PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Angel Ricci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Turman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ricci
vs
Turman

176 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Angel Ricci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Keith Turman!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Seu Braga and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick by Ricci misses
and Turman counters with a stiff right hand.
No luck for Ricci with that takedown attempt.
Ricci shoots and misses
and Turman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ricci misses with a combination
and Turman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ricci with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Turman counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Ricci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick by Ricci misses
and Turman counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ricci. Ricci circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ricci tries to clinch
and Turman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Turman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ricci appears to be looking for a big counter.

Turman moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricci with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Turman trying to land knees to the body.

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

Turman darts in and clinches Ricci up against the cage.
Turman jumps guard but Ricci turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ricci jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Turman walks away with a smile on his face. Ricci gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ricci is looking to clinch.
Turman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Turman is looking to chop away at Ricci's legs.
Ricci is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ricci fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Turman manages to avoid it.
Ricci dives in and grabs Turman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Turman pushes down on Ricci's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turman scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ricci tries to clinch there but Turman circles away.
Turman is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ricci closes the distance and clinches up with Turman, looking for a takedown. Ricci pushes Turman against the cage but Turman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Turman is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ricci wants to clinch.
Despite the aggression on Turman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ricci misses with a wild body shot.
Ricci tries to close the distance and clinch up but Turman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ricci tries to clinch up but Turman circles away and keeps his distance.
Ricci darts in looking for a takedown but Turman gets double underhooks and turns Ricci into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Turman with that takedown attempt.
No joy there for Ricci, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Turman is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ricci dodges the punch combination from Turman.
Ricci dives in and grabs Turman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Turman pushes down on Ricci's head and hops out.
Turman with the counter takedown but Ricci avoids it easily.
Ricci swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Turman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ricci tries to close the distance and clinch but Turman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Turman checks a leg kick nicely.
Ricci tries to clinch but Turman moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci checks a leg kick.
Turman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ricci fails with the takedown.
Turman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Turman throws a one two combo.
Turman leaves Ricci with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Turman 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.

Turman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ricci doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Turman counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Turman misses with a body kick.
Turman throws a right hand that Ricci ducks under and follows up with a left that Ricci also avoids with ease.
Turman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ricci backs up against the cage.

It looks like Angel Ricci has been cut.
Ricci shoots in for a takedown but Turman shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turman throws a one two combo.
Ricci is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ricci tries to work over Turman's front leg with a kick but Turman checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricci goes for a double leg but Turman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Turman continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Ricci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Turman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Turman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ricci appears to be looking for a big counter.
Turman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Turman blocks a head kick by Ricci.
Ricci tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Turman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ricci shoots for a takedown but Turman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Turman slaps away a takedown attempt from Ricci, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Angel Ricci is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ricci tries to close the distance and clinch up but Turman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Turman throws a counter combo.
Ricci fails with a takedown attempt.
Turman throws a fast counter high kick but Ricci manages to duck under it in time.
Angel Ricci seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ricci tries to clinch up but Turman circles away and keeps his distance.
Turman pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ricci back to the cage. Turman follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Ricci fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricci tries to keep at a distance but Turman has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ricci goes for a takedown in the clinch but Turman prevents it.
Ricci is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Turman to keep the fight standing.

Turman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ricci shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Turman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ricci takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Turman looks to land a combination. Ricci sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Turman circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricci shoots in and drives through. Turman sprawls well.
Ricci wants to clinch
and Turman counters with a three punch combo that has Ricci backing up. Ricci nods at Turman to acknowledge the strikes.
Ricci looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Turman slips a jab and a cross from Ricci.
Turman is looking for the big counter here.
Ricci checks a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ricci misses with a kick to the body
and Turman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Turman stuffs the takedown attempt from Ricci. Ricci gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Turman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Angel Ricci's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ricci shoots in for a takedown but Turman shows good takedown defense.

Turman instigates a clinch.

Turman breaks the clinch.
Ricci tries to clinch but Turman is having none of it.
Turman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Turman throws the kick towards the body but Ricci avoids it.
Ricci tries to clinch there but Turman circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricci swings away with a body shot that misses

and Turman moves into the clinch.
Ricci pressing his opponent against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ricci swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ricci misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ricci shoots and misses
and Turman counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Angel Ricci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ricci tries to clinch up
and Turman counters with a left and a right that stings Ricci.
Ricci closes the distance but Turman moves to the side
and Turman counters with a series of strikes. Ricci will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricci tries to clinch there but Turman circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Turman as Ricci shoots in.
Ricci dives in and grabs Turman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Turman pushes down on Ricci's head and hops out.

Ricci decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ricci is thwarting Turman's attempts to control the position.
Turman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ricci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Turman pushes Ricci off looking to stand but Ricci dives back in and keeps control.
Turman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ricci.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ricci looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ricci is looking to take a break and control but Turman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ricci is looking for a kimura but Turman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ricci to get the leverage.
Ricci missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ricci goes for a double leg but Turman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Turman continues to drive forward.
Ricci shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ricci tries to clinch up.
Ricci has his takedown stuffed

and Turman counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Turman.
Turman tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ricci smiles and moves away.
Ricci shoots in for a double leg but Turman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Despite the aggression on Turman's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ricci shoots and misses
and Turman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ricci throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Turman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turman works over Ricci's head and body with a nice combination.
Angel Ricci has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keith Turman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Turman throws a series of punches but Ricci moves out of range.
It looked like Ricci was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Turman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith Turman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Turman 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith Turman!