PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Leon Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Ripkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shaw's entrance music is ima boss. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Shaw
vs
Ripkin

200 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leon Shaw!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Ripkin!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw fails with a takedown attempt.
Shaw fails with the takedown.
Ripkin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shaw swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shaw fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ripkin wants to clinch up but Shaw keeps it at a distance.
Ripkin tries to clinch up.
Shaw throws a head kick that misses.
Shaw tries to clinch up
and Ripkin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Shaw is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ripkin is looking to clinch.
No luck for Ripkin with that takedown attempt.

Ripkin moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ripkin.
Ripkin lands a knee to the body.
Ripkin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shaw gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shaw gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ripkin.
Shaw stops a takedown attempt from Ripkin.
Shaw gets underhooks to prevent Ripkin's takedown attempt.
Ripkin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ripkin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shaw avoiding damage as Ripkin throws knees to the body.
Ripkin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shaw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shaw avoiding damage as Ripkin throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ripkin.
Ripkin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shaw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ripkin looks gassed!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shaw is looking to control Ripkin's arms but Ripkin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shaw has his back to the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Shaw on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ripkin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shaw avoiding damage as Ripkin throws knees to the body.
Ripkin landing knees to the body.
Shaw has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shaw manages to break the clinch.
Ripkin tries to clinch but Shaw is having none of it.
Ripkin wants to clinch.

Ripkin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ripkin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shaw lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shaw looking to stall.
Ripkin landing knees to the body.
Shaw tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Shaw avoiding damage as Ripkin throws knees to the body.
Ripkin lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ripkin pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ripkin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ripkin just leaning against Shaw, taking a breather.

Shaw successfully pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Shaw escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ripkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Shaw can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ripkin controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ripkin trying to move into half guard but instead Shaw has managed to sweep!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Ripkin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ripkin tries to clinch up.
Josh Ripkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shaw throws a head kick that misses.
Shaw misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Ripkin gets a clinch.
Ripkin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Josh Ripkin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ripkin working Shaw over with knees to the body.
Ripkin lands a knee to the body.
Shaw takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shaw is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ripkin is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shaw is trying to pull guard but Ripkin has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ripkin.
Ripkin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ripkin.
Ripkin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ripkin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shaw pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ripkin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ripkin.

Ripkin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ripkin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ripkin forces Shaw back against the cage and clinches.
Ripkin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shaw gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaw is trying to pull guard but Ripkin has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
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!
Shaw takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ripkin wants a takedown but no success here.
Shaw tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ripkin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ripkin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Ripkin lands a nice knee to the body.
Ripkin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shaw takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shaw wants to get back to striking at distance but Ripkin won't allow it.
Ripkin lands a good knee to the midsection. Shaw won't want to take too many of those.
Shaw really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripkin looking to throw knees to the head but Shaw is blocking nicely.
Shaw wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ripkin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ripkin lands a good knee to the midsection. Shaw won't want to take too many of those.
Ripkin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Shaw lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Ripkin manages to get underhooks.
Ripkin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shaw's face.
Ripkin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shaw has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Shaw has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ripkin landing knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ripkin obliges.

Shaw gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ripkin regains guard.
Ripkin is trying to control the position but Shaw postures up.
Shaw slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shaw won't allow Ripkin to sweep him here.
Shaw trying to control but Ripkin is working from the bottom.
Ripkin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ripkin pushes Shaw off and scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shaw tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Ripkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ripkin is defended easily by Shaw.
Shaw feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ripkins jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ripkin tries to clinch but Shaw is having none of it.
Shaw throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ripkin's waist but Ripkin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shaw off to one side.
Shaw tries to clinch up.
Shaw tries a head kick but it misses.

Ripkin rushes Shaw and presses him up against the cage.
Shaw is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ripkin.
Shaw has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ripkin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ripkin lands a nice knee to the body.
Ripkin crunches a lovely knee into Shaw's ribcage.
Ripkin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Shaw in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ripkin prevents Shaw from breaking the clinch.
Shaw jumps guard but Ripkin stands there with Shaw around his waist. Shaw gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Shaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Come on Ripkin - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ripkin working Shaw over with knees to the body.
Ripkin working Shaw over with knees to the body.
Ripkin lands a good knee to the midsection. Shaw won't want to take too many of those.
Shaw prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ripkin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ripkin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ripkin's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ripkin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Shaw in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Ripkin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ripkin throws a nice head kick!
Shaw keeps the fight on the outside.
Ripkin tries to clinch but Shaw moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ripkin as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripkin shoots in and drives through. Shaw sprawls well.
Ripkin tries to clinch but Shaw is having none of it.
Ripkin wants to clinch.
Ripkin closes the distance looking to clinch

and Shaw counters with a single leg into guard. Ripkin didn't expect that.
Ripkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ripkin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shaw preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shaw accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ripkin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shaw is controlling him.
Shaw wants to control from the top but Ripkin keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ripkin darts in trying to clinch
and Shaw counters with a nice uppercut.
Josh Ripkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shaw dives in and grabs Ripkin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ripkin pushes down on Shaw's head and hops out.

Ripkin has taken the fight to the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ripkin is working for takedown but Shaw is calmly controlling the position for now.
Leon Shaw has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shaw jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ripkin walks away with a smile on his face. Shaw gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Ripkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ripkin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Ripkin!