PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sonny Ramires (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Reynolds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramires comes to the cage accompanied by Bring em Out - TI. The crowd seem to be enjoying Reynolds's choice of entrance music: Lights Out - Bobby Light. This should be fireworks!

Ramires
vs
Reynolds

188 cm
30
217 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

197 cm
31
224 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sonny Ramires!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niko Reynolds!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reynolds will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reynolds looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reynolds ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ramires moves away.
Ramires shoots in looking for a takedown. Reynolds tries to sprawl out of it but Ramires keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reynolds manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Reynolds moves in looking to clinch but Ramires pushes him off.

Ramires closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ramires trying to control the action but Reynolds is working from the bottom.
Ramires tries to pass to full mount but Reynolds defends it.

Ramires is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Reynolds doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ramires.
Reynolds scores with a few weak punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds wants to improve his position but Ramires is controlling well.
Ramires works his way into side control.
Ramires working away.
Reynolds wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ramires grinds an elbow into Reynolds's temple.
Ramires throws an elbow but Reynolds slips to the side and avoids it well.
Reynolds managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ramires.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramires trying to control the position but Reynolds is working away.
Reynolds can't do much from the bottom here.

Ramires working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ramires is looking to take a break and control but Reynolds is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ramires controlling the position.
Reynolds manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds trying to control from half guard but Ramires is working away.
Ramires tries to get to full guard but Reynolds has control of the leg.
Reynolds is keen to just control but Ramires is a slippery customer.
Reynolds might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ramires kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is nestled in close to Ramires, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Reynolds trying to control from half guard but Ramires is working away.
Ramires is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Reynolds wants to take a breather but Ramires is having none of it.
Reynolds looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Niko Reynolds was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Reynolds looks to land a combination but Ramires avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reynolds. Ramires does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good work by Ramires as he checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sonny Ramires will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ramires scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Reynolds is looking for a sweep. Ramires is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Reynolds looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ramires misses with a head shot. Reynolds uses the momentum to regain guard.
Reynolds keeping moving, preventing Ramires from controlling successfully.
Reynolds looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ramires is one step ahead there.
Reynolds is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramires trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ramires throws a big elbow that misses.
Ramires wants to pass the guard but Reynolds is keeping the position.
Ramires pushes down on Reynolds's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ramires is looking to stall here but Reynolds recovers full guard.
Ramires throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ramires manages to get himself to full guard.
Reynolds looking to sit in guard and control but Ramires gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ramires trying to control the position from guard on top but Reynolds is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reynolds wants to sweep here but Ramires controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Reynolds is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ramires looking for a sweep. Not yet Ramires, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reynolds with a flurry of punches that miss.
Reynolds trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramires is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reynolds distracts Ramires with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ramires keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds controlling from the top position.
Ramires controls Reynolds momentarily but Reynolds frees himself.

Ramires is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reynolds is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ramires keeping full guard, as Reynolds tries to pass.
Reynolds postures up in Ramires's guard and throws a big left but Ramires blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Niko Reynolds will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Reynolds scores with a nice head shot.
Reynolds cracks the inside of Ramires's front leg.
Reynolds throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ramires sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Reynolds stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reynolds wants it to stay on the feet.
Ramires takes one on the button.
Ramires ducks under a wild hook from Reynolds.
Ramires takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ramires shoots in but no luck this time.
A chopping leg kick lands by Reynolds.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reynolds. Ramires does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reynolds dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ramires misses with a takedown attempt - Reynolds sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sonny Ramires. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reynolds. Ramires does a little dance to reset his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reynolds can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reynolds wants a takedown.
Reynolds misses with some punches.

Reynolds has hold of one of Ramires's legs. Ramires is fighting the takedown attempt but Reynolds gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Reynolds missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reynolds in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ramires keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.
Reynolds won't allow Ramires to sweep him here.
Reynolds stands up over Ramires, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Reynolds trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramires is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reynolds looking to pass the guard.
Niko Reynolds has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ramires is trying to hold Reynolds in close to prevent damage but Reynolds has managed to pass into half guard.
Reynolds is looking to pass Ramires's guard but actually Ramires recovers to full guard.
Reynolds scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reynolds loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ramires is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ramires keeping moving, preventing Reynolds from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reynolds postures up and lands a big shot to Ramires's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramires looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Reynolds accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Reynolds lands a couple of elbows.
Reynolds trying to control the position from guard on top but Ramires is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reynolds scoring with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ramires wants to sweep but no luck.
Ramires is working hard here to advance position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Reynolds comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Reynolds 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Niko Reynolds!