PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cristiano Nguyen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Connor Rice is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Nguyen
vs
Rice

178 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cristiano Nguyen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor Rice!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rice shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Rice is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rice passes to full mount!
Nguyen is desperately trying to improve his position but Rice has a good base and remains in mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice elbow there by Rice.
Rice controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nguyen is trying to reverse the position but instead Rice has taken his back - oops!
Rice slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Rice is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Nguyen knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Nguyen for a finish.
Nguyen trying to control the hands but Rice won't let him.
Rice has good solid back control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rice looking to break Nguyen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Nguyen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Rice will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Rice keeps control of the position easily here as Nguyen tries to buck him off.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Rice's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nguyen trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Rice trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Nguyen doesn't escape.
Rice throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Rice is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Rice gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Rice gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Rice apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Rice tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nguyen is able to avoid easily.
Nguyen checks a leg kick nicely.

Rice closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rice content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice tries to advance to mount but Nguyen denies him.
Rice wants to control but Nguyen is keeping him busy.
Nguyen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rice on the ground.
Nguyen is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rice working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Rice dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rice chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nguyen can pounce on him.
Rice tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Rice.
Rice takes a swing at Nguyen's ribcage but misses.
Connor Rice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rice shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rice showed some decent athleticism there.
Rice works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice looking to ground and pound but Nguyen is blocking nicely.
Rice content just to control the position here.
Nguyen is working to get back to half guard.
Rice wants to control the pace but Nguyen is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rice looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nguyen is squirming around, avoiding Rice's attempts to control the action.

Rice stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Nguyen throws a leg kick which misses Rice's front leg but catches the back leg as Rice tries to avoid it.

Rice shoots in and gets a takedown into Nguyen's guard.
Connor Rice has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rice seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice trying to control but Nguyen is working from the bottom.
Rice trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rice slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rice would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four 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.
Nguyen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rice darts in and clinches Nguyen up against the cage.
Nguyen effectively controlling the action here.
Nguyen stops a takedown attempt from Rice.
Nguyen has a couple of punches blocked by Rice.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nguyen is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rice tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nguyen smiles and moves away.
Cristiano Nguyen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Rice.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nguyen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Rice showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rice decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rice seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Nguyen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rice not doing much here.

Rice decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Nguyen misses with a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rice decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nguyen gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice throws a big right hand that misses.
Rice pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nguyen is keeping the position for now.
Rice showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nguyen keeping full guard, as Rice tries to pass.
Nguyen keeping moving, preventing Rice from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rice throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nguyen throws a body kick that misses.
Nguyen throws a leg kick that misses.
Connor Rice seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nguyen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rice.
Nice sprawl there from Nguyen as Rice shoots in.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rice tries to clinch up but Nguyen circles away and keeps his distance.
Rice tries to clinch up but Nguyen circles away and keeps his distance.
Nguyen slips under a jab.
Nguyen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rice has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A head kick misses from Rice.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cristiano Nguyen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor Rice.
Rice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rice misses with a hook. Nguyen ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rice.
Rice shoots in looking for a takedown. Nguyen tries to sprawl out of it but Rice keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nguyen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rice moves out of range of the body kick from Nguyen.
Nguyen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rice paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rice tries to clinch there but Nguyen circles away.
Rice keeps the fight on the outside.
Cristiano Nguyen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connor Rice is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rice blocks a head kick by Nguyen.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Connor Rice.
I've got Rice winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Rice!