PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Ridgeway (ranked 161 p4p, 19 weight class) and Felix Legions (ranked 96 p4p, 12 weight class). Ridgeway comes to the cage accompanied by The Forgotten War. Legions has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. 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.

Ridgeway
vs
Legions

174 cm
35
159 lbs
33 - 15 - 1

166 cm
30
148 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Mathew Ridgeway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Felix Legions!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Legions slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A left lands for Ridgeway.
A clash of legs there as Ridgeway blocks the low kick.
Legions comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Legions throws a looping overhand right but Ridgeway ducks down to avoid it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ridgeway. Legions shrugs it off though.
Ridgeway avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ridgeway dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Legions clinches up with Ridgeway and pushes him back against the cage.
Ridgeway stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Legions swings wildly with an uppercut but Ridgeway uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ridgeway scores with a hook to the body.

Legions manages to break the clinch.
That kick from Ridgeway tenderised Legions's leg. Legions is trying to keep his angry face on.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Legions throws a body shot but no joy.
Legions looks to throw the jab but Ridgeway is out of range.
Ridgeway turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Legions is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ridgeway's half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Legions sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ridgeway defending well though.
Legions has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeway tries to get to full guard but Legions has control of the leg.
Legions stops Ridgeway from getting back to his feet.
Legions thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ridgeway tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Legions has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Ridgeway in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Legions scoring with strikes but Ridgeway is staying in there.
Ridgeway is working to get back to half guard.
Ridgeway regains half guard.
Legions wants to free his trapped foot but Ridgeway is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Legions performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Legions is stalling here. Ridgeway is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Legions seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ridgeway has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ridgeway trying to control the action but Legions is working from the bottom.
Legions manages to get back to half guard.

Legions looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ridgeway content to control rather than advance.
Legions is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ridgeway decides to stand and escape the position.
Legions throws a hook but Ridgeway blocks it.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ridgeway lands a leg kick that knocks Legions off balance momentarily.
Legions misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway throws a lazy right hand but Legions sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Legions fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ridgeway looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Legions shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ridgeway as he avoids it easily.
Legions misses with a leg kick.
Legions takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Legions fails with a takedown attempt.
Legions keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ridgeway jabs Legions to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway throws a quick inside leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Ridgeway there.
Legions misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ridgeway misses with an uppercut. Legions saw that one coming.
Legions misses with a wild body shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Legions jabbing away but nothing is landing.
As Legions backs away, Ridgeway returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Legions misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Ridgeway misses the target.
Legions misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ridgeway.
Legions throws a hook to the side of Ridgeway's head but Ridgeway sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ridgeway moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ridgeway.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ridgeway, as that shot connected.
Ridgeway looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Legions moves out of range as Ridgeway strikes.
Despite the aggression on Legions's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ridgeway tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Legions throws out a loose jab but Ridgeway uses good head movement to avoid it.

Legions forces Ridgeway back against the cage and clinches.

Legions's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Legions gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ridgeway.
A jab from Ridgeway finds it's way through Legions's defenses.
Legions attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ridgeway throws a nice inside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Legions checks a leg kick.
And Legions tries to counter it with a takedown but Ridgeway pushes his down on his head and steps out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Mathew Ridgeway will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ridgeway misses with a body shot.
Ridgeway moves out of range as Legions throws a body kick.
Ridgeway throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ridgeway tests Legions's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ridgeway cracks Legions with a good jab.
Legions throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ridgeway is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Legions lands with an uppercut that bounces Ridgeway off the cage and back into range.
Ridgeway feints and then cracks Legions's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Legions down.
Ridgeway lands a jab to Legions's midsection.
Ridgeway misses with a hook. Legions ducked under it nicely.
Legions wants to clinch up but Ridgeway keeps it at a distance.
Legions dives in for a single leg takedown but Ridgeway sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Legions lands a slapping body shot.
Legions takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Legions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ridgeway steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Legions.
Ridgeway misses with a wild body shot.
Legions looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ridgeway ducks under a wild hook from Legions.
Mathew Ridgeway is winning the standup battle so far.
Legions has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legions looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ridgeway tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Legions wants to land a leg kick but Ridgeway is out of range.
Ridgeway throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Legions sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ridgeway scores with a hook.
Ridgeway takes a swing at Legions's ribcage but misses.
Ridgeway misses with a wild body shot.
Mathew Ridgeway is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ridgeway swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ridgeway dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Legions. That did some damage!
Legions misses with a wild body shot.
Legions checks a leg kick.
Legions is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Legions tries to clinch but Ridgeway is having none of it.
An attempted straight right counter from Ridgeway misses the target.
Ridgeway uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Legions has time to react.
Ridgeway uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Legions.
A shot to the liver by Legions. Beautiful body shot.
Legions keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ridgeway thows a left - swing and a miss!
Legions connects with a looping right hand.
Ridgeway lands with a thumping leg kick.
Legions looks to land a right hand but Ridgeway moved out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A swing and a miss from Legions.
Ridgeway bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ridgeway throws a wild body kick that Legions sees coming a mile off.
Ridgeway avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And Ridgeway counters with a quick kick to the body but Legions blocks it.
Ridgeway slips a jab from Legions.
Ridgeway slips under a jab from Legions.
Ridgeway lands a nice looking body shot.
Legions on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ridgeway moves away from the strike by Legions.
Ridgeway moves out of range as Legions strikes.
A nice leg kick lands there from Legions.
Legions wants to slow Ridgeway down by chopping away at his legs.
Ridgeway finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ridgeway pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Legions's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Legions lands a nice shot that snaps Ridgeway's head back.
Ridgeway connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Legions connects with a single shot there.
Ridgeway on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ridgeway fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Legions manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway misses with a body shot.
Ridgeway takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ridgeway leaves Legions with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ridgeway connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Legions shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mathew Ridgeway has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Felix Legions.
Legions fails with an attempt to clinch.
Legions getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ridgeway. Legions does a little dance to reset his feet.
Legions scores with a three punch combo!
Ridgeway connects with the punch.
Ridgeway keeps the fight on the outside.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ridgeway.
A swing and a miss from Legions.
Ridgeway thuds his right hand into Legions's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Legions swings for the body but Ridgeway moves out of range.
Ridgeway half committed to a counter leg kick.
Donk. Ridgeway catches Legions right on the button with a cross.
Ridgeway dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Legions. That did some damage!
Legions fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ridgeway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ridgeway pivots, looking for a leg kick but Legions is out of range and Ridgeway settles back down.
Ridgeway takes a swing at Legions's ribcage but misses.

Legions moves into range and clinches up with Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands a hook that snaps the head of Legions backwards.
Legions misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Good body shot from Legions.
Ridgeway lands a left hand.
Legions swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Legions.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Legions can't find room to land a body shot as Ridgeway controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Legions fails to land.
Ridgeway misses with a short punch on the inside.
Legions tries for a takedown. No joy.
Legions misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Legions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Legions misses with a series of wild punches.
Legions does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Legions moves out of range of the body kick.
Legions slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ridgeway throws a hook but Legions blocks it.
Ridgeway throws a hook but Legions avoids it easily.
Nice jab there from Legions.
Legions throws a leg kick but Ridgeway moved away.
Legions ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ridgeway displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Legions throws out the jab.
Ridgeway walks into a straight right hand from Legions.
Ridgeway throws a shot from downtown. Legions moves away and avoids it.
Legions with the counter takedown but Ridgeway avoids it easily.
Ridgeway throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Legions finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ridgeway throws a body punch but Legions moves out of range.
Legions throws a body shot but no joy.
Legions slips a jab and a cross from Ridgeway.
Legions is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ridgeway with a body shot.
Ridgeway scores with a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big left from Ridgeway misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legions feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ridgeway's calf.
Ridgeway swats away the attempt to clinch by Legions.

Legions shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Legions was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Legions in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Legions tries to score with some ground and pound. Ridgeway controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ridgeway is not content to let Legions control the position.
Legions postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Legions landing strikes.
Legions creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Legions working the head with strikes.
Felix Legions has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway tries to improve position but can't.
Legions lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ridgeway is looking to regain half guard here but Legions keeps moving and retains side control.

Legions in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Ridgeway is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Felix Legions!
In his post fight interview, Felix Legions started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.