PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rick Lattimore (ranked 3718 p4p, 415 weight class) and David Prior (ranked 5621 p4p, 560 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.

Lattimore
vs
Prior

190 cm
28
202 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

187 cm
21
199 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Heavy handed

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Lattimore!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, David Prior!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lattimore pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Prior is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Prior shoots in and bounces Lattimore off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lattimore can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Prior controls the pace.
Lattimore keeping moving, preventing Prior from controlling successfully.
Lattimore looking for a sweep. Not yet Lattimore, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Prior showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like Prior might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prior trying to control but Lattimore is working from the bottom.
Prior looking to sit in guard and control but Lattimore gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lattimore trying to control but Prior is working from the bottom.
Lattimore preventing the sweep.

Prior has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lattimore is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Prior.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Prior has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prior is looking to reverse the position.
Lattimore wants to lay and pray for a moment but Prior keeps working.
Prior tries to improve position but can't.
Prior is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lattimore's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Prior is looking to improve his position.
Lattimore sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Prior is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lattimore decides to stand up.
Lattimore misses with the combination.

Prior closes the distance and pushes Lattimore back into the cage.
Prior goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lattimore avoiding damage as Prior throws knees to the body.
Lattimore misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Prior.
A head punch on the inside from Prior fails to land.
Prior tries a knee to the head but Lattimore blocks it.
A body shot lands from Prior.
Prior tries to work over Lattimore's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Prior is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lattimore throws a punch but it's blocked by Prior.

Prior breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Prior has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prior misses with a hook to the ribs.
Prior avoiding damage as Lattimore throws knees to the body.
Prior stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lattimore.
Lattimore avoids the elbow strike from Prior, against the cage.
Prior throws a head punch that misses.
Lattimore takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lattimore is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Prior.
Prior is pushing Lattimore up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Lattimore takes a shot to the head.
Prior tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lattimore avoids it.
Lattimore with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Prior scores with a shot to the side of Lattimore's head.
Good body shot from Prior.
Still in the clinch, Lattimore scores with a nice short uppercut.
Prior lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lattimore takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Prior 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.

Prior takes the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Lattimore.
Prior misses with some punches.
Lattimore lands a right hand that snaps the head of Prior backwards.
Prior lands a nice shot to the body.
Prior lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Prior misses with a punch to the body.
Prior throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lattimores head.

It looks like Rick Lattimore has been cut.
Prior looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lattimore tries to throw a body punch but Prior avoids it by throwing Lattimore back against the cage.
Prior pushes off an throws an elbow but Lattimore leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lattimore missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee is keeping an eye on Prior - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Prior works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Prior lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lattimore backwards.

Prior breaks the clinch.
Prior shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lattimore as he avoids it easily.
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!

Prior pushes Lattimore up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prior trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Prior.

Prior breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Prior has Lattimore up against the cage in a clinch.
Prior throws a head punch that misses.
Lattimore lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Prior lands a shoulder strike.
Lattimore tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Prior avoids it.
Prior tries to throw a body punch but Lattimore avoids it by throwing Prior back against the cage.
Prior lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lattimore tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Prior presses Lattimore against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Lattimore working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lattimore working aggressively here.
Prior misses with a body punch.
Prior lands a good knee to the midsection. Lattimore won't want to take too many of those.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Prior clinches.
Prior landing knees to the body.

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

Prior closes the distance and pushes Lattimore back into the cage.
Lattimore is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Prior is defending well for now.
Prior tries a body shot but Lattimore blocks it.
Nice body punch from Prior.
Prior content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Prior can't find room to land a body shot as Lattimore controls the action.
Prior softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Prior throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lattimores head.
A short uppercut from Prior.
Prior looking to slow down the pace here.
Prior gets through Lattimore's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lattimore lands on the inside with an uppercut.
David Prior seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Prior working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Prior swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Prior has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Prior just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lattimore's brow.
Lattimore blocks an elbow strike.
Lattimore throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Prior blocks it with crossed arms.
Lattimore misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Prior.
Prior scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lattimore is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Prior is defending well for now.
Prior on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Prior throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Prior using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lattimore has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lattimore misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Prior.

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

Prior rushes Lattimore and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Prior creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Prior scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Prior.
Prior pushes Lattimore back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Prior missing with knees to the body.
Lattimore tries to land knees in the clinch but Prior avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lattimore lands a left hand that snaps the head of Prior backwards.
Lattimore trying to land knees to the body.

Prior manages to break the clinch.
Prior avoids the body shot from Lattimore.

Prior takes the fight into the clinch.
Prior stalling in the clinch but Lattimore improves position.
Lattimore utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Prior lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lattimore lands with a right to the head.
Prior lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lattimore backwards.
Lattimore avoids a wild elbow strike from Prior.
Lattimore avoids a wild elbow strike from Prior.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Prior can't find room to land a body shot as Lattimore controls the action.
Prior tries to land knees in the clinch but Lattimore avoids the damage to the body.
Lattimore lands a good knee to the midsection. Prior won't want to take too many of those.
Prior looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Prior showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rick Lattimore's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Prior staying out of range there.
Prior feints the counter takedown.
Lattimore fails in his attempt to clinch.

Prior has managed to clinch.
Lattimore misses with the head strike.
Lattimore tries to land a knee to the head but Prior blocks with his arms.
Prior is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Prior on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lattimore avoiding damage as Prior throws knees to the body.
Prior comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Lattimore letting Prior take a breather here.
Lattimore takes a shot to the head.

Rick Lattimore's cut is getting worse.
Prior lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lattimore backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Prior lands with a right to the head.
Prior scores with a nice hook to the head.
Prior lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Prior.
Prior gets through Lattimore's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Prior lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Prior.
Prior lands a nice uppercut.
Prior is leaning against Lattimore and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Prior utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lattimore blocks the elbow strike.
Lattimore's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

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

Prior takes the fight into the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Prior as the two fighters clinch.
Lattimore tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Prior avoids it.
Prior connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lattimore's face.
Prior lands with a short shot to the head.
Prior lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lattimore backwards.

Lattimore is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

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

Prior gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prior misses with a knee to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Prior.
Oh Lattimore is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lattimore lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lattimore seems to have got his legs back now.
Nice body punch from Prior - that landed with a thud.
A short uppercut from Prior.
Lattimore trying to land knees to the body.
Prior landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Prior throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Prior.
Lattimore managing to block the knees to the body from Prior.
Prior lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lattimore backwards.
A shot in the inside from Prior.
Prior lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A shot in the inside from Prior.
Prior lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Prior leaning against his opponent.
Prior pushes Lattimore back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lattimore tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Prior avoids it.
Prior blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lattimore takes a shot to the head.
Prior digs a right hand into Lattimore's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Lattimore's gas tank.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Prior just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lattimore's brow.
Lattimore tries to land knees in the clinch but Prior avoids the damage to the body.
Lattimore with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Prior lands a body shot.
Lattimore trying to land knees to the body.
Prior managing to block the knees to the body from Lattimore.

Prior's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Prior ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Prior gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lattimore tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Prior avoids it.
Prior putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Lattimore in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Lattimore blocks a body shot from Prior.
Prior tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lattimore blocks a body shot from Prior.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prior avoiding damage as Lattimore throws knees to the body.
Prior scores with a shot to the side of Lattimore's head.
Prior scores with a nice hook to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Prior struggles to land a body shot inside as Lattimore controls his hands.
Prior is pushing Lattimore up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

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

Lattimore darts in and clinches Prior up against the cage.
Lattimore blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Prior breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Prior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lattimore, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lattimore.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Prior swings wildly with an uppercut but Lattimore uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Prior just misses with a elbow thrown towards Lattimore's brow.
Rick Lattimore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Prior working some nice short punches in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Prior comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Prior 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Prior!
A very excited looking David Prior made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.