PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rory Rearden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rick Ross (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rearden
vs
Ross

176 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rory Rearden!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rick Ross!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rearden lands a leg kick that knocks Ross off balance momentarily.
Rearden paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Rearden fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ross, pushing him back against the cage.

Rearden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rearden moves into the clinch.
Ross fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rearden manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rearden avoiding damage.
Rearden misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ross is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rearden to keep the fight standing.

Rearden turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ross is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rearden tries to advance to mount but can't.
Rearden trying to control the action but Ross is working from the bottom.
Ross can't do much from the bottom here.
Ross is trying to improve his position.
Ross wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ross wants to control but Rearden postures up.

Rearden looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ross looking for a sweep but Rearden has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Ross really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rearden looking to control but Ross is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Rearden connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rearden cracks Ross with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ross throwing hammer fists to the chest of Rearden. What's that going to do exactly?
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ross tries to lock up and control but Rearden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rearden unloads with some shots from mount but Ross bucks and avoids them well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is looking to improve his position but Rearden isn't that keen on the idea.

Rearden is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ross has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ross!
Ross controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ross stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rearden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rearden controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ross shoots in for a double leg but Rearden sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ross enables Rearden to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ross manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ross keeping full guard, as Rearden tries to pass.
Ross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rearden is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ross has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rearden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rearden engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross pulls Rearden in close to prevent any damage.

Rearden stands up and waves to Ross to follow him.

Rearden pushes Ross up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ross is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rearden pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Rearden has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ross is trying to keep an underhook but Rearden manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ross is looking to improve his position.
Ross is breathing heavily.
Rearden wants to pass to mount but Ross is defending the position.
Rearden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ross can do to turn this around?
Ross wants to control but Rearden passes into side.
Ross tries to bench press Rearden off him but Rearden keeps the position.
Rearden landing a few strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rearden throwing strikes but Ross manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Ross working away.
Rearden is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Rearden tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ross wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Ross tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ross has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rearden tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ross stands up and beckons Rearden to his feet.
Ross tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rearden sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ross somewhat.
Rory Rearden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.
Rearden throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rearden throws a sloppy head kick
and Ross makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Rearden really felt that one!
Ross shoots in looking for a takedown. Rearden tries to sprawl out of it but Ross keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rearden manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Rearden dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rearden stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rearden wants it to stay on the feet.
A counter left hand to the body from Rearden misses its target.
Ross fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ross shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rory Rearden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rick Ross.

Rearden scores with a takedown into Ross's guard.
Rearden 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.
Rearden scoring with punches to the head and body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rearden 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.
Ross takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ross preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ross keeping moving, preventing Rearden from controlling successfully.
Rearden postures up.

Rearden decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ross, up you get!

Rearden fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ross, pushing him back against the cage.

Ross is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rearden is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ross to the mat. Ross regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ross avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ross looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Ross is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rearden defends well.
Rearden stands up over Ross, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ross is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rearden trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rearden lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ross's sensitive parts.

Rearden fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ross sprawls well initially but Rearden persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ross trying to control here.
Ross is looking to improve his position.
Rearden is nestled in close to Ross, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ross is trying to get back to full guard.
Ross throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Ross is defending against the submission attempts here by Rearden.
Ross trying to hold on to Rearden's head to control him but Rearden postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Rearden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rearden has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Rearden!
Rory Rearden is the new featherweight champion!