PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Negan Finnigan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Ritchie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Finnigan
vs
Ritchie

178 cm
25
165 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Negan Finnigan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, James Ritchie!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finnigan scores with a hook to the body. Ritchie takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A decent looking cross lands there for Finnigan.
Ritchie throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ritchie looks for a takedown but Finnigan sprawls well.
Finnigan is looking to counter punch.
James Ritchie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ritchie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finnigan.
Ritchie throws a wild body kick that Finnigan sees coming a mile off.
Ritchie misses with a jab, cross combination.
Finnigan was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ritchie tries for a takedown but Finnigan circles away easily
and Finnigan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ritchie misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finnigan throws a series of punches but Ritchie avoids them all with ease.
Ritchie tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finnigan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Finnigan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ritchie.
Negan Finnigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Ritchie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finnigan avoids a punch combination nicely.
Finnigan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Finnigan.
Nice body punch from Finnigan.
Ritchie's coach down at Kung Fu Fighting Club ($120 entry fee) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ritchie's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ritchie fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Ritchie looks to move away, Finnigan throws a big counter combo but Ritchie just gets out of the way.
Finnigan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ritchie has time to react.
Finnigan misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan lands a slapping body shot.
Ritchie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ritchie misses with a head kick.
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!
Finnigan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ritchie throws a sloppy head kick and Finnigan moves out of range easily.
Finnigan keeps the fight on the outside.
Ritchie tries to clinch but Finnigan moves away
and Finnigan counters with a one-two to the body.
Ritchie goes for a double leg but Finnigan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Finnigan continues to drive forward.
Ritchie looks winded!
Finnigan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ritchie.
Finnigan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Finnigan throws a right hand that Ritchie ducks under and follows up with a left that Ritchie also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ritchie tries to clinch but Finnigan moves out of range.
Finnigan throws a body punch but Ritchie moves out of range.
Finnigan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Finnigan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ritchie closes the distance but Finnigan moves to the side
and Finnigan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ritchie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Finnigan misses with the combination.
Ritchie doesn't manage to clinch there - Finnigan circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ritchie bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ritchie goes for a double leg but Finnigan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Finnigan continues to drive forward.
Ritchie misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ritchie misses with a takedown
and Finnigan counters with a nice uppercut.
Ritchie tries to clinch up
and Finnigan counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Finnigan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ritchie.
Ritchie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ritchie misses with a double jab
and Finnigan counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ritchie takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ritchie tries to clinch up.
Ritchie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Finnigan counters with a stiff right hand.
Finnigan looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Ritchie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ritchie fails with the takedown
and Finnigan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ritchie plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritchie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Finnigan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ritchie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Finnigan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ritchie can do to turn this around?
Ritchie throws a lazy head kick
enabling Finnigan to counter with a crisp jab.
Negan Finnigan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ritchie is breathing heavily.
Ritchie tries to close the distance and clinch but Finnigan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritchie looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Finnigan thuds a left hand into Ritchie's body.
Finnigan lands a nice hook to Ritchie's body. Ritchie takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Finnigan looks to land a combination but Ritchie avoids it well.
Ritchie avoids the body shot from Finnigan.
Finnigan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Ritchie might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Finnigan has got the better of the exchanges.
Finnigan misses with a body shot.

Finnigan tries to keep at a distance but Ritchie has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ritchie breaks from the clinch.
Ritchie goes for a double leg but Finnigan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Finnigan continues to drive forward.
Negan Finnigan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Ritchie.
Some wild striking there from Ritchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ritchie.
Finnigan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finnigan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ritchie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Finnigan but Finnigan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Finnigan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ritchie pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A shot to the liver by Finnigan. Beautiful body shot.
Ritchie doesn't manage to clinch there - Finnigan circles away.
Finnigan lands with a shot to the body.
Finnigan with a nice cross.
Finnigan lands a lovely overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan avoids the head kick by Ritchie.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Finnigan!
Finnigan cracks Ritchie with a good jab.
Finnigan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ritchie's hands.
Ritchie looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ritchie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Finnigan finds it's way round the side to connect with Ritchie's head.
Ritchie throws a right hand that Finnigan ducks under and follows up with a left that Finnigan also avoids with ease.
A lazy body kick from Ritchie
and Finnigan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Finnigan throws out a powerful jab.
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!
Nice cross by Finnigan.
Finnigan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ritchie throws a sloppy head kick
and Finnigan counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Ritchie is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finnigan moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ritchie is still on wobbly legs! Can Finnigan finish him?
A right-left combo lands from Finnigan.
Finnigan jabs at Ritchie's body.
Finnigan catches Ritchie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Finnigan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Finnigan rushes Ritchie with punches - Ritchie moves straight backwards instead of circling and gets clipped by the second strike... and the third... and the fourth! Oh, Ritchie goes down! Finnigan follows up with more strikes and the ref steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Negan Finnigan!