PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Rickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoel Rickson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Campbell
vs
Rickson

210 cm
29
190 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

181 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Yoel Rickson!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rickson slips a jab and a cross from Campbell.
Rickson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Campbell manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rickson stuffs the takedown attempt from Campbell. Campbell gets slowly back to his feet.
Campbell sets himself, and Rickson steps forward looking for the clinch! Campbell avoids it this time.
Campbell circles away from the clinch attempt.
Campbell is looking to counter punch.
Campbell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rickson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rickson with a poor takedown
and Campbell counters with a three punch combo that has Rickson backing up. Rickson nods at Campbell to acknowledge the strikes.
Rickson misses with a two punch combination.
Campbell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rickson as he jumps to the side.
Campbell misses with a series of wild punches.
Rickson is looking to clinch but Campbell is avoiding it.
Rickson tries to clinch but Campbell is having none of it.
A punch combination from Rickson misses.
Campbell swats away the attempt to clinch by Rickson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rickson.
Campbell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Campbell tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rickson defends well and Campbell ends up having to push Rickson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Campbell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rickson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Campbell counters with a series of strikes. Rickson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rickson shoots in for a double leg but Campbell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tom Campbell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Campbell pushes Rickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Campbell tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Rickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Campbell has Rickson up against the cage in a clinch.
Campbell is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rickson is defending well.

Rickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rickson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Campbell is fending him off so far but Rickson persists. Nope, Campbell circles away and we're back to standing.
Campbell tries for a takedown but Rickson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rickson unleashes a big counter combination but Campbell bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rickson misses with an uppercut. Campbell saw that one coming.
Campbell cracks Rickson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
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!
No joy there for Rickson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Campbell lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rickson throws a head kick that misses.

Campbell clinches up with Rickson and pushes him back against the cage.
Campbell wants to break free but Rickson has control.
Campbell lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Rickson goes for a takedown attempt but Campbell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Campbell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Campbell stalks Rickson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rickson's face. Rickson staggers backwards, shaken.
Rickson shoots for a double leg takedown but Campbell sprawls well. He's pushed Rickson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Campbell feinted with a counter takedown.
A combination from Campbell does no damage.
Campbell fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Campbell is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell doesn't manage to clinch there - Rickson circles away.
Rickson goes for a double leg but Campbell avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Campbell continues to drive forward.
Rickson is looking to clinch.
Campbell is looking for a counter combo.
Rickson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Campbell as he jumps to the side.
Campbell moves out of range of the body kick from Rickson.

Campbell closes the distance and clinches.
Campbell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rickson.
Campbell tries to circle away but Rickson has him pinned against the cage.
Campbell tries to score a body lock takedown but Rickson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Campbell working hard to break the clinch.
Campbell taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is trying to force a seperation but Rickson has the dominant position.

Rickson manages to pull guard.
Campbell won't allow Rickson to sweep him here.
Rickson can't keep his opponent in guard - Campbell advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rickson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Campbell won't allow Rickson to get back to his feet.
Rickson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rickson trying to keep a closed guard but Campbell is proving a slippery customer.
Rickson keeping moving, preventing Campbell from controlling successfully.
Rickson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Campbell dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rickson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Campbell fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rickson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rickson shoots in but Campbell avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Campbell fails with the takedown.
Campbell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rickson.
Campbell looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rickson is fending him off so far but Campbell persists. Nope, Rickson circles away and we're back to standing.
Rickson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Campbell.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rickson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Campbell counters with a three punch combo that has Rickson backing up. Rickson nods at Campbell to acknowledge the strikes.
Tom Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Rickson.
Campbell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Campbell clinches.
Rickson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Campbell tries to break the clinch but Rickson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Campbell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rickson can do to turn this around?
A frustrated look appears on Campbell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Campbell tries to circle away but Rickson has him pinned against the cage.
Campbell is trying to break the clinch but Rickson has him pressed against the cage.
Rickson trying to stall but Campbell improves his position.
Rickson prevents Campbell from breaking the clinch.
Rickson gets underhooks to prevent Campbell's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rickson pulls Campbell into guard.
Rickson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rickson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Campbell is one step ahead there.
Rickson is still trying to improve position.

Campbell gets to his feet - Rickson follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rickson is looking to clinch but Campbell is avoiding it.
Campbell throws a right hand that Rickson ducks under and follows up with a left that Rickson also avoids with ease.

Campbell closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rickson to the mat! Rickson manages to get full guard.
Rickson is wriggling around but Campbell manages to pass to half guard.

Rickson is looking to control Campbell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rickson avoid being mounted?
Campbell prevents Rickson from improving his position.
Rickson is trying to stand back up but Campbell is controlling him

Campbell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Rickson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Rickson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Campbell seems to be working for a kimura but Rickson defends the submission attempt.

Campbell decides to stand and escape the position.
Rickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Campbell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rickson is trying to counter with his kicks.
Rickson dives in and grabs Campbell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Campbell pushes down on Rickson's head and hops out.
Campbell slips under a jab from Rickson.
Some wild striking there from Campbell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Campbell 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.
Campbell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Rickson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Campbell tries to free his leg and advance position but Rickson is retaining full guard.
Rickson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Campbell forces his way into half guard.
Rickson gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Campbell dominated that second round.
That's time! Campbell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Campbell tries to bum rush Rickson with a series of wild strikes but Rickson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rickson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Campbell defends it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Campbell as Rickson shoots in.
Campbell dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rickson tries to clinch there but Campbell circles away.
Rickson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Campbell swivels and escapes.
Tom Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Rickson.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rickson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Campbell has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Campbell and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rickson shoots for a takedown but Campbell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rickson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rickson tries to keep at a distance but Campbell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Campbell tries to score a body lock takedown but Rickson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Campbell has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rickson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rickson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Campbell stuffs the takedown.
Rickson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No joy there for Rickson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rickson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Campbell defends it nicely.

Campbell darts in and clinches Rickson up against the cage.
Rickson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Campbell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rickson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Campbell just stands there and leans against the cage.
Campbell lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rickson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Campbell misses with a short punch on the inside.
Campbell tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rickson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rickson keeps control of Campbell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Campbell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rickson keeps control of Campbell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rickson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rickson tries to pull guard but Campbell forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rickson looking to slow down the pace here.
Campbell prevents a takedown attempt there.

Rickson manages to break the clinch.
Campbell slaps away a takedown attempt from Rickson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rickson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Campbell defends it nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Campbell as he connects with a hook.
Rickson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rickson wants it to stay on the feet.
Rickson fails to land the takedown.
Tom Campbell is winning the standup battle so far.
Campbell misses with a few strikes there.
Campbell throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rickson shoots in and drives through. Campbell sprawls well.
Campbell fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rickson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sloppy strikes from Rickson. Those never looked like landing.
Rickson throws a push kick but Campbell slaps the foot to one side.
Rickson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Campbell as he jumps to the side.
Campbell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Campbell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Rickson avoids the head kick by Campbell.
Campbell misses with the combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Campbell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rickson.
Yoel Rickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tom Campbell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head kick misses from Rickson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Campbell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Campbell has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Campbell!
A pretty intense looking Tom Campbell took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.