PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grape Rita (ranked 6928 p4p, 547 weight class) and Ricardo Rebenta (ranked 6176 p4p, 523 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.

Rita
vs
Rebenta

188 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 New York, Grape Rita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ricardo Rebenta!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rita tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rebenta swivels and escapes.
Rebenta shoots in looking for a takedown. Rita tries to sprawl out of it but Rebenta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rita manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rebenta looking to score a takedown here. Rita is defending well but Rebenta drives through and ends up in Rita's guard.

Rita working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rebenta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rebenta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rita tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rebenta trying to control but Rita is working from the bottom.
Rita can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rebenta controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rebenta drops back looking for a leg! Rita is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rita manages to kick Rebenta off! Rebenta jumps back into Rita's guard.
Rita knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rebenta on the ground.
Rita is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rita will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rebenta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rebenta drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Rita dives on top into guard.

Rita stands up from Rebenta's guard - Rita perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rita decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Rebenta is trying to get back to full guard.
Rebenta is refusing to be controlled, as Rita sits in half guard.
Rebenta is looking to improve his position.
Rita wants to take a breather but Rebenta is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta wants to improve his position but Rita is controlling well.

Rita is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rita stops Rebenta from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rita lands a nice short elbow.
Rita not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rebenta landing strikes from the bottom.
Rita stops Rebenta from getting back to his feet.
Rebenta pushes Rita off but Rita dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta struggling a bit here.

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

Rita working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rebenta wants to control but Rita postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rebenta is looking for a sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A low kick from Rebenta misses

and Rita counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rita pulls Rebenta into guard.
Rita throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rita is looking to stand up but Rebenta isn't so interested in that idea.
Rita looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rebenta is one step ahead there.
Rebenta passes Rita's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Grape Rita overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rita gets full guard.
Rebenta trying to control the position from guard on top but Rita is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rebenta looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rita working a defensive guard but Rebenta passes into half guard.
Rebenta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rita tries to get to full guard but Rebenta has control of the leg.
Rebenta is trying to control the action in half guard but Rita is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rebenta throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rita is trying to stand up here but Rebenta is controlling him well.
Rita is looking for a sweep. Rebenta is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rebenta is trying to control the action in half guard but Rita is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rebenta dives in and grabs Rita's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rita pushes down on Rebenta's head and hops out.

Rita closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rebenta tries for a takedown but Rita manages to get underhooks.
Rita manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rita dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rebenta throws a punch but it's blocked by Rita.
Rebenta is looking to take this one to the mat.
Grape Rita has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Rebenta.

Rita jumps into guard, dragging Rebenta to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rebenta tries to free his leg and advance position but Rita is retaining full guard.
Rebenta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rita's head.
Rebenta stopping the sweep attempt from Rita.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rebenta tries to stand but Rita is controlling from the bottom.
Rebenta controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Rita wants to sweep but no luck.
Rebenta stands and throws Rita's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rita is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rita is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rita strikes from the bottom but Rebenta takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Rita working to try and regain half guard.

Rebenta is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rebenta closes the distance and clinches up with Rita, looking for a takedown. Rebenta pushes Rita against the cage but Rita circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rebenta misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Grape Rita will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rebenta throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rita's waist but Rita gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rebenta off to one side.
Rita was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rebenta shoots for a double leg takedown but Rita sprawls well. He's pushed Rebenta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rita lands a head kick. Rebenta smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Rebenta wants to clinch up but Rita keeps it at a distance.
Rebenta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rebenta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rebenta moves out of range of the body kick.
And Rebenta tries to counter it with a takedown but Rita pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Rita shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rebenta defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rita throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rebenta tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rita is in Rebenta's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rebenta being controlled here, momentarily.
Rebenta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rebenta trying to keep a closed guard but Rita is proving a slippery customer.

Rebenta looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Rita is defending well. Rebenta quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Rita has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Rebenta celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ricardo Rebenta!