PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vagner Love (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Riccuito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Love
vs
Riccuito

188 cm
28
206 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

193 cm
27
210 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu
Bullet Proof System

Reaper Combatwear

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 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vagner Love!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Riccuito!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Riccuito misses with a head kick.
Love throws a half hearted mid kick.
Riccuito was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Riccuito moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Riccuito has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Riccuito defending well as Love loads up on a big left hand.
Good work by Riccuito as he checks the leg kick.
Love cracks Riccuito with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Mark Riccuito has been cut.
Riccuito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Love.
Love misses with an uppercut. Riccuito saw that one coming.
Love swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Riccuito wants to counter with a clinch but Love pushes him away.
Riccuito scores with a head kick. Love tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Love is looking to slow Riccuito down with leg kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Riccuito. Love does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riccuito scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Love misses with a straight left.
It seemed like Riccuito was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Love looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Riccuito throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Riccuito walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Riccuito's head.
Riccuito throws a one two combo.
Love avoids the head kick by Riccuito.
A punch combination from Love misses.
Love lands a jab to Riccuito's midsection.
Riccuito throws a big shot that misses.
And Love counters with a quick kick to the body but Riccuito blocks it.
Love throws out a leg kick but Riccuito moves out of range and Love only half commits.
Riccuito looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Riccuito uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Love.
Riccuito misses with a straight left.
Riccuito lands with a shot to the body.
Love gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Riccuito.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riccuito takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Love walks into a jab.
Love missing with a left hand there. Riccuito was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Riccuito wants to clinch up but Love keeps it at a distance.
Love is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riccuito moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Love scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Love throws a body punch but Riccuito moves out of range.
Love sets himself, and Riccuito steps forward looking for the clinch! Love avoids it this time.
Love loads up on a big right hand but Riccuito slips the punch.
Riccuito connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Riccuito cracks Love with an open hand slap.
Love throws a hook but Riccuito blocks it.
Riccuito throws out a counter right but Love avoids it with no problem.
A chopping leg kick lands by Riccuito.
Riccuito misses with a double jab.
A counter left hand to the body from Love misses its target.
Love scores with a nice head shot.
Love avoids the head kick by Riccuito.
Riccuito lands the left hand.
Riccuito looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Love throws a right and a left that both miss.
Love wants to slow Riccuito down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love tries to bum rush Riccuito with a series of wild strikes but Riccuito uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Riccuito scores with a crisp jab that stopped Love in his tracks.
Love tries to land a leg kick but Riccuito saw it coming and moves away.
Love throws a leg kick that is checked
and Riccuito counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Riccuito throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Love throws out a loose jab but Riccuito uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riccuito buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Riccuito tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Love throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Love throws a front kick aimed at Riccuito's knee but Riccuito avoids it well.
Riccuito was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Love throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Riccuito.
A nice side step and Riccuito releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Love checks a leg kick.
Love swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Riccuito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Love.
Love misses with a straight left.
Love lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riccuito jabs Love right on the nose. Love blinks but takes it well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Riccuito fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Love has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Riccuito on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Love. Love obviously looking to wear him down.
Riccuito checks the leg kick nicely there.
Riccuito wants to counter the offense by Love and move into the clinch position.
Riccuito wants to clinch.
Riccuito looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Riccuito misses with a looping left.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Riccuito crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Love - the referee stops the clock and Riccuito gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Love. Riccuito manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
A combination from Riccuito does no damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Riccuito wants to land a leg kick but Love is out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Love.
Love misses the shot to the body.
Riccuito is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Love had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Love throws a shot from downtown. Riccuito moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Riccuito will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mark Riccuito's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Riccuito throws a body kick that misses.
Love was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Riccuito avoids the body shot from Love.
Love throws out a leg kick but Riccuito moves out of range and Love only half commits.
Riccuito checks a leg kick.
Riccuito misses with the combination.
Riccuito takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Love lands with a right hand.
Love jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Riccuito.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donk. Riccuito catches Love right on the button with a cross.
Love fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Riccuito checks it well.
Nice straight punches there by Love. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Love.
Love lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Love with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love throws a hook but Riccuito avoids it easily.
Love throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Riccuito thinks about the counter body kick.
Love throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And Riccuito responds with a good body kick, but Love manages to step out the way in time.
Love misses with a low kick.
Vagner Love is winning the standup battle so far.
Riccuito thows a left - swing and a miss!
Decent striking displayed by Riccuito there.
Nice body kick there by Love.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Riccuito in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Riccuito is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Love circles away from the clinch attempt.
Love misses with a wild body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Love. That snapped Riccuito's head back.
Riccuito walks into a left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Love.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Love scores with a jab to the body.
Love moves out of range as Riccuito throws a body kick.
Love misses with a low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Love is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riccuito.
Riccuito is looking to score with low kicks.
A clash of legs there as Riccuito blocks the low kick.
Riccuito tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Riccuito misses with a wild body shot.
Love on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Love pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A slow jab from Love misses its intended target.
Riccuito throws a leg kick but Love sees it coming and moves out of range.
Love throws a looping overhand right but Riccuito ducks down to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Riccuito.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riccuito loads up on a big right hand but Love slips the punch.
Love throws a leg kick that misses.
Riccuito moves out of range of the body kick from Love.
Love misses with a hook. Riccuito ducked under it nicely.
Riccuito feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Love's calf.
Riccuito lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Riccuito slips under a jab from Love.
Love lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Riccuito.
Love tries to work over Riccuito's front leg with a kick but Riccuito checks it.
Riccuito throws a head kick but Love moves out of range.
Love misses with a body kick.
Riccuito replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Love blocks it well.
Love throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Love looks to land a left hand but Riccuito moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Love.
Riccuito keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Love is looking to slow Riccuito down with leg kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Love lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Love tries to land a leg kick but Riccuito saw it coming and moves away.
Riccuito misses with a kick to the body.
Love throwing a counter right hand but Riccuito manages to avoid it.
Riccuito swings for the body but Love moves out of range.

Love drops Riccuito with a beautiful combination! Riccuito stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Love is looking for the KO!
Love is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Riccuito can do to turn this around?
Love takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Love swings for the body but Riccuito moves out of range.
Love throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Love lands a jab to the head.

Riccuito is rocked!
Riccuito misses with a straight right.
Love attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Riccuito tries to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vagner Love dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Riccuito's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Riccuito moves out of range of the body kick from Love.
Love slips a straight right by Riccuito.
Love tried to counter with a leg kick but Riccuito avoided it.
Love throws a wild body kick that Riccuito sees coming a mile off.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Riccuito might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Love has got the better of the exchanges.
Riccuito misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Riccuito finds it's way through Love's defenses.
Riccuito dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Love. That did some damage!
Love throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Riccuito.
Love jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Riccuito is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Riccuito connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Love ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Riccuito uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Love.
Riccuito tries to counter with a clinch but Love shakes him off and moves away.
Love jabs Riccuito to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Riccuito throws a wild body kick that Love sees coming a mile off.
Love is looking to counter with a body kick.
Love goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Love lands a jab to the nose.
Riccuito displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Love throws out the jab.
Love throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Riccuito steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Love.
A combination from Love does no damage.
Riccuito feints a counter leg kick.
Riccuito throws a head kick but Love moves out of range.
Love feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Riccuito slips under a jab from Love.
Love checks a leg kick.
Riccuito connects with a crisp jab.
Riccuito avoids the body shot from Love.
Riccuito wants to counter with a clinch but Love pushes him away.
Riccuito's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Love moves out of range of the leg kick from Riccuito.
Riccuito throws a low kick but it's checked well by Love.
Love shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Riccuito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Love misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riccuito lands a head kick. Love smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Love is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riccuito.
Love turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Riccuito throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Love looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Riccuito tries to land a body kick
and Love counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Love punishes Riccuito's body with a nice straight punch.
Love lands a head shot.
Love misses with a straight left.
Love misses with a body shot.
Love connects with a leg kick. Riccuito looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Riccuito walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Love checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Love takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Love cracks Riccuito with a good jab.
Love throws a body kick that misses.
Good shot there by Riccuito.
Riccuito looks to land a right hand but Love moved out of range.
Love digs a good body shot into Riccuito's ribs.
Riccuito ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Love takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Love thows a leg kick but Riccuito checks it
and Riccuito counters with a big head kick but Love shrugs it off.
Love throws a low kick but it's checked well by Riccuito.
Riccuito flicks out a counter leg kick but Love steps away.
Riccuito moves out of range as Love strikes.
Love moves out of range as Riccuito throws a body kick.
Love wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Riccuito throws a combination that misses
and Love counters with a left to the body.
Riccuito takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riccuito tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Love paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A jab lands there for Love.
Love tried to score with a low kick but Riccuito checks it.
Riccuito lands a nice leg kick that just misses Love's sensitive parts.
Love ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riccuito moves away.
Riccuito lands a leg kick that knocks Love off balance momentarily.
Love swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Love. That snapped Riccuito's head back.
Love motions for Riccuito to come forward. Love throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Riccuito moves out of range as Love throws a body kick.
Riccuito lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Love throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Riccuito slips under a jab.
Love ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Riccuito moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vagner Love showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Love 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vagner Love!
After winning the bout, Vagner Love thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Mark Riccuito was interviewed post fight and said '153'.