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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ulysses Ratliff (ranked 25362 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Cage (ranked 5836 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ulysses Ratliff has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.
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| 186 cm
23
279 lbs
1 - 5 - 0 |
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188 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ulysses Ratliff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luke Cage!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ratliff moves into the clinch.
Ratliff has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cage regains guard immediately.
Cage has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ratliff can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ratliff could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ratliff scoring with some ground and pound.
Cage is adopting a defensive guard.
Ratliff knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Cage on the ground.
Cage has his foot on Ratliff's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ratliff works his way back into a safe position though.
Cage working for a triangle but Ratliff defends it easily.
Ratliff has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ratliff decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Cage has managed to clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ratliff is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cage jumps guard but Ratliff turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cage wants a takedown but no success here.
Ulysses Ratliff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Cage.
Cage has Ratliff pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cage pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ratliff tumbling to the mat - Cage dives into Ratliff's guard.
Cage throwing strikes but missing.
Cage trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Cage's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cage with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cage wants to control from the top but Ratliff keeps moving.
Ratliff is trying to control the position but Cage postures up.
Cage drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ratliff manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cage has Ratliff in his guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cage is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ratliff is aware though and is defending well.
Cage has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Cage is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ratliff tries to stand but Cage is controlling from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ratliff wants to stand but Cage is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ratliff connects with a couple of short punches.
Cage is trying to control the position but Ratliff postures up.
Ratliff lands a couple of elbows.
Ratliff keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Cage's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cage looks winded!
Ratliff connects with a couple of short punches.
Ratliff wants to get up but he can't break Cage's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ratliff lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ratliff throws a strike but Cage rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff keeping moving, preventing Cage from controlling successfully.
Ratliff has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Cage has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ratliff is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cage can't fight it off and eventually Ratliff manages to take the fight to the floor. Cage looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cage looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ratliff throwing strikes from guard but Cage blocks nicely.
Cage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ratliff working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Cage's head.
Ratliff throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Luke Cage will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ratliff's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Ratliff is looking to clinch but Cage is avoiding it.
Cage tries for a takedown but Ratliff sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cage circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cage scores with a takedown into Ratliff's guard.
Cage not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cage trying to control but Ratliff is working from the bottom.
Cage distracts Ratliff with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage wants to stand but Ratliff has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Ratliff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cage wanted to stand there but Ratliff had control of the position.
Cage has gone for a leg lock! Ratliff slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cage's guard.
Ratliff throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ratliff accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cage doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cage escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ratliff gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ratliff working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cage had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ratliff defends it easily.
Cage is breathing heavily.
Ratliff is looking to stand up but Cage won't let him.
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ratliff throws an elbow that misses. Cage uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ratliff's guard. Nice move by Cage!
Cage trying to control the position from guard on top but Ratliff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cage trying to control but Ratliff is working from the bottom.
Ratliff tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cage wants to control from the top but Ratliff keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cage drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cage jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cage controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ratliff trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Luke Cage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!
Cage fails to land the takedown.
Cage looks to clinch
and Ratliff counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cage's knee momentarily.
Cage rushes Ratliff and presses him up against the cage.
Ratliff tries to work over Cage's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ratliff has hold of one of Cage's legs. Cage is fighting the takedown attempt but Ratliff gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratliff wants to get up but he can't break Cage's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cage is looking to stand up but Ratliff isn't so interested in that idea.
Cage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cage utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cage pushes a forearm under Ratliff's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Ratliff is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Luke Cage!
During a confident post fight interview, Luke Cage thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
44% |
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