PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Calvin Stafford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Ripper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Stafford
vs
Ripper

199 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

198 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Calvin Stafford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Richard Ripper!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ripper throws a front kick that sends Stafford stumbling back into the cage.
Ripper fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Stafford has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Ripper manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stafford on his heels. He'll look to pass Stafford's guard now, I'm sure.
Ripper controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that Ripper has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Ripper gets to his feet. Stafford looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Stafford shoots in for a takedown but Ripper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ripper moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Ripper closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Stafford did well to prevent Ripper getting side control.
Stafford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stafford is trying to get back to full guard.
Stafford tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ripper.
Stafford misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ripper seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stafford tries to roll over but Ripper keeps him under control.
Stafford moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ripper stays in close to Stafford's body and controls the position.
Stafford tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ripper throwing strikes but missing.
Ripper trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two 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.
Ripper controlling from the top position.
Stafford wants to improve his position but instead Ripper has moved into half guard.
Ripper prevents Stafford from improving his position.
Ripper content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stafford throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Ripper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stafford tries to get to full guard but Ripper has control of the leg.
Ripper with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ripper has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford tries to get to full guard but Ripper has control of the leg.
Ripper is looking to take a break and control but Stafford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ripper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ripper lands a high kick!

Ripper scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ripper is looking to take a break and control but Stafford is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stafford tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ripper wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford is not content to let Ripper control the position.

Ripper wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stafford, who protects the arm well.
Ripper tries to move to mount but Stafford blocks the move with his legs.

Ripper decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stafford to his feet.
Ripper ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stafford takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Ripper closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Ripper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Calvin Stafford's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ripper gets the takedown into side control.
Stafford is being controlled here.
Ripper misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
A lull in the action here as Ripper stalls from top position.
Stafford looking for a sweep but Ripper has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Stafford manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Ripper is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Stafford is just riding it out for now. Ripper eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ripper stalling.
Ripper has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stafford trying to get back to full guard but Ripper takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Stafford flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Stafford throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Stafford keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ripper blocks Stafford's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Ripper misses with a head shot.
Stafford gets back to half guard.
Stafford is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ripper is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stafford has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stafford is trying to get back to full guard.
Ripper is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Richard Ripper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stafford punching from the bottom.
Ripper trying to control from half guard but Stafford is working away.
Stafford wants to improve his position but Ripper is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stafford is staying active underneath Ripper, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ripper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stafford tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stafford shoots in but no luck this time.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ripper.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ripper decides to stand back up.
Ripper throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Ripper looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Stafford!
Ripper working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stafford is trying to escape the position but Ripper is controlling the position.
Stafford regains half guard.
Ripper not doing much here.
Ripper thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stafford is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ripper perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Stafford wants to improve his position but Ripper is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Ripper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Calvin Stafford's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ripper throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stafford tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ripper is in Stafford's guard.
Ripper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Ripper.
Ripper passes Stafford's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Stafford wants to improve his position but Ripper is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ripper is controlling the pace.
Ripper is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Stafford!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ripper controlling the pace for now.
Stafford is looking to improve his position but Ripper isn't that keen on the idea.
Stafford wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ripper.

Ripper is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Stafford to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Stafford shrugs it off.
Ripper trying to control but Stafford is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stafford throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ripper. What's that going to do exactly?
Ripper wants to control the pace but Stafford is squirming around nicely.
Stafford is wriggling around trying to escape.
Stafford blocking the ground and pound.
Stafford tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ripper can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stafford is looking to escape.
Ripper controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ripper misses with a head shot.
Ripper misses with a head shot.
Ripper tries to control but Stafford wriggling away.
Stafford throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Ripper trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ripper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Ripper stands up from mount. Strange move.

Ripper gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ripper jumps guard.
Ripper working a defensive guard here.
Ripper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Stafford drops back looking for a leg! Ripper is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ripper manages to kick Stafford off! Stafford jumps back into Ripper's guard.
Ripper working a defensive guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stafford got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ripper has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Stafford has managed to get both his arms back between Ripper's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Ripper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ripper has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Ripper!
Richard Ripper seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.