PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Ritchards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jos Rodri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ryan Ritchards has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ritchards
vs
Rodri

225 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
21
130 lbs
3 - 13 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Ritchards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jos Rodri!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ritchards moves in looking to clinch but Rodri pushes him off.
Ritchards scores with a nice right hand.
Rodri darts in looking for a takedown but Ritchards gets double underhooks and turns Rodri into the cage.
Ritchards seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Ritchards wants to clinch.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ritchards sprawls well. Ritchards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodri gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodri fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ryan Ritchards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jos Rodri.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodri feints the counter takedown.
Ritchards lands a head kick. Rodri smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritchards keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rodri goes for a double leg but Ritchards avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ritchards continues to drive forward.
Ritchards wants to clinch.
Ritchards throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodri shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ritchards pinned against the cage. Ritchards gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rodri misses with a looping left.
Rodri fails with the takedown.
Rodri should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ritchards scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ritchards tries to clinch up.
Rodri shoots for a takedown but Ritchards saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ritchards is looking to counter the offense by Rodri and move into the clinch.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodri misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodri looks winded!
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ritchards throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rodri stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ritchards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rodri manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rodri is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ritchards moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rodri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodri is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
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!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ritchards.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ritchards as he jumps to the side.
Rodri takes a head kick and keeps coming.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ritchards.
Rodri fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ritchards checks it well.

Rodri moves into range and clinches up with Ritchards.
Rodri lands a left hand.
Rodri drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ritchards gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ritchards is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rodri is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ritchards to the mat. Ritchards regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodri stands up and waves to Ritchards to follow him.
Rodri slips a jab and a cross from Ritchards.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rodri rushes Ritchards and presses him up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rodri.
Ritchards is looking for a takedown.
Ritchards is trying to break free.
Rodri displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ritchards up against the cage.
Rodri has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ritchards is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Rodri.
Rodri manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rodri throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Rodri has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ritchards uses from the top position.
Rodri is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ritchards looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rodri in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Ritchards dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rodri shoots in looking for a takedown. Ritchards tries to sprawl out of it but Rodri keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ritchards manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rodri takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ryan Ritchards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ritchards but Ritchards pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ritchards scores with a sloppy right hand. Rodri should have avoided that one.
Rodri dives in for a single leg takedown but Ritchards sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ryan Ritchards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jos Rodri.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodri is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ritchards sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodri looks for a takedown but Ritchards sprawls well.

Rodri closes the distance and clinches.
Rodri is breathing heavily.
Stalling in the clinch from Rodri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritchards wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Rodri breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rodri changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ritchards tries to avoid it but Rodri manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ritchards to the ground. Ritchards escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rodri tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ritchards sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rodri somewhat.
Ritchards moves out of range of the body kick.
Ritchards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ritchards tries to clinch but Rodri moves out of range.
Ritchards is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rodri closes the distance and clinches up with Ritchards, looking for a takedown. Rodri pushes Ritchards against the cage but Ritchards circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rodri showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ritchards.
Ritchards moves in looking to clinch but Rodri pushes him off.
Rodri tries for a takedown but Ritchards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rodri tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritchards throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rodri defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ritchards.
Ritchards really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ritchards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jos Rodri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodri.
Rodri keeps the fight on the outside.
Ritchards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodri tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ritchards swivels and escapes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rodri or perhaps it was just good defense by Ritchards, which made it look bad.
As Rodri looks to move away, Ritchards throws a big counter combo bu Rodri just gets out of the way.
Rodri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rodri closes the distance and pushes Ritchards back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ritchards is trying to force a seperation but Rodri has the dominant position.
Ritchards is pressed up against the cage. Rodri has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ritchards down to the mat. Ritchards avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodri tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ritchards swivels and escapes.
Ritchards explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ritchards moves in looking to clinch but Rodri pushes him off.
And Rodri tries to counter it with a takedown but Ritchards pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rodri shoots for a takedown but Ritchards saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ritchards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rodri fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rodri swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rodri pushes Ritchards up against the cage in a clinch.
Ritchards looking to slow down the pace here.

Rodri is trying to trip Ritchards. He has hold of a leg but Ritchards is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Rodri persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Ritchards is looking to stand back up but Rodri counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ritchards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritchards is trying to get back to full guard.
Rodri stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Ritchards dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rodri fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ritchards avoids it really well and circles away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ritchards checks a leg kick.
Ritchards throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice combination there by Rodri.
Ritchards is looking to clinch.
Ritchards tries to clinch up but Rodri circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ritchards.
Rodri fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodri shoots for a takedown but Ritchards saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ryan Ritchards has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jos Rodri.
Ritchards slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodri, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodri has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodri misses with the body kick
and Ritchards counters with a left and a right that stings Rodri.
Ritchards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rodri shoots in but no luck this time.
Ritchards tries to close the distance and clinch but Rodri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rodri fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ritchards is looking to clinch but Rodri is avoiding it.
Ritchards throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ritchards stuffs the takedown attempt from Rodri. Rodri gets slowly back to his feet.
Rodri shoots in looking for a takedown but Ritchards manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rodri's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Ritchards tries to clinch up but Rodri circles away and keeps his distance.
A slow jab from Rodri misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritchards throws a sloppy head kick and Rodri moves out of range easily.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown but Ritchards shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rodri swats away the attempt to clinch by Ritchards.
Rodri is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rodri tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ritchards defends well and Rodri ends up having to push Ritchards into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ritchards throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodri misses with a takedown attempt
and Ritchards counters with a three punch combo that has Rodri backing up. Rodri nods at Ritchards to acknowledge the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ritchards throws a nice looking combination but Rodri bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rodri misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ritchards stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ritchards wants it to stay on the feet.
Ritchards fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rodri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rodri pushes Ritchards up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rodri as Ritchards tries to tie him up.
Rodri wants a takedown but no success here.

Rodri jumps into guard, dragging Ritchards to the mat.
Ritchards will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Rodri wriggles free and stands up.
Ritchards leaves Rodri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ritchards tries to clinch but Rodri moves out of range.
Ritchards leaves Rodri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ritchards.
Rodri shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ritchards sprawls well. Ritchards wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rodri gets slowly back to his feet.
Ritchards went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodri closes the distance and clinches up with Ritchards, looking for a takedown. Rodri pushes Ritchards against the cage but Ritchards circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ritchards leaves Rodri with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Rodri closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ritchards quickly recovers to half guard.
Rodri landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Ritchards showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ritchards, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Ritchards!