PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Venable (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mickey Rourke is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Venable
vs
Rourke

187 cm
21
194 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
193 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Wocker's Warehouse
Red Moon Nutrition

JOKER FIGHTGEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Venable!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mickey Rourke!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rourke on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Venable. Venable obviously looking to wear him down.
Rourke shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Venable as he jumps to the side.
Rourke shoots in but Venable avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Nice takedown defense from Venable. No joy for Rourke on that attempt.
Ricky Venable has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Rourke.
Rourke lands a jab-cross combination.
Rourke looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Venable is fending him off so far but Rourke persists. Nope, Venable circles away and we're back to standing.
Rourke avoids the head kick by Venable.
Rourke lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rourke.
Rourke shoots in and drives through. Venable sprawls well.
Venable tries to land a front kick but Rourke steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Rourke stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Venable.
Rourke looks gassed!
Venable bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Venable tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Venable moves into the clinch successfully.
Venable lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Mickey Rourke has been cut.
Venable is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke is looking to break free of the clinch but Venable has double underhooks.

Venable escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rourke throws a jab but it's blocked by Venable.
Rourke rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Venable moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Venable scoring well with a low kick there.
Venable throws a right hand that Rourke ducks under and follows up with a left that Rourke also avoids with ease.
Ricky Venable is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rourke keeps the fight on the outside.
Venable tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Venable throws a leg kick which misses Rourke's front leg but catches the back leg as Rourke tries to avoid it.
Venable misses with a kick to the body.
Venable tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rourke shoots for a takedown but Venable saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rourke slips a jab from Venable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venable lands a head kick. Rourke smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Venable scores with a punch to the head.
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!
Venable throws a nice outside leg kick.
Venable throws a nice outside leg kick.
A head kick from Venable lands but Rourke takes it in his stride.
Rourke steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Venable. That one must have hurt.
Rourke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Venable looks to score with a jab to the body but Rourke is just out of range.
Venable moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Venable closes the distance and clinches.
Rourke working aggressively here.
Venable lands with a short shot to the head.
A short right from Venable on the inside.
Venable creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rourke's defenses.

That has opened up Mickey Rourke's cut even more.

Venable breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke shoots for a takedown but Venable saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Venable rushes Rourke and presses him up against the cage.
Rourke letting Venable take a breather here.
Venable with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Venable breaks the clinch.
Venable throws a head kick but Rourke moves out of range.
Mickey Rourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rourke throws a body punch but Venable moves out of range.
Venable misses with a looping left.
Rourke with a jab.
Venable has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rourke finds it's way round the side to connect with Venable's head.
A jab from Venable misses.
Rourke throws the left hand but Venable avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venable goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rourke fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Venable throws a head kick but Rourke moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Venable.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Venable throws a knee to the head but misses.
Venable lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rourke is working for takedown but Venable is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stalling in the clinch from Venable.

Venable escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rourke throws a lazy body kick
and Venable counters with a head kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Venable tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Rourke changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Venable looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Venable is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Venable dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Rourke's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rourke looks to land a combination. Venable sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rourke misses with a wild body shot.
Venable takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rourke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Venable is looking to clinch.
Rourke scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rourke's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Venable tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rourke darts in trying to clinch
and Venable counters with a nice body kick.
Rourke shoots in looking for a takedown. Venable tries to sprawl out of it but Rourke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Venable manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A clash of legs there as Rourke blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rourke tries to keep at a distance but Venable has taken the fight into the clinch.

Venable breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rourke is breathing heavily.

Rourke looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Venable not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Venable manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rourke manages to get himself to full guard.
Venable postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rourke working a defensive guard but Venable manages to pass into side control anyway.
Venable in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rourke sneaks back into half guard.
Venable takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Venable prevents Rourke from improving his position.

Rourke looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venable throwing shots but Rourke is blocking nicely.
Venable seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rourke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Venable sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rourke defending well though.
Venable controlling the action here.
Rourke keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

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.
Venable passes the guard and advances to mount!

Venable jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Rourke manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Venable remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rourke tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ricky Venable will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mickey Rourke's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Venable pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Venable falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rourke counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Venable!
Rourke lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Venable tries to hold on but Rourke pushes him away.
Rourke postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Venable looks a forlorn figure.
Venable wants to hold on but Rourke pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rourke with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rourke has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Venable's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venable wants to hold on but Rourke pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rourke raining down shots from the mount!
Venable wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rourke.
Rourke is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rourke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Venable on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Venable tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Venable really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rourke looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rourke is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Rourke looking to control but Venable is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rourke is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venable gets back to half guard.
Venable is doing well to control the position and prevent Rourke from advancing to side control.
Rourke throws a strike but Venable avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rourke working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Venable is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mickey Rourke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rourke is trying to maintain the position but Venable is very close to passing his half guard.
Venable is tying to control. Rourke wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Venable thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rourke is staying active underneath Venable, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Venable moves into full mount! Rourke won't be happy about that!
Rourke bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rourke not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Venable looking to control.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Venable is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Rourke really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Rourke's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rourke closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rourke tries to pass to full mount but Venable defends it.
Rourke throws a strike but Venable avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Venable trying to control the position.
Venable wants to improve his position but instead Rourke has moved into half guard.
Venable controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Venable is trying to maintain the position but Rourke is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Venable works his way to full guard. Good work.
Venable wants to sweep here but Rourke controlling him for the moment.
Venable will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Venable looking for a sweep. Not yet Venable, not yet.
Venable working a defensive guard here.
Rourke not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Venable working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rourke.
Venable keeping moving, preventing Rourke from controlling successfully.
Venable wants to sweep here but Rourke controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rourke tries for a takedown but Venable circles away easily
and Venable counters with a thumping low kick.
Rourke lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Venable cracks the inside of Rourke's front leg.
Venable fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venable is looking to chop away at Rourke's legs.
A left lands for Rourke.
Ricky Venable is winning the standup battle so far.
Rourke misses with a takedown
and Venable counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rourke is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Venable lands a head kick. Rourke smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rourke connects with a single shot there.
Ricky Venable is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Venable tries to clinch there but Rourke circles away.
A shot to the body from Venable misses
and Rourke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rourke looks to score with a jab to the body but Venable is just out of range.
Rourke lands with a right hand.
Venable tries to clinch there but Rourke circles away.
Rourke with a poor takedown
and Venable counters with a head kick.
Ricky Venable has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Rourke.
Venable throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rourke throws a sloppy body shot
and Venable counters with an outside leg kick.
Rourke thows a body shot but no joy.
Venable on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rourke keeps the fight on the outside.
Venable feints and then cracks Rourke's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rourke down.
Rourke shoots and misses
and Venable counters with a head kick.
Venable throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Venable throws a head kick that misses.
Rourke tries to clinch but Venable moves away
and Venable counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rourke is lucky that one didn't land flush.

The cut above Mickey Rourke's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Rourke fails to land the takedown.

Venable takes the fight into the clinch.
Rourke misses with an elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Venable had his way with Mickey Rourke in that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey Rourke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rourke looks for a takedown but Venable sprawls well.
Rourke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Venable at a distance.
Rourke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Venable swivels and escapes.
Rourke fails with the takedown
and Venable counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ricky Venable has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mickey Rourke.
Venable swings away with a body shot that misses
and Rourke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rourke tries to clinch but Venable moves away
and Venable counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rourke blocks a head kick by Venable.
Venable misses with a head kick.
Venable tries to clinch there but Rourke circles away.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rourke's corner calls for a 1-2. Rourke obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Venable moves in looking to clinch but Rourke pushes him off.
Venable fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke with a poor takedown
and Venable counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rourke's knee momentarily.
Venable throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Rourke tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Venable swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rourke.
A good leg kick by Venable.
Venable throws a head kick but Rourke moves out of range.

Venable moves into the clinch successfully.

Venable escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Venable will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rourke checks a leg kick.
Rourke fails with the takedown
and Venable counters with a body kick that stops Rourke in his tracks momentarily.
Mickey Rourke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke tries for a takedown but Venable sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rourke blocks a jab.
Venable thuds a left hand into Rourke's body.

Venable has Rourke up against the cage in a clinch.
Venable stalling the fight.

Venable breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Venable thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rourke if he has to take too many more of those.
Venable lands a head kick. Rourke smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Rourke darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Venable moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rourke wants to pass the guard but Venable is keeping the position.
Rourke looking to sit in guard and control but Venable gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Venable is pushing down on Rourke's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rourke is fighting to maintain full guard but Venable has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rourke on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Venable in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice strikes from Venable there.
Rourke is trying to maintain the position but Venable is very close to passing his half guard.
Venable controlling the action here.
Rourke wants to control but Venable is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Venable showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Venable 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 49:46
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Venable!
Ricky Venable retains his middleweight title!