PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Richard Imer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ezra Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ezra Ray will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Imer
vs
Ray

176 cm
32
175 lbs
18 - 9 - 0

192 cm
39
181 lbs
30 - 13 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Richard Imer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 13 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ezra Ray!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ray throws a head kick that misses

and Imer counters with a shoot takedown. Ray fights it but they end up in guard.
Imer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Imer tries to free his leg and advance position but Ray is retaining full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ray wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ray is on top in guard.
Ray trying to control the position from guard on top but Imer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Imer wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ray is now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Imer tries to roll over but Ray keeps him under control.
Ray thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Imer slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Imer working for a triangle but Ray defends it easily.
Ray preventing the sweep.
Ray with a flurry of punches that miss.

Imer working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ray has passed into half guard!
Still in half guard, Ray seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray is looking to advance position but Imer won't allow it.
Imer is staying active underneath Ray, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ray is looking to advance position but Imer won't allow it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ezra Ray wasn't active enough on the ground.
Danga de danga de dang - Imer scores with a four punch combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Imer walks into a straight right hand from Ray.
A chopping leg kick lands by Imer.
Ezra Ray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ray scores with a head kick.
Imer pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Imer's head backwards.
Imer moves out of range of the body kick from Ray.
Imer lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imer avoids the head kick by Ray.
Ray misses the shot to the body.
Ray tests Imer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Imer ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ray has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Imer.
Imer throws a right hand that Ray ducks under and follows up with a left that Ray also avoids with ease.
Ray swings for the body but Imer moves out of range.
Imer misses with a wild body shot.
Ray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Imer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ray looks to score with a jab to the body but Imer is just out of range.
Ray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ray misses with a hook. Imer ducked under it nicely.
Ray misses with an uppercut. Imer saw that one coming.
Imer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Imer misses with an uppercut.
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
Imer wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ray.
A looping hook to the body misses from Imer. Ray does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick by Ray misses

and Imer counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ray tries to get to full guard but Imer has control of the leg.
Imer stops Ray from getting back to his feet.
Ray looks winded!

Ray is defending against the submission attempts here by Imer.
Imer is thwarting Ray's attempts to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ray is refusing to be controlled, as Imer sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Imer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Imer attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ray feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Imers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Richard Imer is winning the standup battle so far.
Ray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Imer throws out the jab.
Ray has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Imer slips under a jab from Ray.
Ray lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ray waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Imer.
No luck for Imer with that takedown attempt.
Imer gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Imer lands a jab-cross combination.
Imer blocks a head kick by Ray.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ray takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Imer blocks a head kick by Ray.
Imer defending well as Ray loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imer lands a nice shot that snaps Ray's head back.

Ray is rocked!
Ray goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ray feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Imer's calf.
Ray 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.
Ray throws a right hand that misses

and Imer counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Imer.
Ray is still in real trouble! Can Imer finish him?
Ray lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Imer!
Ray seems to have recovered his senses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imer working to try and regain half guard.
Ray sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Imer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imer sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Imer is looking to control Ray's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Imer avoid being mounted?
Ray missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ray sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Imer defending well though.
Imer is in trouble now - Ray has advanced to mount!
The referee warns Imer that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Imer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Richard Imer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray is landing with some decent strikes but Imer is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Ray pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ray looking to control but Imer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Imer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ray tries to control but Imer wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ray cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Imer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imer is working hard here to advance position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ray content just to control the position here.
Ray looking to control but Imer is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Imer is in a horrible position here. Ray smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ray working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ezra Ray will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Imer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ray was well out of range. Poor timing from Imer.
Ray fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Imer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Imer ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ray moves away.
Ray throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Imer ducks right into an uppercut from Ray.
Ray's jab looks to have found its range, popping Imer under the eye.
Imer is looking to wear down Ray with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ray misses with a kick to the body.
Imer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ray has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ray connects with a right hand. Imer shakes it off.
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
Ray works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Imer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ray doesn't seem bothered though.
Ray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ray scores with a nice strike.
Imer cracks Ray with an open hand slap.
Nice uppercut lands for Imer. That snapped Ray's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imer misses with a kick to the body.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray walks into a stiff left hand from Imer.
Ray takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ray - that will leave a mark!
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
Ray is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
That kick from Imer tenderised Ray's leg. Ray is trying to keep his angry face on.
Imer takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Imer tries to bum rush Ray with a series of wild strikes but Ray uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Imer fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ray has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Imer blocks a jab.
Imer looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ray looks to land a body kick but Imer moved away.
Ezra Ray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy left from Ray finds it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ray misses with a straight left.
Imer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ray throws an off balance right hand

and Imer counters with a takedown into side control.
Ray tries to bench press Imer off him but Imer keeps the position.
Ray gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Imer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ray is looking to escape.
Imer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ray is controlling an arm, preventing Imer from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ray is trying to escape the mount.
Ray wants to hold on but Imer pushes him away.
Imer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ray is looking to escape.
Imer is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ray is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Imer wants to finish this one by submission but Ray is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Imer.
Ray tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray wants to control but Imer is having none of it.
Imer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ray is looking to escape.
Ray is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ray wants to hold on but Imer pushes him away.

Imer looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ray can't escape the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ray wants to control but Imer is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Imer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Imer 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Richard Imer!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Richard Imer!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Richard Imer!

Richard Imer wins by unanimous decision!