PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ricci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe White acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ricci
vs
White

180 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Ricci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe White!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricci throws a nice looking combination but White bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ricci pulls out of a head kick attempt.
White tries to clinch but Ricci is having none of it.

Ricci looking to score a takedown here. White is defending well but Ricci drives through and ends up in White's guard.
White seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
White keeping full guard, as Ricci tries to pass.
Ricci stays in close to White's body and controls the position.
Ricci throws a strike but White rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
White is fighting to break Ricci's control of his arms but Ricci is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White tries to free his leg and advance position but Ricci is retaining full guard.
White controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

White closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ricci did well to prevent White getting side control.
Ricci on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ricci tries to get out of the position.
White is keen to just control but Ricci is a slippery customer.
Ricci wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White controlling the pace.
White throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricci is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
White tries to clinch up.
Ricci shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts White as he jumps to the side.
White tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ricci manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ricci avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
White fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White lands a nice hook to Ricci's body. Ricci takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ricci clobbers White with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

White closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ricci to the mat! Ricci manages to get full guard.
Ricci is breathing heavily.
Ricci can't keep his opponent in guard - White advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
White is looking to pass Ricci's guard but actually Ricci recovers to full guard.
Ricci knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for White on the ground.
White is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
White wants to control from the top but Ricci keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci has his hands on White's head, controlling the position.
White controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Mike Ricci wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

White rushes Ricci and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

White fails to land the takedown.
Ricci wants to clinch up but White keeps it at a distance.
White shoots in looking for a takedown. Ricci tries to sprawl out of it but White keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ricci manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
White wants to clinch.
White is looking to clinch.
Ricci is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ricci is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ricci rushes White and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ricci tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricci tries for a takedown. No joy.
White wants to take the fight to the mat but Ricci manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mike Ricci has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe White.
Ricci is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables White to keep the fight standing.
White taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ricci tries to pull guard but White holds him up against the cage and eventually Ricci drops back down to his feet.
White leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricci is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ricci misses with a punch on the inside.
Ricci is trying to force a seperation but White has the dominant position.
Ricci goes for a takedown in the clinch but White prevents it.
Ricci drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
White leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricci looking for a takedown.

White jumps guard and drags Ricci to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
White bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ricci's guard.
White trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci pulls White in close to prevent any damage.
White pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ricci is keeping the position for now.
Ricci is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and White dives into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
White wants to control for a moment but Ricci uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Ricci trying to hold on to White's head to control him but White postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ricci's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

White tries to clinch up but Ricci circles away and keeps his distance.
Mike Ricci is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ricci fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
White lands a nice looking body kick.
Ricci fails to land with a series of punches.
White fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ricci.

White throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ricci was covering up waiting for the punch and White finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ricci is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
White advances to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

White maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Ricci could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but White has cracked it and Ricci is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by White!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joe White!