PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raleigh Massey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Ford will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Massey
vs
Ford

164 cm
25
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

197 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Tends to cut

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Raleigh Massey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Ford!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Massey bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ford wants to control but Massey postures up.
A lull in the action here.
Ford is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Massey is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Ford tries to reverse the position but Massey maintains control.
Massey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ford tries to lock up and control but Massey gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Massey with shots to the head and body - Ford looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ford hang on?
Ford is looking to get to half guard.
Massey working the ground and pound effectively.
Massey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ford keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Massey controlling his opponent.
Ford wants to hold on but Massey pushes him away.
Massey controlling from the full mount.
Ford wants to hold on but Massey pushes him away.
Massey lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Massey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Massey lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Massey prevents Ford from getting the reversal.
Massey working Ford over with strikes here.
Massey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Massey's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Massey lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford is looking to get to half guard.
Massey controlling from mount.
Ford working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Massey landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Massey as Ford shoots in.
Ford tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Massey wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Raleigh Massey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ford fails with the takedown

and Massey moves into the clinch.

Massey pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Massey really is a fat lump.
Ford showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Massey.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ford fails with a takedown attempt.
Raleigh Massey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Ford.

Ford moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Massey lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ford.
Ford prevents Massey from breaking the clinch.
Massey has Ford pressed against the cage, preventing Ford from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ford trying to control the position but instead, Massey has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ford into the cage.
Massey is trying to pull guard but Ford has him pressed against the cage.
Ford can't break the clinch.

Massey breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ford tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Massey defends well and Ford ends up having to push Massey into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Massey throws a series of punches but Ford moves out of range.
Ford unleashes a big counter combination but Massey bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
John Ford seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ford bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Massey's head backwards.
Ford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Massey seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Ford darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Massey has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Ford is on him like a limpet, forcing Massey back against the cage.
Ford is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ford looking to slow down the pace here.
Ford trying to control the position but instead, Massey has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ford into the cage.
Ford is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Massey has denied him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Massey breaks from the clinch.

Massey gets a takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Massey seems content to control.
Massey seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ford for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford is looking to control Massey's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ford avoid being mounted?
Massey working the head and body with strikes.
Massey is taking a breather. Ford says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Massey scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Massey seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raleigh Massey dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ford misses with a combination

and Massey counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Massey is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ford can do to turn this around?
Ford tries to stall but Massey uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ford throws a punch but it's blocked by Massey.
Massey working hard to break the clinch.
Massey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ford gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ford stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Massey tries to pull guard but Ford won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ford breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ford throws a head kick that misses
and Massey counters with a left and a right that stings Ford.

Ford moves into range and clinches up with Massey.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford wants to break free but Massey has control.
Massey can't break the clinch.

Massey breaks from the clinch.
Massey fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ford avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raleigh Massey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Massey blocks the body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ford.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Ford closes the distance and clinches.
Ford wants to stall.
Massey is trying to pull guard but Ford turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Massey keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ford's efforts to push away.

Ford breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Massey blocks a head kick by Ford.
Ford looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford with a lazy takedown attempt

and Massey holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Massey fails to pull guard.

Massey pulls guard effortlessly.

Massey has his feet on Ford's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
John Ford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Massey moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Ford is trying hard to land a takedown here. Massey sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ford fails with the takedown

and Massey moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford prevents a takedown attempt there.

Massey breaks from the clinch.

Ford moves into the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Massey wants to get back to striking at distance but Ford won't allow it.

Massey breaks the clinch.
Ford closes this distance looking for a takedown but Massey circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ford instigates a clinch.

Massey breaks from the clinch.
Raleigh Massey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ford misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like Massey was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raleigh Massey showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Massey, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raleigh Massey!