
Morientes is breathing heavily.
Venable works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morientes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Morientes is working hard here to advance position.
Venable tries to pass to full mount but Morientes defends it.
Venable is taking a breather. Morientes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Venable lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Venable lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Venable sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Morientes shoots for a double leg takedown but Venable sprawls well. He's pushed Morientes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Morientes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Venable as he jumps to the side.

Venable rushes Morientes and presses him up against the cage.
Venable will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Morientes up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Venable breaks the clinch.
Nice shot by Venable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morientes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Morientes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Venable!

It looks like Ricardo Morientes has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Venable closes the distance and clinches.

Venable breaks the clinch.
Venable misses with a head kick.
Ricky Venable is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morientes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Venable tries to close the distance and clinch but Morientes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Venable pushes Morientes up against the cage in a clinch.
Venable holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Venable breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Venable lands a big head kick that sends Morientes to the canvas! Venable follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricky Venable!