PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Ranieri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Laam OvGod (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ranieri comes to the cage accompanied by DMX - Lord give me a Sign. Joe Ranieri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ranieri
vs
OvGod

186 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
192 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Ranieri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Laam OvGod!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OvGod slips a straight right by Ranieri.
OvGod wants to counter with a clinch but Ranieri pushes him away.
Joe Ranieri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ranieri misses with a two punch combination.
Ranieri throws a low kick, looking for OvGod's leg but OvGod calmly moves out of range.
Ranieri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

OvGod gets a clinch.
OvGod swings wildly with an uppercut but Ranieri uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ranieri misses with a knee to the head.
OvGod pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ranieri dodges an elbow strike from OvGod.

OvGod manages to break the clinch.
Ranieri misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OvGod moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

OvGod moves into the clinch successfully.

OvGod breaks from the clinch.
Ranieri throws a head kick but OvGod moves out of range.
OvGod blocks a head kick by Ranieri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Ranieri as he checks the leg kick.

Ranieri gets tackled into the cage by OvGod. OvGod maintains the clinch.
OvGod on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

OvGod breaks from the clinch.
Ranieri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ranieri sets himself, and OvGod steps forward looking for the clinch! Ranieri avoids it this time.

OvGod rushes Ranieri and presses him up against the cage.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ranieri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
OvGod throws a head kick but Ranieri moves out of range.
Ranieri throws a right hand that OvGod ducks under and follows up with a left that OvGod also avoids with ease.
OvGod showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ranieri.
OvGod scores with a jab to the jaw.
OvGod tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
OvGod has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Ranieri is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Ranieri connects with a right hand. OvGod shakes it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ranieri throws a hook but OvGod avoids it easily.
OvGod throws a front kick aimed at Ranieri's knee but Ranieri avoids it well.
OvGod tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by OvGod.
OvGod scores with a punch to the head.
OvGod fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ranieri checks it well.
Ranieri is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

OvGod takes the fight into the clinch.
Ranieri blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but OvGod holds him up against the cage and eventually Ranieri drops back down to his feet.
Ranieri avoiding damage as OvGod throws knees to the body.
OvGod takes a knee to the side of the body.

OvGod pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ranieri takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ranieri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

OvGod closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ranieri blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri jumps guard but OvGod turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

OvGod breaks the clinch.
Ranieri misses with a kick to the body.
Ranieri misses with a wild combination.
OvGod throws out a counter right but Ranieri avoids it with no problem.
Ranieri lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
OvGod swings for the body but Ranieri moves out of range.

OvGod gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ranieri tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Ranieri manages to break the clinch.
Jab by OvGod.
Ranieri misses with a wild combination.
A lazy left from OvGod finds it's target.
Ranieri misses with a low kick.
A countering left hand to the body from OvGod misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
OvGod uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ranieri has time to react.

OvGod clinches.
Ranieri misses with a knee to the head.
Ranieri misses with a knee to the head.
OvGod is leaning against Ranieri and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ranieri is breathing heavily.
OvGod lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
OvGod trying to land knees to the body.
OvGod lands a knee to the head.

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

OvGod clinches up with Ranieri and pushes him back against the cage.
Ranieri tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A shot in the inside from OvGod.
Ranieri misses with a knee strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
OvGod blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ranieri doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. OvGod just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Ranieri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
OvGod lands on the inside with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ranieri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
OvGod is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Ranieri throws a head kick but OvGod moves out of range.
Ranieri swinging wildly here.

OvGod forces Ranieri back against the cage and clinches.
Ranieri takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Joe Ranieri has been cut.
OvGod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
OvGod lands a left hand.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
OvGod jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ranieri feints a jab promting OvGod to slip. Ranieri then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. OvGod slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
OvGod throws a lazy right hand but Ranieri sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

OvGod moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ranieri tries to land a knee to the head but OvGod blocks with his arms.
OvGod misses with a short punch on the inside.
OvGod throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ranieris head.
OvGod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
OvGod lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OvGod breaks from the clinch.
OvGod looks to land a right hand but Ranieri moved out of range.
Joe Ranieri is winning the standup battle so far.
Ranieri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ranieri steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from OvGod. That one must have hurt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ranieri takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ranieri uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from OvGod.
Ranieri scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ranieri misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ranieri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
OvGod steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Ranieri.
OvGod misses with a low kick.
Ranieri takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ranieri misses with a series of wild punches.

OvGod clinches up with Ranieri and pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
OvGod goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
OvGod throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri takes a knee to the side of the body.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ranieri throws a leg kick
and OvGod counters with a straight right hand.

OvGod instigates a clinch.
OvGod lands a good knee to the midsection. Ranieri won't want to take too many of those.
OvGod missing with knees to the body.

OvGod escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
OvGod chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ranieri checks a low kick from OvGod.
As OvGod looks to move away, Ranieri throws a big counter combo bu OvGod just gets out of the way.
OvGod moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
OvGod showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ranieri.

OvGod closes the distance and pushes Ranieri back into the cage.
OvGod connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ranieri's face.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OvGod shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ranieri.
OvGod throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
OvGod throws an overhand right that lands on Ranieri's shoulder, as Ranieri tries to avoid the shot.
Ranieri throws a low kick but OvGod moves out of range easily.
OvGod tries to counter with a clinch but Ranieri shakes him off and moves away.
No joy there for Ranieri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ranieri throws out a leg kick but OvGod moves out of range and Ranieri only half commits.
OvGod fails to land with a series of punches.

OvGod clinches up with Ranieri and pushes him back against the cage.
OvGod lands with a light punch inside.
OvGod with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
OvGod misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ranieri.

OvGod manages to break the clinch.
OvGod throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ranieri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ranieri looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OvGod drives through and clinches with Ranieri against the cage.
Ranieri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but OvGod has him pressed against the cage.
OvGod tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

OvGod pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
OvGod throws a half hearted mid kick.

OvGod forces Ranieri back against the cage and clinches.

OvGod manages to break the clinch.
Ranieri misses with a wild combination.
Ranieri throws a right and a left that both miss.
OvGod tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ranieri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
OvGod fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OvGod moves into the clinch.
OvGod swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ranieri is trying to pull guard but OvGod turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laam OvGod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Ranieri's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ranieri circles away from the clinch attempt.
OvGod on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Ranieri falls off balance throwing a combination

and OvGod holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right from OvGod on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
OvGod checks the leg kick.
OvGod misses with a low kick.
Ranieri is looking to counter punch.
Ranieri throws a head kick that misses.
Ranieri throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
OvGod tests Ranieri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ranieri plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

OvGod gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ranieri dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OvGod gets through Ranieri's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ranieri misses with a knee strike.
OvGod landing knees to the body.
OvGod throws a knee to the head but misses.
A head punch on the inside from OvGod fails to land.
Ranieri jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as OvGod walks away with a smile on his face. Ranieri gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
OvGod 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.
Ranieri walks into a left hand.
Ranieri lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good work by Ranieri as he checks the leg kick.
Ranieri throws a right and a left that OvGod avoids nicely.

Ranieri tries to keep at a distance but OvGod has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from OvGod.
OvGod lands a hook that snaps the head of Ranieri backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
OvGod throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ranieri blocks it with crossed arms.
Ranieri with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
OvGod landing knees to the head.
OvGod lands a right hand.
OvGod lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ranieri managing to block the knees to the body from OvGod.
OvGod misses with a knee to the head.
OvGod tries a knee to the head but Ranieri blocks it.
Ranieri has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Ranieri decides to pull guard.

OvGod gets to his feet. Ranieri looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
OvGod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ranieri swats him away and circles back towards the center.

OvGod clinches up with Ranieri and pushes him back against the cage.
OvGod lands a shoulder strike.

OvGod's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ranieri misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ranieri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck OvGod on the side of the head.
No joy there for Ranieri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ranieri throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ranieri tries to keep at a distance but OvGod has taken the fight into the clinch.

OvGod's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ranieri gets tackled into the cage by OvGod. OvGod maintains the clinch.
Ranieri takes a knee right on the jaw!
OvGod trying to land knees to the body.
OvGod misses with an elbow over the top.
A short uppercut from OvGod.

OvGod manages to break the clinch.

Ranieri tries to keep at a distance but OvGod has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but OvGod won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri avoiding damage as OvGod throws knees to the body.
OvGod fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
OvGod landing some nice looking knees to the body.

OvGod breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
OvGod blocks a head kick by Ranieri.
OvGod tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ranieri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ranieri swinging wildly here.
Ranieri wants to land a leg kick but OvGod is out of range.
Despite the aggression on OvGod's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

OvGod closes the distance and clinches.
Come on Ranieri - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ranieri with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Laam OvGod seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Ranieri manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Laam OvGod really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Ranieri's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

OvGod closes the distance and pushes Ranieri back into the cage.
OvGod crunches a lovely knee into Ranieri's ribcage.
A frustrated look appears on Ranieri's face as he tries to break the clinch.
OvGod tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but OvGod holds him up against the cage and eventually Ranieri drops back down to his feet.

OvGod breaks from the clinch.
Ranieri fails to land with a series of punches.

OvGod closes the distance and clinches.
OvGod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
OvGod lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ranieri backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but OvGod forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

OvGod escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ranieri is looking to land body kicks.
OvGod scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ranieri in his tracks.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
OvGod is looking to slow Ranieri down with leg kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by OvGod.
OvGod misses with a two punch combination.
OvGod connects with a solid leg kick.
A head kick from OvGod lands but Ranieri takes it in his stride.
Ranieri looks to land a combination but OvGod avoids it well.
OvGod raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
OvGod ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ranieri throws a series of punches but OvGod avoids them all with ease.
Ranieri takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

OvGod clinches up against the cage.

Ranieri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
OvGod throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No joy there for Ranieri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
OvGod throws a good cross that connects.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

OvGod manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Ranieri.
Ranieri bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

OvGod clinches up against the cage.
OvGod misses with an elbow over the top.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, OvGod creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
OvGod lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ranieri on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ranieri avoiding damage as OvGod throws knees to the body.
Ranieri prevents a body shot from OvGod.
Ranieri looking to stall.
OvGod trying to land knees to the body.
OvGod tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but OvGod holds him up against the cage and eventually Ranieri drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Ranieri. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables OvGod to keep the fight standing.
Ranieri tries to pull guard but OvGod holds him up against the cage and eventually Ranieri drops back down to his feet.
OvGod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
OvGod tries to land a knee to the head but Ranieri blocks with his arms.
Ranieri tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
OvGod digs a right hand into Ranieri's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ranieri's gas tank.
A short left from OvGod.

Ranieri pulls guard successfully.

Ranieri looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! OvGod has picked Ranieri up and slammed him! Ranieri can't keep hold of the triangle and OvGod manages to pass to side control!
Ranieri is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OvGod trying to control the action but Ranieri is working from the bottom.
Ranieri is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Roosters Coop, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Ranieri is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Ranieri is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked OvGod off and has taken his back!
Ranieri controlling well, preventing OvGod from escaping the position.
OvGod wants to control his opponent's hands but Ranieri gets his hands free.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ranieri is working for a rear naked choke. OvGod is not defending it well and Ranieri has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! OvGod refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of OvGod's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joe Ranieri!
Joe Ranieri is the new middleweight champion!
After the fight, Joe Ranieri was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.