PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George St Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gavin Rippa (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.

St Ali
vs
Rippa

189 cm
22
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Convicted

NCC: Nemesis Cage Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, George St Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gavin Rippa!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rippa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like George St Ali has been cut.
St Ali throws a leg kick but Rippa sees it coming and moves out of range.
St Ali closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rippa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rippa lands with a slapping head kick.
St Ali avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
St Ali throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rippa's waist but Rippa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing St Ali off to one side.
The crowd cheers as Rippa lands an impressive looking overhand right. St Ali doesn't seem phased though.
Rippa fails to land with a series of punches.
St Ali tries a head kick but it misses.
St Ali fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
St Ali uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rippa.

St Ali shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rippa's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
St Ali preventing the sweep.
St Ali is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
St Ali in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rippa will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rippa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
St Ali is pushing down on Rippa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rippa is fighting to maintain full guard but St Ali has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rippa wants to get back to full guard.
Rippa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rippa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Rippa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with St Ali. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rippa misses with a series of wild punches.
Rippa looks gassed!
St Ali wants to clinch.
Gavin Rippa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
St Ali throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rippa misses with a wild combination.
Rippa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
St Ali moves out of range of the strikes.
St Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rippa throws a series of punches but St Ali avoids them all with ease.
Rippa lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rippa.
Rippa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
St Ali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rippa smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice sprawl there from Rippa as St Ali shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rippa throws a left and a right that both miss
and St Ali counters with a left to the body.
Rippa throws a looping overhand right but St Ali ducks down to avoid it.
St Ali blocks a head kick by Rippa.
Rippa misses with a looping left.
Gavin Rippa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Rippa.
Rippa throws a nice looking combination but St Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
St Ali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
St Ali bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rippa misses with a kick to the body.
Rippa dips to his left and cracks St Ali with an uppercut!
Rippa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Rippa.
St Ali misses with a body kick.
Rippa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
St Ali is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rippa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Some wild striking there from Rippa.
Rippa throws a low kick but St Ali avoids it.
St Ali slips a jab from Rippa.
Rippa throws a shot from downtown. St Ali moves away and avoids it.
Rippa is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by St Ali.
Rippa lands a lovely overhand right.
St Ali shoots in but Rippa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rippa scores with a one two! St Ali had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
St Ali takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rippa throws a nice looking combination but St Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Rippa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George St Ali's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

St Ali will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rippa misses with a two punch combination.
Rippa misses the shot to the body.
St Ali is looking to clinch.
Rippa misses with a straight right.
Nice takedown defense from Rippa. No joy for St Ali on that attempt.
Rippa might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rippa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by St Ali.
St Ali shoots in and drives through. Rippa sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rippa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed St Ali momentarily.
Rippa jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A big left from Rippa misses.
St Ali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rippa.
St Ali showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rippa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rippa looks to land a combination but St Ali avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
St Ali tries to clinch up but Rippa circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Rippa.
Rippa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Nice straight punches there by Rippa. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rippa.
St Ali uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rippa.
Rippa scores with a decent looking hook.
Rippa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
St Ali tries to clinch there but Rippa circles away.
St Ali dodges the punch combination from Rippa.
Rippa lunges at St Ali with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by St Ali's hand.
St Ali tries to land a body kick
and Rippa counters with a big head kick but St Ali shrugs it off.
St Ali throws a body kick that misses.
Rippa looks to land a combination. St Ali sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rippa misses with an uppercut. St Ali saw that one coming.
St Ali looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rippa lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A big left from Rippa misses.
Rippa feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to St Ali's calf.
Rippa lands the left hand.
St Ali slips a straight right by Rippa.
George St Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rippa lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
St Ali throws a leg kick but Rippa sees it coming and moves out of range.
St Ali tries to move into range but Rippa moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rippa misses the shot to the body.
St Ali blocks a head kick by Rippa.
Rippa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
St Ali tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rippa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rippa.
Rippa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. St Ali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rippa lands a jab to the head.
St Ali closes the distance and clinches up with Rippa, looking for a takedown. St Ali pushes Rippa against the cage but Rippa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
St Ali staying out of range there.
St Ali has a takedown stuffed.
Danga de danga de dang - Rippa scores with a four punch combination!
Gavin Rippa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Some wild striking there from Rippa.
Rippa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. St Ali sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rippa misses with a series of wild punches.
St Ali keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rippa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
St Ali tries to clinch up.
Rippa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
St Ali is looking to clinch.
Rippa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rippa misses with a looping left.
Rippa throws a series of punches but St Ali avoids them all with ease.
St Ali has a takedown stuffed.
Rippa takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
St Ali closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
St Ali pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rippa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rippa jabbing away but nothing is landing.
St Ali closes the distance but Rippa moves to the side
and Rippa counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gavin Rippa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on George St Ali's cut.
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!

St Ali shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rippa pinned against the cage. Rippa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
St Ali throws a chopping leg kick but Rippa manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rippa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
St Ali pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rippa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
St Ali dodges the punch combination from Rippa.
A lazy left from Rippa finds it's target.
Rippa misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
St Ali blocks a head kick by Rippa.
Rippa misses with a double jab.
Rippa misses with a head kick.
St Ali fails to land the takedown.
St Ali drops his hands momentarily and Rippa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rippa lands a nice shot that snaps St Ali's head back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rippa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but St Ali manages to avoid it.
Rippa throws a head kick but St Ali moves out of range.
Rippa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rippa fails to land with a series of punches.
St Ali closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Rippa misses with a hook. St Ali ducked under it nicely.
Rippa falls off balance throwing a combination
and St Ali counters with a right hand to the body.
St Ali fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George St Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rippa shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rippa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rippa takes a swing at St Ali's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rippa misses with a hook. St Ali ducked under it nicely.
Rippa throws a right hand that St Ali ducks under and follows up with a left that St Ali also avoids with ease.
St Ali slips under a jab from Rippa.
St Ali looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rippa lands with an overhand left.
St Ali wants to clinch
and Rippa counters with a two punch combo.
St Ali shoots in and drives through. Rippa sprawls well.
Rippa fails to land with a series of punches.
St Ali shoots in but Rippa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
St Ali moves out of range as Rippa strikes.
Rippa misses with a hook. St Ali ducked under it nicely.
Rippa throws a nice looking combination but St Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
St Ali shoots in for a takedown but Rippa shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rippa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
St Ali wants to clinch but Rippa slips to the side
and Rippa finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
St Ali steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rippa.
Rippa misses with a body shot.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rippa.
St Ali fails with the takedown.
A left lands for Rippa.
A head kick misses from St Ali.
Rippa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
St Ali shoots in looking for a takedown. Rippa tries to sprawl out of it but St Ali keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rippa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rippa throws a head kick but St Ali moves out of range.
St Ali shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rippa as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rippa throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
St Ali looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rippa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rippa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
St Ali tries to clinch but Rippa is having none of it.
Rippa misses with a combination
and St Ali counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
St Ali blocks a head kick by Rippa.
St Ali tries to close the distance and clinch but Rippa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No joy there for Rippa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rippa blocks the body kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
St Ali avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rippa throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
George St Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A combination from Rippa does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gavin Rippa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rippa 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gavin Rippa!