PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Max Groove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conrad Ratliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Groove
vs
Ratliff

160 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
147 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Groove!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Conrad Ratliff!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Groove fails with an attempt to clinch.
Groove could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ratliff cracks Groove with a good jab.

It looks like Max Groove has been cut.
Ratliff bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Groove swinging wildly here.
Groove shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ratliff but Ratliff pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Groove misses with the combination.
Groove looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ratliff is fending him off so far but Groove persists. Nope, Ratliff circles away and we're back to standing.

Ratliff looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ratliff stalling away here and it's allowed Groove to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ratliff throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ratliff decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ratliff paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ratliff throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ratliff shoots in and bounces Groove off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Groove is pulling down on Ratliff's head. It's preventing any offense from Ratliff, at least for the moment.
Ratliff makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Groove working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ratliff.
Groove is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ratliff stays in close to Groove's body and controls the position.
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!
Ratliff postures up.
Ratliff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Max Groove just wasn't active enough.
Groove tries to clinch there but Ratliff circles away.
Groove misses with a head kick.
Ratliff misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ratliff takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ratliff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Groove shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ratliff but Ratliff pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Groove. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ratliff looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Groove!
Groove is breathing heavily.
Ratliff working away.
Groove avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ratliff.
Ratliff working the strikes but Groove uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Ratliff sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Groove defending well though.
Ratliff frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff tries to control but Groove wriggling away.
Ratliff lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Groove hang on?
Ratliff landing punches.

Groove is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ratliff looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Groove covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Conrad Ratliff!
Conrad Ratliff decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.