PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between KJ Noons (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. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Noons
vs
Rico

175 cm
25
152 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

150 cm
26
152 lbs
4 - 5 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, KJ Noons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Johny Rico!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rico shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Noons defends it nicely.

Rico closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rico tries to score with some ground and pound. Noons controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Rico tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rico lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Noons down.
Rico tries to move into full mount but can't pass Noons's legs.
Noons defending against the ground and pound.
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 landing a few strikes.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Rico has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Noons prevents Rico from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
It looks like Rico might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Noons is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rico asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Noons on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Noons tries to get out of the position.
Rico tries to score with some ground and pound. Noons controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Noons tries to escape but Rico is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico is looking to take a break and control but Noons is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rico is staying tight to Noons's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Let's hope that Rico has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Noons on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Rico controlling the position from side mount.
Noons is looking to get back to his feet here but Rico is keeping cool and he's managed to take Noons's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Rico punches the canvas rather than the man.
Rico missing with strikes.
Noons looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Noons is covering up but some of the strikes from Rico are getting through and doing damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Noons right now.
Rico misses with a punch to the head.
I would not like to be Noons right now.

Rico tightening his grip on Noons, looking for the choke.
Rico lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Rico dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rico scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rico is pressing down on Noons's thigh, looking to free his foot. Noons is holding on for now.
Noons is trying to stand.
Rico content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Rico thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rico controlling the pace.
Noons knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rico on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Noons blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rico.
Rico stops Noons from getting back to his feet.
Rico wants to lay and pray for a moment but Noons keeps working.
Rico sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Noons defending well though.
Noons has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Noons is refusing to be controlled, as Rico sits in half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Johny Rico hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Rico works Noons's body with a nice hook.
Noons avoids the body shot from Rico.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Noons was well out of range. Poor timing from Rico.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rico.
Johny Rico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rico darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rico throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rico thows a huge punch but Noons dodges it nicely.
Rico sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Noons defending well though.
Rico throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Noons looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico working the head and body with strikes.
Rico not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rico working the head and body with strikes.
Rico scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rico throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rico perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rico fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rico just misses with a punch to the body.

Rico is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Noons's half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rico content to control rather than advance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico throwing punches and elbows but they're 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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rico fails with a takedown attempt.
Noons stuffs the takedown attempt from Rico. Rico gets slowly back to his feet.
Rico throws a looping overhand right but Noons ducks down to avoid it.
Rico misses with a body shot.
Rico is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Noons rather than just go for the knockout.
Rico will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
KJ Noons has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johny Rico.
Rico throws a hook but Noons avoids it easily.
Rico fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rico has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A cross from Rico lands.
Noons cracks the inside of Rico's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rico looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rico seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Noons does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rico works his way into full mount!
Rico throwing strikes here but Noons is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Rico working the ground and pound effectively.
KJ Noons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico lands a big shot there that rocks Noons but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rico scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rico with shots to the head and body - Noons looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rico is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Noons can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Noons trying desperately to get to his feet.
Rico lands a big elbow.
Noons is bucking up trying to escape but Rico cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Noons is squirming around, avoiding Rico's attempts to control the action.
Rico putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rico takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rico sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rico takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rico unloads with some shots from mount but Noons bucks and avoids them well.
Rico lands a couple of good shots and Noons has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Rico is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rico misses with an elbow to the head.
Rico missing with strikes from the back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rico's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rico scores with punches from the back.
Johny Rico is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rico keeps control of the position easily here as Noons tries to buck him off.

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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Rico!
A relieved looking Johny Rico thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.