PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Riccuito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chase Rouch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rouch has chosen Can I as his entrance music. Chase Rouch told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Riccuito
vs
Rouch

193 cm
25
204 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

190 cm
23
215 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Riccuito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chase Rouch!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rouch throws a body kick that misses.
Rouch is looking to land body kicks.

Rouch takes the fight into the clinch.
Riccuito lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Riccuito lands with a short shot to the head.
Riccuito lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Riccuito breaks the clinch.
Riccuito throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rouch on the side of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Riccuito.
Rouch drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Riccuito defends it well.
Riccuito looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Rouch tries to keep at a distance but Riccuito has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rouch missing with knees to the body.

Riccuito breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rouch has closed the distance and engaged Riccuito in a clinch.
A short uppercut from Riccuito.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riccuito stalling in the clinch.
Rouch is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riccuito is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riccuito presses Rouch against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rouch tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Riccuito dodges an elbow strike from Rouch.
Riccuito lands a hook that snaps the head of Rouch backwards.
Still in the clinch, Riccuito scores with a nice short uppercut.
Riccuito throws an elbow but it misses.
Rouch misses with an elbow over the top.
Riccuito avoiding damage.
Riccuito on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Riccuito slowing the pace effectively.
Riccuito lands a damaging elbow.
Rouch trying to stall but Riccuito improves his position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Riccuito as Rouch tries to tie him up.
Rouch just leaning against Riccuito, taking a breather.
Rouch looking to slow down the pace here.
Riccuito lands with a short shot to the head.
Riccuito unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rouch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Riccuito as Rouch tries to tie him up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riccuito.
Rouch tries to land knees in the clinch but Riccuito avoids the damage to the body.
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!
Riccuito lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Riccuito looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Riccuito lands a nice uppercut.

Rouch is rocked!
A short right from Riccuito.
Rouch is still on wobbly legs! Can Riccuito finish him?
Riccuito has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Rouch - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Riccuito, and another! Rouch is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Mark Riccuito!
Mark Riccuito seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.