PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rory Macdonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Ricci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rory Macdonald could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mike Ricci's chin.

Macdonald
vs
Ricci

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rory Macdonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Ricci!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Macdonald tests Ricci's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ricci fails with the takedown
and Macdonald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Macdonald.
Mike Ricci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ricci misses with a straight left.
Ricci takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ricci takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ricci has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Macdonald finds it's way round the side to connect with Ricci's head.
Macdonald throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ricci stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Macdonald tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ricci misses with an uppercut
and Macdonald cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Macdonald will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Macdonald moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Macdonald moves into range and clinches up with Ricci.

Ricci pulls Macdonald into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ricci wants to stand but Macdonald is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Macdonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Macdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricci keeping full guard, as Macdonald tries to pass.
Ricci wants to stand up but Macdonald is controlling him.
Macdonald pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ricci is keeping the position for now.
Ricci is looking to stand up but Macdonald isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Macdonald gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Ricci successfully pulls guard.
Macdonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ricci swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Macdonald won't allow Ricci to get back to his feet.
Macdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald won't allow Ricci to get back to his feet.
Macdonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ricci wants to stand and escape but Macdonald is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Macdonald trying to control but Ricci is working from the bottom.

Ricci is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Ricci gets control of Macdonald's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ricci will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Macdonald wants to control from the top but Ricci keeps moving.
Ricci wants to stand up but Macdonald is controlling him.
Macdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macdonald has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Macdonald is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ricci wants to get back to his feet but Macdonald is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Macdonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rory Macdonald has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ricci misses with a lunging right hand
and Macdonald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Macdonald closes the distance and clinches.

Ricci manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Macdonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ricci swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Macdonald won't allow Ricci to get back to his feet.

Ricci manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci misses with a left hand
and Macdonald connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Macdonald closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Macdonald gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ricci decides to pull guard.
Macdonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ricci wants to stand and escape but Macdonald is having none of it.
Macdonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Macdonald stops Ricci from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Macdonald wants to pass the guard but Ricci is keeping the position.
Ricci wants to get back to his feet but Macdonald is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mike Ricci will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ricci misses with a hook.
Ricci is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ricci pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ricci looks to land a right hand but Macdonald moved out of range.
Macdonald scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Macdonald lands a jab to the head.
Ricci swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rory Macdonald is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Macdonald scores with a takedown into Ricci's guard.
Macdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macdonald with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ricci keeping full guard, as Macdonald tries to pass.
Macdonald trying to control but Ricci is working from the bottom.
Ricci wants to stand but Macdonald is controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ricci has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Macdonald off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Macdonald has Ricci up against the cage in a clinch.

Ricci pulls guard.
Ricci wants to stand up but Macdonald is controlling him.
Macdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macdonald postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ricci is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Ricci jumps guard and drags Macdonald to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ricci wants to stand but Macdonald is controlling the position.
Macdonald landing with the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Macdonald looking to pass the guard.

Ricci pushes Macdonald off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ricci throws a jab when Macdonald was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald lands a nice shot that snaps Ricci's head back.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ricci pulls guard successfully.
Macdonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ricci has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Macdonald off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Ricci throws a looping overhand right but Macdonald ducks down to avoid it.
Ricci tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Macdonald comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Macdonald circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ricci rushes Macdonald and presses him up against the cage.

Ricci jumps into guard, dragging Macdonald to the mat.
Ricci is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Macdonald is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macdonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Ricci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Macdonald trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ricci manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Macdonald fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ricci checks it well.
Ricci tries for a takedown but Macdonald circles away easily
and Macdonald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Macdonald swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A big left from Ricci misses.
Ricci misses with a left hand
and Macdonald counters with a one-two to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Macdonald is looking to score with low kicks.
Macdonald looks to land a combination. Ricci sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Macdonald uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ricci.
Macdonald scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A combination from Macdonald does no damage.
Macdonald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ricci fails with the takedown

and Macdonald counters with a single leg into guard. Ricci didn't expect that.
Macdonald throwing strikes from guard but Ricci blocks nicely.

Ricci scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Macdonald connects with a body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ricci fails with the takedown

and Macdonald counters with a takedown into side control.
Mike Ricci has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Macdonald prevents Ricci from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Macdonald trying to control the position but Ricci is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricci is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Macdonald is controlling him well.
Macdonald sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ricci is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Ricci tries to escape but Macdonald is in control.
Ricci prevents Macdonald from moving into mount.
Ricci wants to get back to his feet but Macdonald drags him back down.
Macdonald working the ground and pound from side control.
Ricci is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Macdonald has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Macdonald wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ricci, who protects the arm well.
Macdonald tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricci is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Macdonald is controlling him well.
Ricci is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ricci is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Macdonald tries to advance to mount but Ricci denies him.
Rory Macdonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ricci pushes Macdonald away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Macdonald gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricci prevents Macdonald from improving position.
Ricci is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Ricci stops Macdonald from passing to mount.
Ricci avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Macdonald.
Ricci pushes Macdonald away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Macdonald gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ricci is not content to let Macdonald control the position.
Ricci is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Mike Ricci is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Macdonald are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ricci wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Macdonald in side control, throwing shots but Ricci defends.
Macdonald looking to control but instead Ricci has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Macdonald stops Ricci from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Macdonald showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ricci has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mike Ricci!