PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Ratliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aled Dreadfa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aled Dreadfa acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ratliff
vs
Dreadfa

198 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

212 cm
20
231 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dirk Ratliff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aled Dreadfa!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dreadfa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ratliff is fending him off so far but Dreadfa persists. Nope, Ratliff circles away and we're back to standing.
Dreadfa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dreadfa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ratliff looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dreadfa is fending him off so far but Ratliff persists. Nope, Dreadfa circles away and we're back to standing.
Dreadfa tries for a takedown but Ratliff manages to get underhooks.
Dreadfa tries for a takedown but Ratliff manages to get underhooks.
Dirk Ratliff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aled Dreadfa.
Dreadfa is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ratliff is defending well.
Ratliff tries to score a body lock takedown but Dreadfa shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ratliff tries to throw a body punch but Dreadfa avoids it by throwing Ratliff back against the cage.

Dreadfa manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratliff stuffs the takedown.
Dreadfa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Dreadfa fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dreadfa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Ratliff looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ratliff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dreadfa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dreadfa trying to control but Ratliff is working from the bottom.
Ratliff could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ratliff managing to control the position.
Dreadfa slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dreadfa postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ratliff to stand up.
Ratliff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dreadfa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Ratliff wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dreadfa misses with a takedown attempt - Ratliff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dreadfa tries to close the distance and clinch but Ratliff swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ratliff looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Dreadfa looks for a takedown but Ratliff sprawls well.
Ratliff fails with a takedown attempt.
Dreadfa unleashes a big counter combination but Ratliff bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dreadfa tries for a takedown but Ratliff sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dreadfa looks winded!
Dreadfa fails with a takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ratliff.
Ratliff tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Dreadfa is trying to control Ratliff's posture but Ratliff avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dreadfa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ratliff is chipping away with strikes.

Ratliff looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dreadfa is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dreadfa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ratliff's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dirk Ratliff will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ratliff throws a head kick but Dreadfa moves out of range.
Ratliff lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dreadfa circles away quickly and effectively.
Dreadfa is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Dreadfa feints and as Ratliff raises his hands in defense, Dreadfa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dreadfa won't allow Ratliff to sweep him here.
Ratliff wants to control but Dreadfa passes easily into half guard.

Dreadfa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Dreadfa seems to be working for a kimura but Ratliff defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratliff is looking to improve his 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.
Dreadfa thows a huge punch but Ratliff dodges it nicely.

Dreadfa wants to work for an arm triangle but Ratliff is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Dreadfa stalling.
Ratliff wants to get back to full guard.
Ratliff trying to hold on to Dreadfa's head to control him but Dreadfa postures up.

Ratliff looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ratliff manages to get to full guard.

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.
Dreadfa throws a big right hand that misses.
Ratliff working a defensive guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dreadfa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dreadfa.
Ratliff throws a push kick but Dreadfa slaps the foot to one side.

Dreadfa moves into range and clinches up with Ratliff.

Dreadfa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff has a takedown stuffed.
Dreadfa feints the counter takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dreadfa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dreadfa lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Dreadfa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ratliff as he avoids it easily.
Dreadfa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ratliff tries to avoid it but Dreadfa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ratliff to the ground. Ratliff escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dreadfa moves into the clinch.
Ratliff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Ratliff. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dreadfa breaks from the clinch.

Ratliff tries to keep at a distance but Dreadfa has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dreadfa drags the fight down to the ground.
Dreadfa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dreadfa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ratliff defends it easily.
Ratliff won't allow Dreadfa to sweep him here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dreadfa controls Ratliff momentarily but Ratliff frees himself.

Ratliff got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dreadfa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ratliff has managed to get both his arms back between Dreadfa's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aled Dreadfa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ratliff keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dreadfa punishes Ratliff's body with a nice straight punch.
Dreadfa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dreadfa blocks a head kick by Ratliff.
Ratliff defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dreadfa.
Dreadfa tries to clinch but Ratliff moves out of range.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Dreadfa. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Dreadfa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratliff will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dreadfa enables Ratliff to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dreadfa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ratliff scoring with some ground and pound.
Ratliff might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dreadfa working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ratliff has passed into half guard!
Ratliff is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Dreadfa has one foot on Ratliff's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Dreadfa lands with a straight right. Ratliff didn't see that one coming.
Aled Dreadfa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ratliff stuffs the takedown attempt from Dreadfa. Dreadfa gets slowly back to his feet.
Dirk Ratliff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aled Dreadfa.
Dreadfa tries to clinch but Ratliff is having none of it.
Dreadfa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dreadfa.
Ratliff throws the kick towards the body but Dreadfa avoids it.

Ratliff drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ratliff throws a big elbow that misses.
Ratliff slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dreadfa throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ratliff working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ratliff landing strikes.
Dreadfa manages to get back to half guard.
Ratliff slips a nice elbow through Dreadfa's hands, connecting with Dreadfa's forehead.
Dreadfa has his hands clasped together around Ratliff's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dreadfa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ratliff is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dreadfa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Ratliff showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ratliff has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Ratliff!