PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Ponting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Randy West was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Ponting
vs
West

170 cm
36
160 lbs
27 - 23 - 0

180 cm
35
166 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Ponting!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Randy West!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
West takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ponting checks a low kick from West.
West fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ponting manages to avoid it.
West fails with an attempt to clinch.
West connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ponting takes a shot to the body in his stride.
West just misses with a punch to the body.
Ponting tries a low kick but West avoids it.

West drives through and clinches with Ponting against the cage.
West stalling in the clinch.
Ponting tries to circle away but West has him pinned against the cage.
West lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ponting.
West lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
West stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Ponting takes an elbow to the forehead.
West has Ponting pressed against the cage, preventing Ponting from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
West lands an uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
West lands with a short punch from the clinch.
West lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
West swings away with an uppercut that misses.
West lands a shot to the body.

Ponting breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Randy West is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
West misses with a low kick as Ponting jumps back.
West scores with a shot to the body.
West swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ponting throws an uppercut from half a mile away. West sees it coming and avoids it easily.
West cracks Ponting with an open hand slap.
West uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ponting.
Ponting swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by West.
Ponting checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ponting went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ponting takes one to the chin there.
Ponting misses with a hook.
West ducks under a wild hook from Ponting.
West scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big right from Ponting misses.
Ponting is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
West lands a really nice looking cross but Ponting seems unphased.

West has managed to clinch.
Ponting wants to get back to striking at distance but West won't allow it.
Ponting wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but West has him pressed against the cage.
Ponting is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
West lands a body shot.
A short right from West on the inside.
West content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ponting wants a takedown.
Ponting fails to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
West misses with a hook to the ribs.
West manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
West lands a hook that snaps the head of Ponting backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West lands a left hand.
West using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ponting has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ponting is trying to break free.
West using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
West comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
West scores with a shot to the side of Ponting's head.
A right hook to the body lands for West.
Ponting prevents a body shot from West.
Ponting blocks an elbow strike from West.
West scores with a shot to the side of Ponting's head.
West is struggling to control the position.
West stalling in the clinch.
West lands with a short head shot on the inside.
West lands an elbow inside.
West has Ponting pressed against the cage, preventing Ponting from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West can't find room to land a body shot as Ponting controls the action.
West connects with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
West is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponting is defending well for now.
Ponting can't break the clinch.
Ponting scores with a shot to the side of West's head.
A frustrated look appears on Ponting's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from West.
West working some nice short punches in the clinch.
West unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ponting lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ponting blocks the elbow strike.
Ponting drops down looking for an ankle pick but West pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Ponting. That's going to take a lot out of him.
West with a hook.
West uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ponting.
Ponting throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ponting lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy West dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

West uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ponting.
Ponting misses with an uppercut. West saw that one coming.
West swings away with a leg kick that misses.
West throws a push kick but Ponting slaps the foot to one side.
Ponting throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ponting misses with a straight right.
Ponting fails to land with a series of punches.
Ponting misses with a body shot.
Ponting misses with a body shot.
Ponting throws a wild body kick that West sees coming a mile off.
West is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ponting.
Ponting takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Some wild striking there from West.
West misses with a kick to the body.
Ponting was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ricky Ponting seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
West throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
West has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ponting moves out of range as West strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting moves out of range as West strikes.
Ponting walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
West misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ponting darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Randy West seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ponting lands a nice shot to the body.
Ponting moves out of range as West strikes.
West tries to work over Ponting's front leg with a kick but Ponting checks it.
West fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts West, as that shot connected.
Ponting on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The fighters circling - West throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ponting misses with an uppercut.
West connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
West has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ponting digs a good hook to West's body.
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!
Ponting lands with a cross.
West lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ponting swings away with a leg kick that misses.
West throws a counter combo.
Ponting ducks under a wild hook from West.
Ponting looks to land a combination but West avoids it well.
Ponting throws a right hand that misses
and West counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
West throws a shot to the body.
West looks to score with a jab to the body but Ponting is just out of range.
Ponting throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
West fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ponting manages to avoid it.
Ponting rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and West counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
West misses with a wild body shot.
West does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from West, right into the meat.
Ponting misses with a straight left.
Ponting throws an overhand right that lands on West's shoulder, as West tries to avoid the shot.
A countering left hand to the body from West misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ponting thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ponting throws a right and a left that West avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ponting lands with an uppercut that bounces West off the cage and back into range.
Ponting misses the body punch

and West counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by West.

Ponting breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ponting on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by West. West obviously looking to wear him down.
Ponting rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and West counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Ponting is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in West's half guard.
Ponting thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ponting prevents West from improving his position.

Ponting is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ponting has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
West is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponting thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ponting is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ponting throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing West to regain full guard.
Ponting postures up.

West is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ponting defends well.
Ponting is looking to work some ground and pound but West has wrist control.
West controls Ponting momentarily but Ponting frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy West showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ponting tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but West was well out of range. Poor timing from Ponting.
A telegraphed right hand from Ponting misses the target.
West throws the kick towards the body but Ponting avoids it.
West ducks under a wild hook from Ponting.
Ponting looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ponting sets himself, and West steps forward looking for the clinch! Ponting avoids it this time.
West misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
West scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
West checks a low kick from Ponting.
Ponting loads up on a big right hand but West slips the punch.
Ponting bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A swing and a miss from West.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ponting thows a left - swing and a miss!
A low kick from Ponting misses

and West counters by moving into the clinch.
West leaning against his opponent.
Randy West seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ponting prevents a body shot from West.
Ponting blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting wants to break free but West has control.
Ponting has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
West lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from West.
West landing knees to the head.
West controlling the action here for a moment.
Ponting has had enough of the clinch but West keeps him there for the moment.
West softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
West lands with a left to the head.
West lands a left hand.
West slows down the pace here.
West lands with a right to the head.
Ponting tries to break free but West pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting is trying to force a seperation but West has the dominant position.
West lands an uppercut.
West lands a left hand.
West pushes Ponting back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from West.
Ponting can't break the clinch.
West working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
West stalls.
West lands with a light punch inside.
West lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Ponting is rocked!
Ponting wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Oh Ponting is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
West has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Ponting seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if West can turn it around.
West lands a body punch in the clinch.
West lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ponting backwards.
Ponting wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but West has him pressed against the cage.
West lands a knee to the body.
West lands a body shot in the clinch.
West lands a nice knee to the body.
Ponting is really struggling to find his range with his punches. West's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from West.
West lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
West pushes Ponting back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
West lands a big knee to the head and Ponting goes down! West pounces and finishes the fight with strikes! He jumps to his feet and celebrates with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Randy West!
Randy West is the new lightweight champion!
Our winner, Randy West, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.