PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Viper Fist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conrad Ratliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Viper Fist
vs
Ratliff

184 cm
23
166 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Viper Fist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conrad Ratliff!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viper Fist bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Viper Fist fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ratliff fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Viper Fist checks it well.
Viper Fist misses with a takedown attempt

and Ratliff counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Still in half guard, Ratliff seems content to control.
Ratliff missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Viper Fist is not content to let Ratliff control the position.
Ratliff not doing much here.
Ratliff seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Viper Fist does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Conrad Ratliff.
Viper Fist shoots in but Ratliff avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Viper Fist. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ratliff drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Ratliff swings around for an armbar but Viper Fist sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ratliff's guard.
Viper Fist looking to sit in guard and control but Ratliff gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Viper Fist is trying to control the position but Ratliff postures up.
Viper Fist wants to sweep but no luck.
Ratliff tries to free his leg and advance position but Viper Fist is retaining full guard.
Viper Fist keeping moving, preventing Ratliff from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff stopping the sweep attempt from Viper Fist.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ratliff shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Viper Fist manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ratliff has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Viper Fist is proving hard to escape from.
Ratliff trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ratliff is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff passes Viper Fist's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ratliff seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Viper Fist does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ratliff tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Viper Fist.
Ratliff looks winded!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ratliff in particular looking to stall.
Viper Fist trying to hold on to Ratliff's head to control him but Ratliff postures up.

Ratliff is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Viper Fist has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff is pressing down on Viper Fist's thigh, looking to free his foot. Viper Fist is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ratliff stops Viper Fist from getting back to his feet.
Ratliff seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ratliff stops Viper Fist from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conrad Ratliff dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ratliff closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ratliff lands in his opponent's guard.
Ratliff would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Viper Fist wants to control but Ratliff passes easily into half guard.
Ratliff is pressing down on Viper Fist's thigh, looking to free his foot. Viper Fist is holding on for now.
Ratliff landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Viper Fist wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratliff frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ratliff cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ratliff trying to control but Viper Fist is having none of it.
Ratliff lands a big elbow.

Ratliff looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ratliff really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Viper Fist. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ratliff is landing with some decent strikes but Viper Fist is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viper Fist taking shots to the head.
Viper Fist in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Viper Fist tries to lock up and control but Ratliff gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ratliff wants to control the pace but Viper Fist is squirming around nicely.
Viper Fist working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ratliff is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Viper Fist shoots for a double leg takedown but Ratliff sprawls well. He's pushed Viper Fist's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Ratliff bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Ratliff decides to stand up, so the ref orders Viper Fist to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ratliff closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ratliff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Viper Fist gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ratliff to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ratliff trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Conrad Ratliff has got the better of the ground game so far.

Viper Fist is looking for a triangle but Ratliff pushes his legs off easily.
Ratliff would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ratliff gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Viper Fist enables Ratliff to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Viper Fist manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ratliff trying to control but Viper Fist is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Viper Fist is trying to keep Ratliff in close.
Ratliff trying to control but Viper Fist is working from the bottom.
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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conrad Ratliff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ratliff changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Viper Fist looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ratliff has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ratliff wants to control but Viper Fist is keeping him busy.
Ratliff tries to advance to mount but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Viper Fist is looking to regain half guard here but Ratliff keeps moving and retains side control.
Ratliff working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratliff misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Viper Fist is looking to regain half guard here but Ratliff keeps moving and retains side control.
Ratliff is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ratliff lands some shots froms side control.
Ratliff controlling from side mount.
Ratliff avoids the strikes from the bottom by Viper Fist.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viper Fist wants to get back to his feet.

Ratliff is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Viper Fist knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Ratliff has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Ratliff gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ratliff pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Viper Fist lands a body shot.
Viper Fist tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ratliff moves into the clinch.
Ratliff lands a body punch in the clinch.

Ratliff manages to pull guard.
Viper Fist tries to stand but Ratliff is controlling from the bottom.
Ratliff wants to hit a switch here but Viper Fist passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ratliff there!
Ratliff is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viper Fist throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ratliff because Viper Fist loaded up on that one.
Viper Fist wants to control the pace but Ratliff is squirming around nicely.
Ratliff really wants to buck Viper Fist off and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ratliff regains half guard.
Ratliff wants to control but Viper Fist is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Conrad Ratliff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ratliff 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 Seu Braga scores the fight for Conrad Ratliff!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Conrad Ratliff!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Conrad Ratliff!

Conrad Ratliff wins by unanimous decision!