PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ricci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ethan Paul (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ricci
vs
Paul

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
181 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Ricci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ethan Paul!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paul fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ricci fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ricci lands a jab to the nose.
Paul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've been informed that Paul has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Paul takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Paul shoots in looking for a takedown. Ricci tries to sprawl out of it but Paul keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ricci manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice cross by Ricci.
Paul throws a sloppy head kick and Ricci moves out of range easily.
Ricci dodges the punch combination from Paul.
Paul takes a jab right on the kisser.
Paul takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ricci has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Pitbull MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Ricci throws a combination. Paul tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Nice cross by Ricci.
Ricci jabs Paul right on the nose. Paul blinks but takes it well.
Ricci connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Paul takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Paul shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ricci counters with a stiff right hand.
Mike Ricci has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Paul.
Ricci with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ricci dodges the punch combination from Paul.
A left lands for Ricci.
Ricci throws a leg kick
and Paul counters with a head kick.
Ricci scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Paul swinging wildly here.
A jab from Ricci finds it's way through Paul's defenses.
Paul throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ricci fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A swing and a miss from Ricci.
Ricci displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Paul throws out the jab.
Ricci throws a low kick but Paul moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paul swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Paul throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paul takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Good shot there by Ricci.
Ricci scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Paul throws a nice looking combination but Ricci bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ricci connects with a nice looking jab.
Ricci is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Ricci lands a slapping body shot.
Paul slips a jab and a cross from Ricci.
Ricci throws a nice inside leg kick.
A jab lands there for Ricci.
Paul walks into a jab.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ricci, as that shot connected.
Mike Ricci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A right-left combo lands from Paul.
Horrible takedown by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Ricci which made him look bad.
Paul doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ricci counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Paul looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul tries to clinch there but Ricci circles away.
Paul goes for a double leg but Ricci avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ricci continues to drive forward.
Ricci tries to break free but Paul pushes him back against the cage.
Paul is working for takedown but Ricci is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ricci breaks from the clinch.
Ricci feints a jab promting Paul to slip. Ricci then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Paul slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ricci scores with a punch to the head.
Ricci throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Paul stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ricci throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ricci cracks Paul with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ricci wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Paul gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci scores with a jab to the body.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Ricci shows good takedown defense.
Paul tries to clinch up but Ricci circles away and keeps his distance.
Ricci bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Paul's head backwards.
Paul misses with a series of wild punches.
Ricci scores with a shot to the body.
Horrible takedown by Paul or perhaps it was just good defense by Ricci which made him look bad.
Ricci misses with the combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ricci misses with a wild body shot.
Paul takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ricci throws a jab but it's blocked by Paul.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ricci dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Paul throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ricci on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Paul shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ricci sprawls well. Ricci wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Paul gets slowly back to his feet.
Ricci moves into range and connects with a jab.
Paul fails in his attempt to clinch.
Paul has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Paul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ricci.
Paul shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Ricci catches Paul with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jab by Ricci.
Paul shoots in for a takedown but Ricci shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ricci circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ricci connects with a body shot that sends Paul's belly button to the back.
Ricci lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Paul backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ricci slips a jab and a cross from Paul.
Paul keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ricci.
Ricci is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sloppy strikes from Ricci. Those never looked like landing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paul takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ricci comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mike Ricci is winning the standup battle so far.
Paul dives in and grabs Ricci's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ricci pushes down on Paul's head and hops out.
Mike Ricci has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ethan Paul.
Paul throws a wild body kick that Ricci sees coming a mile off.
Ricci throws a hook but Paul avoids it easily.
Paul takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Paul throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ricci.
Paul connects with an inside leg kick.
Ricci throws a right hand that misses
and Paul counters with a left right combination that sends Ricci crashing to the mat - Paul wastes no time in diving on top of him and pounding Ricci out for a TKO! Devastating finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ethan Paul!
An out of breath Ethan Paul thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.