PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rico Ramano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Varillius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramano comes to the cage accompanied by Hair of the Dog/Nazereth. Rico Ramano could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Maximus Varillius's chin.

Ramano
vs
Varillius

183 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

183 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rico Ramano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Maximus Varillius!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramano is looking to clinch.
Ramano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Varillius as he avoids it easily.
Varillius misses with a takedown attempt - Ramano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Varillius avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Varillius feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ramano wants to stand up but Varillius is controlling him.
Varillius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ramano working a defensive guard here.
Varillius wants to control from the top but Ramano keeps moving.
Varillius is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Varillius is fighting to break Ramano's control of his arms but Ramano is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varillius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ramano is keeping the position for now.
Ramano striking off his back but it's not causing Varillius any problems.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Varillius looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ramano looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ramano is looking for a sweep. Varillius is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramano is looking to escape.
Ramano trying to control from the bottom.
Ramano wants to get back to his feet.

Varillius stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ramano to get to his feet.
Ramano is looking to clinch but Varillius is avoiding it.
Varillius fails with the takedown.
Ramano is looking to clinch but Varillius is avoiding it.
Ramano misses with a two punch combination.
Ramano tries to clinch up.
Ramano gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Varillius counters with a shoot takedown. Ramano fights it but they end up in guard.
Ramano is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varillius trying to control but Ramano is working from the bottom.
Varillius looking to sit in guard and control but Ramano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ramano decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Varillius circles away from the clinch attempt

and Varillius counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Varillius is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rico Ramano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Varillius.
Varillius managing to block the knees to the body from Ramano.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramano looking to throw knees to the head but Varillius is blocking nicely.
Ramano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Varillius lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ramano using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Ramano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Varillius lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Varillius trying to mount his opponent but Ramano defends it.

Varillius looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ramano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Varillius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Varillius dominated that 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.

Ramano shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Varillius as he avoids it easily.
Ramano closes the distance but Varillius moves to the side

and Varillius counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Varillius is trying to control the action in half guard but Ramano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ramano regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Varillius.
Varillius prevents Ramano from getting back to his feet.
Ramano keeping moving, preventing Varillius from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Varillius working some strikes from top position.
Ramano wants to stand up but Varillius is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varillius showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ramano looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Varillius wants to pass the guard but Ramano is keeping the position.
Varillius wants to control from the top but Ramano keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Varillius drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varillius decides to stand back up.
Varillius tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ramano swivels and escapes.
Ramano closes the distance but Varillius moves to the side

and Varillius counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ramano is trying to maintain the position but Varillius is very close to passing his half guard.
Varillius prevents Ramano from standing back up.

Ramano kicks off Varillius and gets to his feet.
Ramano stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramano clinches but Varillius breaks the clinch

and Varillius counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ramano!
Ramano is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Ramano bucks Varillius off and manages to get back to his feet!
Ramano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Varillius moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ramano is looking to clinch but Varillius is avoiding it.
Ramano is looking to clinch but Varillius is avoiding it.
Varillius misses with a few strikes there.
Ramano tries to close the distance and clinch up but Varillius swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Varillius tries to close the distance and clinch but Ramano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ramano lands a two punch combo.
Ramano tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Varillius decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ramano's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ramano is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Ramano manages to break the clinch.
Ramano has his takedown stuffed
and Varillius counters with a two punch combo.
Ramano tries a low kick but Varillius avoids it.
Varillius shoots in and drives through. Ramano sprawls well.
Rico Ramano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Varillius.
Ramano throws a nice looking combination but Varillius bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Varillius listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Varillius changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ramano tries to avoid it but Varillius manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ramano to the ground. Ramano escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ramano clinches but Varillius breaks the clinch

and Varillius counters with a shoot takedown. Ramano fights it but they end up in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ramano is working an open guard so Varillius takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ramano tries to clinch but Varillius moves out of range.
Ramano closes the distance but Varillius moves to the side

and Varillius counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Varillius showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Varillius misses with a takedown

and Ramano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ramano.
Ramano scores with a shot to the side of Varillius's head.

Varillius pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Varillius throws a head kick that misses.
Varillius circles away from the clinch attempt

and Varillius counters by clinching up.
Ramano avoiding damage.

Varillius breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ramano has Varillius up against the cage in a clinch.
Ramano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ramano.
Ramano tries a knee to the head but Varillius blocks it.

Ramano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ramano closes the distance but Varillius moves to the side

and Varillius counters with a shoot takedown. Ramano fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varillius trying to control but Ramano is working from the bottom.
Varillius is pushing down on Ramano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ramano is fighting to maintain full guard but Varillius has managed to sneak the leg through.
Varillius throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Varillius is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ramano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Varillius.
Ramano pushes Varillius off looking to stand but Varillius dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Varillius wants to take a breather but Ramano is having none of it.
Varillius tries to pass to full mount but Ramano defends it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Varillius takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ramano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ramano thuds his shin into the meat of Varillius's side.
Ramano tries to clinch but Varillius moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramano closes the distance looking to clinch

and Varillius counters by moving into the clinch.
Varillius prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ramano misses with an elbow over the top.
Varillius wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ramano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Varillius.
Ramano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Varillius backwards.
Varillius avoids the elbow strike from Ramano, against the cage.
Varillius is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rico Ramano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Varillius.

Ramano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ramano closes the distance and clinches.

Varillius breaks the clinch.
Ramano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ramano closes the distance looking to clinch
and Varillius counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rico Ramano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ramano clinches with his opponent.

Ramano breaks from the clinch.

Varillius shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Varillius was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ramano is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Varillius pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ramano manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ramano pushes Varillius off looking to stand but Varillius dives back in and keeps control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maximus Varillius.
I've got Varillius winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Varillius!