PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Knight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico has chosen Bolt Thrower - The IVth Crusade as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Carlos Knight has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Knight
vs
Rico

175 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

150 cm
26
152 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Atlantis

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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Carlos Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Johny Rico!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rico counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rico.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knight working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rico.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Rico working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Rico pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.
Rico throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rico controlling from the top position.
Rico wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rico accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rico trying to control but Knight is working from the bottom.

Johny Rico has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck for Knight with that takedown attempt.
Rico changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Knight takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Rico looking to score a takedown here. Knight is defending well but Rico drives through and ends up in Knight's guard.
Knight on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Knight tries to get out of the position.
Rico is stalling in the full guard.
Knight will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rico pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rico trying to control the position from guard on top but Knight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Knight swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Johny Rico has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck for Knight with that takedown attempt.
Knight looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight has a takedown stuffed.
Knight fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Knight fails to land the takedown.
Knight is breathing heavily.

Rico changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Knight looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rico wants to control but Knight is keeping him busy.
Rico throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Knight works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Rico sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Johny Rico.
Rico punishes Knight's body with a nice straight punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rico changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Knight closes the distance and clinches up with Rico, looking for a takedown. Knight pushes Rico against the cage but Rico circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rico cracks Knight with an open hand slap.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Knight tries for a takedown but Rico circles away easily

and Rico counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rico.
Rico wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Rico dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rico scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rico trying to control the position but Knight is working away.
Knight really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rico tries to move to full mount but Knight actually manages to regain half guard.
Knight is not content to let Rico control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico sitting and controlling from the half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Johny Rico wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Rico as Knight shoots in.

Rico gets a takedown into half guard.
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Rico sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico tries to pass the half guard into mount. Knight knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rico connects with a nice short shot to Knight's temple.
Rico thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knight's head.
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Rico sits in half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Knight blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rico.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rico thows a huge punch but Knight dodges it nicely.
Rico trying to mount his opponent but Knight defends it.
Rico is trying to control the action in half guard but Knight is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rico leaves Knight with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rico looking to score a takedown here. Knight is defending well but Rico drives through and ends up in Knight's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Rico from controlling successfully.
Rico pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.
Johny Rico has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rico trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Rico from controlling successfully.
Rico has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Rico working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Rico showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rico looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rico trying to control from half guard but Knight is working away.
Rico throwing shots but Knight is blocking nicely.
Rico wants to take a breather but Knight is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johny Rico was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Rico gets the takedown into side control.
Rico taking a break here but Knight is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Knight keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rico thows a huge punch but Knight dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Knight avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rico.
Rico missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Knight is trying to stand back up but Rico is controlling him
Rico wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knight keeps working.
Rico trying to control from Knight's half guard. Knight has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rico with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Knight has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rico off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Knight gets caught napping as Rico dives in and scores a takedown. Knight manages to retain guard.
Rico wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.
Rico slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rico missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico is keen to just control but Knight is a slippery customer.
Rico is nestled in close to Knight, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Carlos Knight has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rico looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knight is refusing to be controlled, as Rico sits in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Rico comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rico has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Rico!
A victorious Johny Rico thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.