PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaspars Petrovs (ranked 458 p4p, 73 weight class) and Alexandre Ribeiro (ranked 1817 p4p, 275 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Ribeiro's choice of entrance music: Madball - Con Fuerza. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Petrovs
vs
Ribeiro

180 cm
26
210 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

183 cm
27
225 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

THE END 32

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaspars Petrovs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexandre Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot lands for Petrovs.
Ribeiro lunges at Petrovs with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Petrovs's hand.

Ribeiro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Petrovs has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
A short right from Ribeiro on the inside.
Ribeiro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Ribeiro pulls guard.
Ribeiro wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Ribeiro working for a triangle but Petrovs defends it easily.

Ribeiro looking for a guillotine here but Petrovs defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ribeiro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petrovs is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro wants to sweep but no luck.

Ribeiro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Petrovs can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ribeiro trying to keep a closed guard but Petrovs is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ribeiro has a closed guard, preventing Petrovs from standing up.
Ribeiro looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Ribeiro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ribeiro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Petrovs gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Ribeiro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ribeiro is adopting a defensive guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Petrovs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ribeiro manages to avoid it.
Ribeiro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Petrovs was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Petrovs closes the distance and clinches.
Petrovs makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ribeiro on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Petrovs working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ribeiro's coach down at Death Valley Training Facility was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ribeiro's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Ribeiro throws a head punch that misses.
Petrovs missing with knees to the body.
Ribeiro blocks an uppercut.
Ribeiro pushes Petrovs back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro lands a shoulder strike.

Ribeiro jumps guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ribeiro looking for a sweep. Not yet Ribeiro, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ribeiro is on top in guard.

Ribeiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Petrovs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ribeiro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrovs works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ribeiro wants to control from the top but Petrovs keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ribeiro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Ribeiro dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Petrovs closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab from Ribeiro misses.
A little feinted left hand from Petrovs on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ribeiro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ribeiro misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Petrovs to counter with a crisp jab.
Petrovs misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Ribeiro to counter with a crisp jab.
Petrovs lands a jab to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ribeiro closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ground and pound from Ribeiro seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrovs is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ribeiro has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ribeiro working the strikes but Petrovs uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribeiro is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Petrovs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ribeiro.
Ribeiro missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ribeiro is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ribeiro tries to control but Petrovs wriggling away.
Ribeiro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Petrovs is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ribeiro throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Ribeiro wants to finish this one by submission but Petrovs is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ribeiro.
Petrovs wants to try and get back to his feet.
Ribeiro trying to control but Petrovs is having none of it.
You get the feeling that Petrovs really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Ribeiro thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ribeiro controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Petrovs is looking to escape.
Petrovs blocking the ground and pound.
Ribeiro unloads with some shots from mount but Petrovs bucks and avoids them well.
Ribeiro throwing strikes here but Petrovs is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Ribeiro goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Petrovs is on top in guard.

Ribeiro has his foot on Petrovs's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Petrovs works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Petrovs defends well.
Petrovs tries to stand but Ribeiro is controlling from the bottom.
Ribeiro is trying to keep Petrovs in close.
Petrovs wants to get up but he can't break Ribeiro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ribeiro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ribeiro working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandre Ribeiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ribeiro misses with a straight left.
Ribeiro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ribeiro swings for the body but Petrovs moves out of range.
It looked like Petrovs wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ribeiro swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ribeiro jabs Petrovs right on the nose. Petrovs blinks but takes it well.
Ribeiro dips to his left and cracks Petrovs with an uppercut!

Ribeiro drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ribeiro trying to control the position but Petrovs is working away.
Alexandre Ribeiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ribeiro throws an elbow but Petrovs slips to the side and avoids it well.

Ribeiro thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ribeiro goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Petrovs rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ribeiro's guard! Nice work there by Petrovs!
Ribeiro working a defensive guard here.

Ribeiro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Petrovs has passed into half guard!
Petrovs wants to stand but Ribeiro has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Ribeiro wants to improve his position but Petrovs is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to maintain the position but Petrovs is very close to passing his half guard.
Ribeiro is looking for a sweep. Petrovs is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ribeiro actively working from the bottom here.
Petrovs wants to stand up but Ribeiro has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ribeiro wants to control but Petrovs is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrovs wants to stand up but Ribeiro has a hold of him and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ribeiro throws a leg kick
and Petrovs counters with a one-two to the body.

Petrovs darts in and clinches Ribeiro up against the cage.
Petrovs blocking some punches.
Kaspars Petrovs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ribeiro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Petrovs tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ribeiro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ribeiro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A shot in the inside from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Petrovs blocking some punches.
Ribeiro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Petrovs is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alexandre Ribeiro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ribeiro throws a head punch that misses.
Petrovs throws a punch but it's blocked by Ribeiro.
Alexandre Ribeiro seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Petrovs throws a head punch that misses.
Petrovs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ribeiro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ribeiro misses with a punch on the inside.
Ribeiro has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Petrovs is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Petrovs lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Alexandre Ribeiro has been cut.
Ribeiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A body shot lands from Petrovs.
Ribeiro managing to block the knees to the body from Petrovs.
Petrovs lands a nice knee to the body.
Petrovs scores with a shoulder strike.
Petrovs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ribeiro backwards.
Petrovs lands with a short shot to the head.
Petrovs lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ribeiro backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ribeiro.
Petrovs connects with a knee to the head.
Ribeiro takes a knee to the side of the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaspars Petrovs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ribeiro has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandre Ribeiro!
Alexandre Ribeiro thanked the fans post fight for their support.