PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jonny Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikos Osipzk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nikos Osipzk struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 186.5lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Nikos Osipzk told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rico
vs
Osipzk

190 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

191 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jonny Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nikos Osipzk!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rico scores with a hook.

Rico gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rico wants the takedown. Osipzk is fighting it off but Rico persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Osipzk's guard against the cage.
Rico controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Osipzk looking to control.
Rico postures up in Osipzk's guard and throws a big left but Osipzk blocks it.
Rico controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rico's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Osipzk preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Osipzk escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rico gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Osipzk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Osipzk lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rico!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico tries to lock up and control but Osipzk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Osipzk has hold of Rico's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rico manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rico is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Osipzk can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rico is looking to escape.
Rico tries to lock up and control but Osipzk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Osipzk swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Rico is now in Osipzk's guard. A big mistake from Osipzk there, giving up the dominant position!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Osipzk looks gassed!
Rico controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rico has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jonny Rico just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Osipzk slips a jab and a cross from Rico.
Some wild striking there from Rico.
Rico looks to land a combination. Osipzk sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rico takes a kick to the side of the head.
Osipzk shoots in and drives through. Rico sprawls well.
A combination from Rico does no damage.
Osipzk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rico works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Osipzk takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rico catches Osipzk with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Rico throws a right hand that Osipzk ducks under and follows up with a left that Osipzk also avoids with ease.
Rico scores with a punch to the head.
Osipzk slips a jab and a cross from Rico.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Osipzk gets caught flat footed, as Rico shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rico controlling from the top position.
Osipzk preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Osipzk is looking for a triangle but Rico pushes his legs off easily.
Rico pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Osipzk is keeping the position for now.
Osipzk has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rico has passed into side control.

Rico has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rico misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico throws a right and a left that both miss.

Rico scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Rico stands up and beckons Osipzk to his feet.
Rico misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rico feints and as Osipzk raises his hands in defense, Rico changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rico controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rico passes Osipzk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Osipzk won't allow Rico to pass to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rico controlling the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Rico dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Osipzk misses with a takedown
and Rico counters with a nice body shot.
Osipzk doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rico counters with a nice double leg into side control. Osipzk won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here.
Jonny Rico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Osipzk is breathing heavily.

Rico decides to stand up, so the ref orders Osipzk to his feet.
Jonny Rico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Osipzk has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico misses with a wild combination.
Osipzk avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rico clobbers Osipzk with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Osipzk tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rico counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rico thows a huge punch but Osipzk dodges it nicely.
Osipzk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rico.
Rico wants to free his trapped foot but Osipzk is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rico missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rico content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico trying to pass the guard but Osipzk defending well.
Rico perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rico seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rico trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Osipzk looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Rico pushes past his half guard into mount!
Rico sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osipzk is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rico tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jonny Rico just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Rico closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rico controlling the position from side mount.
Osipzk is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Osipzk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico in side control, throwing shots but Osipzk defends.

Rico stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Rico looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rico chips away with some ground and pound.
Osipzk is trying to control the position but Rico postures up.

Rico decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Osipzk, up you get!
Rico lands a body shot.

Rico bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Osipzk defending against the ground and pound.
Osipzk can't do much from the bottom here.

Rico stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Rico dominated that second round.
That's time! Rico's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A combination from Rico does no damage.

Rico drives through and clinches with Osipzk against the cage.
Osipzk tries to break the clinch but Rico is controlling the position.

Rico gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rico knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Osipzk on the ground.
Rico not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Osipzk wants to sweep but no luck.
Rico is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rico postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rico preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Osipzk has his foot on Rico's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rico works his way back into a safe position though.
Rico sitting in guard here, content to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rico pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Osipzk is keeping the position for now.
Rico content to stall in guard here.
Rico looking to pass the guard.

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

Rico feints and as Osipzk raises his hands in defense, Rico changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Osipzk trying to keep a closed guard but Rico is proving a slippery customer.
Rico is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Osipzk can do to turn this around?
Rico is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Osipzk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rico.

Rico decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rico clinches.

Rico has clasped his hands together around Osipzk's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Rico with the ground and pound but Osipzk regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
It looks like Rico is going to stand back up.
Osipzk is trying to maintain the position but Rico is very close to passing his half guard.
Rico is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Rico sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Osipzk defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osipzk avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rico.

Osipzk looking for submissions off his back.
Rico is taking a breather. Osipzk says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Osipzk wants to control but Rico is keeping busy.

Osipzk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rico in particular looking to stall.
Nikos Osipzk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Osipzk is looking for a sweep. Rico is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rico not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Osipzk is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rico drops an elbow to the side of Osipzk's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rico fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rico lands with a nice combination. Osipzk backs away looking to recover.
Rico rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Osipzk moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A right-left combo lands from Rico.
Rico cracks Osipzk with a good jab.
Rico digs a good hook to Osipzk's body.
Osipzk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Rico changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Osipzk looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonny Rico showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rico has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jonny Rico!