PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Rawlins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ringo Bingo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rawlins
vs
Bingo

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Rawlins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ringo Bingo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Rawlins. No joy for Bingo on that attempt.
Rawlins shoots in for a takedown but Bingo shows good takedown defense.
Bingo misses with a takedown

and Rawlins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rawlins performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bingo is trying to maintain the position but Rawlins is very close to passing his half guard.
Rawlins lands strikes from half guard.
Rawlins trying to pass the guard but Bingo defending well.
Bingo wants to improve his position but Rawlins is controlling well.
Rawlins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bingo is not content to let Rawlins control the position.

Rawlins is looking for a kimura but Bingo is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rawlins to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlins trying to control from half guard but Bingo is working away.

Rawlins is trying to work for a kimura but Bingo is defending well.
Bingo is looking for a sweep. Rawlins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Rawlins drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rawlins chips away with some ground and pound.
Rawlins looking to pass the guard.
Rawlins is breathing heavily.
Bingo looking to control.
Rawlins forces his way into half guard.
Bingo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rawlins is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bingo wants to get back to full guard.
Rawlins takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Rawlins wants to work for an arm triangle but Bingo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bingo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bingo wants to sweep here but Rawlins controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bingo keeping full guard, as Rawlins tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlins lands a couple of elbows.
Bingo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rawlins is trying to stand back up but Bingo is controlling him
Bingo performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bingo working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Rawlins's thigh. Rawlins counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Rawlins keeping moving, preventing Bingo from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Rawlins wants to stand up but Bingo is controlling him.
Rawlins is trying to keep Bingo in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bingo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

and Rawlins counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rawlins stops a takedown attempt from Bingo.
Matt Rawlins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ringo Bingo.
Rawlins tries to score a body lock takedown but Bingo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bingo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bingo tries to pull guard but Rawlins won't allow it.

Rawlins turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rawlins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bingo clinches with his opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rawlins.
Rawlins stalling in the clinch.
Rawlins gets underhooks to prevent Bingo's takedown attempt.

Rawlins gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bingo is looking for a sweep. Rawlins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bingo wants to control but Rawlins is keeping busy.

Rawlins stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
No joy there for Rawlins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rawlins closes the distance and pushes Bingo back into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rawlins is trying to break free.
Rawlins is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rawlins as Bingo tries to tie him up.
Rawlins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rawlins has had enough of the clinch but Bingo keeps him there for the moment.
Rawlins lands with a short shot to the head.

Bingo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bingo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Bingo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rawlins off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Bingo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rawlins counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bingo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rawlins fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rawlins closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rawlins lands in his opponent's guard.
Bingo keeping moving, preventing Rawlins from controlling successfully.
Rawlins is looking to work some ground and pound but Bingo has wrist control.
Bingo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Rawlins thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bingo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rawlins is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rawlins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rawlins with a nice head shot there.
Rawlins is looking to work some ground and pound but Bingo has wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bingo tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rawlins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bingo tries to score a body lock takedown but Rawlins shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Matt Rawlins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ringo Bingo.
Rawlins wants a takedown.
Bingo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rawlins fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bingo scores with the left hand. Rawlins knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bingo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Rawlins counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bingo's guard now.
Bingo is trying to control the position but Rawlins postures up.
Rawlins wants to control from the top but Bingo keeps moving.
Rawlins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rawlins connects with a couple of short punches.
Rawlins wants to stand but Bingo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rawlins throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rawlins dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rawlins tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bingo swivels and escapes.
Bingo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bingo tries to clinch up
and Rawlins counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bingo thinking.
Bingo shoots in but Rawlins avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bingo tries to clinch up

and Rawlins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bingo manages to pull guard.
Bingo trying to control the position.
Rawlins tries to stand but Bingo is controlling from the bottom.
Bingo wants to sweep here but Rawlins controlling him for the moment.
Rawlins pushes down on Bingo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Rawlins prevents Bingo from improving his position.
Rawlins slips a nice elbow through Bingo's hands, connecting with Bingo's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rawlins stops Bingo from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bingo trying to hold on to Rawlins's head to control him but Rawlins postures up.
Rawlins prevents Bingo from improving his position.
Rawlins is thwarting Bingo's attempts to control the position.
Bingo won't allow Rawlins to pass to mount.
Rawlins seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bingo avoids the head kick by Rawlins.
Matt Rawlins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rawlins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bingo tries to avoid it but Rawlins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bingo to the ground. Bingo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Rawlins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bingo misses with a takedown attempt - Rawlins sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Rawlins instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bingo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rawlins lands with a left to the head.
Bingo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rawlins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rawlins has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bingo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bingo can't get the takedown.
Bingo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rawlins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bingo walks away with a smile on his face. Rawlins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rawlins shoots in but Bingo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bingo clinches but Rawlins breaks the clinch

and Rawlins counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four 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.
Bingo is pressed up against the cage. Rawlins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bingo down to the mat. Bingo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rawlins fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rawlins looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bingo doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rawlins moves into the clinch.
Ringo Bingo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rawlins tightens his grip and picks Bingo up, before dumping him to the ground. Bingo manages to land in guard.
Bingo working a defensive guard but Rawlins passes into half guard.
Bingo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rawlins won't allow Bingo to get back to his feet.
Matt Rawlins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rawlins is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Rawlins showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rawlins, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rawlins!