PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hannibal Barca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathew Ridgeway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barca's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Carthage. Ridgeway is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Forgotten War. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Barca
vs
Ridgeway

175 cm
24
165 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

174 cm
24
165 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Héritage!
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hannibal Barca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mathew Ridgeway!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barca moves out of range of the body kick from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway throws a push kick but Barca slaps the foot to one side.
Barca tries to counter with a takedown but Ridgeway is quick to defend against it.
Ridgeway lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ridgeway connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ridgeway lands a nice hook to Barca's body. Barca takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Ridgeway ducks under a wild hook from Barca.
Ridgeway moves away from the strike by Barca.
Ridgeway defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barca.
Ridgeway misses with a low kick as Barca jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barca 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.
A telegraphed right hand from Ridgeway misses the target.
Barca darts in looking for a takedown but Ridgeway gets double underhooks and turns Barca into the cage.
Barca takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barca moves away.
Jab by Barca.
A decent looking cross lands there for Barca.
Ridgeway looks to throw a body kick

and Barca counters with a shoot takedown. Ridgeway fights it but they end up in guard.
Barca trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridgeway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ridgeway is trying to control the position but Barca postures up.
Barca trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridgeway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ridgeway can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Barca controls the pace.
Barca throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway is pulling down on Barca's head. It's preventing any offense from Barca, at least for the moment.
Barca trying to control but Ridgeway is working from the bottom.
Barca missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Barca trying to control but Ridgeway is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ridgeway throws a shot from downtown. Barca moves away and avoids it.
A head kick misses from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Barca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Barca connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ridgeway scrambles back to his feet.
Mathew Ridgeway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barca.
Barca scores with a nice strike.
Ridgeway comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ridgeway. Barca does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barca ducks under a wild hook from Ridgeway.
Barca gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway misses the shot to the body.
Barca ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ridgeway moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barca dodges the punch combination from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands with a good body shot.
Ridgeway looks to land a body kick but Barca moved away.
Barca scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barca cracks Ridgeway with a right hand to the side of the head.
Barca avoids a kick to the body.
Barca appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ridgeway uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Barca.
Barca scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A punch combination from Ridgeway misses.
Barca drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ridgeway sprawls and moves away.
Barca shoots in for a takedown but Ridgeway shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice takedown defense from Ridgeway. No joy for Barca on that attempt.
Ridgeway swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ridgeway throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Barca counters with a single leg into guard. Ridgeway didn't expect that.
Ridgeway looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ridgeway working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Barca.
Barca forces his way into half guard.
Barca not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Barca is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ridgeway is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ridgeway avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Barca.

Barca is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ridgeway has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barca is thwarting Ridgeway's attempts to control the position.
Barca tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ridgeway knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've been hearing good reports from Barca's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ridgeway trying to control from the bottom.
Barca thows a huge punch but Ridgeway dodges it nicely.
Ridgeway has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barca is working away from the top position though.

Barca is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ridgeway sees it coming and defends easily.
Barca not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barca working the head and body with strikes.
Ridgeway blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barca.

Barca is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ridgeway doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barca.
Ridgeway felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Barca working over Ridgeway with some ground and pound. Ridgeway looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ridgeway on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway wants to control but Barca is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Barca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ridgeway keeps working.

Barca seems to be looking for submissions.
Barca sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ridgeway defending well though.
Barca trying to mount his opponent but Ridgeway defends it.
Barca works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barca misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Ridgeway is looking to regain half guard here but Barca keeps moving and retains side control.
Ridgeway is trying to control Barca's posture but Barca avoids it.
Check out the look on Barca's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Barca wants to control for a moment but Ridgeway uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Ridgeway gets back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barca with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannibal Barca dominated that second round.
That's time! Barca's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ridgeway ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ridgeway defending well as Barca loads up on a big left hand.
Barca ducks under a wild hook from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway throws a big shot that misses.
Ridgeway lands with a hook. Barca tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Barca keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Barca looks for a takedown but Ridgeway sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ridgeway misses with a low kick.
Barca was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ridgeway's corner calls for a 1-2. Ridgeway obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Barca throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ridgeway tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barca misses the shot to the body.
Ridgeway lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ridgeway tries to clinch but Barca moves out of range.
Barca keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Barca throwing a counter right hand but Ridgeway manages to avoid it.
Ridgeway with a nice cross.

Ridgeway has taken the fight to the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Barca backwards.
Barca tries to score a body lock takedown but Ridgeway shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Barca controls his hands.
Barca is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannibal Barca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ridgeway stops a takedown attempt from Barca.
Ridgeway is working Barca over against the cage.
A short uppercut from Ridgeway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barca has Ridgeway pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ridgeway manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ridgeway tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barca has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ridgeway after a bit of a struggle.
Ridgeway throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ridgeway lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barca backwards.
Barca blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Ridgeway fails to land.
Barca is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ridgeway is defending well.
Barca tries to score a body lock takedown but Ridgeway shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ridgeway digs a right hand into Barca's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Barca's gas tank.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barca is trying to drag Ridgeway to the mat but Ridgeway just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ridgeway misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ridgeway lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ridgeway lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ridgeway prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barca is trying to drag Ridgeway to the mat but Ridgeway just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway lands with a right to the head.
Barca drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ridgeway lands a shot to the body.
Ridgeway throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Barcas head.
Ridgeway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ridgeway prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ridgeway lands a right hand.
Ridgeway lands a nice uppercut.
Barca changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ridgeway fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Barca fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Barca is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Barca misses with a takedown attempt - Ridgeway sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway throws a quick inside leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Ridgeway misses the target.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Barca.
Ridgeway misses with a hook. Barca ducked under it nicely.
Barca misses with a straight left.
Barca needs to keep his hands up - Ridgeway had a free shot at his head there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ridgeway gets a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Ridgeway.
Barca has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ridgeway avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ridgeway misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Ridgeway comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ridgeway has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Ridgeway!
Our winner, Mathew Ridgeway, 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.
The defeated Hannibal Barca had this to say: 'I will either find a way, or make one.'.