PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimi Powell (ranked 1468 p4p, 51 weight class) and Sylvester Ritter (ranked 2092 p4p, 81 weight class). Powell comes to the cage accompanied by 8 Mile. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ritter's choice of entrance music: Another one Bites the dust. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Powell
vs
Ritter

194 cm
36
282 lbs
30 - 23 - 2

190 cm
33
278 lbs
20 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 23 - 2, fighting out of New York, Jimi Powell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sylvester Ritter!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ritter fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ritter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ritter scores with a nice right hand.
Powell lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Sylvester Ritter has been cut.
Ritter misses with a hook
letting Powell counter with a right hand.
Powell shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ritter as he jumps to the side.
A combination from Ritter does no damage.
Powell pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Powell closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ritter's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ritter is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've been hearing good reports from Powell's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ritter wants to stand up but Powell is controlling him.
Powell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Powell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell stops Ritter from standing up.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Ritter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Powell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Powell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ritter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powell is controlling him.

Ritter wriggles free and stands up.
Powell ducks under a wild hook from Ritter.
Ritter ducks right into an uppercut from Powell.
Ritter tests Powell's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Powell slips a jab from Ritter.
Ritter misses with a looping left.
Powell is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ritter misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Powell looking to score a takedown here. Ritter is defending well but Powell drives through and ends up in Ritter's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ritter wants to stand up but Powell is controlling him.
Ritter has his hands on Powell's head, controlling the position.
Powell chips away with some ground and pound.
Ritter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ritter wants to stand but Powell is controlling the position.
Powell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ritter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ritter wants to stand and escape but Powell is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ritter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Powell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Powell trying to control the position from guard on top but Ritter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ritter wants to stand up but Powell is controlling him.
Ritter wants to sweep here but Powell controlling him for the moment.
Powell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Powell trying to control but Ritter is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ritter wants to stand but Powell is controlling the position.
Powell won't allow Ritter to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ritter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Powell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ritter manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Powell manages to get himself to full guard.

Powell keeping moving, preventing Ritter from controlling successfully.
Ritter throwing strikes from guard but Powell blocks nicely.

Ritter has gone for a leg lock! Powell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ritter's guard.

Ritter has Powell pulled in close to control his posture.
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 Jimi Powell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sylvester Ritter's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ritter throws a looping overhand right but Powell ducks down to avoid it.
Ritter avoids the head kick by Powell.
A big right from Ritter misses.
Ritter ducks under a wild hook from Powell.
Ritter's jab looks to have found its range, popping Powell under the eye.
Ritter misses with a left hand
and Powell counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ritter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ritter tests Powell's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ritter's jab looks to have found its range, popping Powell under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ritter is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Powell.
Nice jab there from Ritter.
Ritter throws the left hand but Powell avoids the punch easily.
Powell appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Ritter finds it's target.
Sylvester Ritter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ritter misses with a double jab.
Ritter lands a jab.
Sylvester Ritter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ritter bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Powell! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Powell is rocked!
Ritter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Powell has his hands on Ritter's head, controlling the position.
Ritter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ritter working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ritter looking to pass the guard.
Ritter lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ritter won't allow Powell to sweep him here.
Ritter throwing strikes but missing.
Powell looking for a sweep. Not yet Powell, not yet.
Ritter landing with the ground and pound.
Powell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ritter preventing the sweep.
Powell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ritter.
Ritter trying to control the position from guard on top but Powell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ritter looking to sit in guard and control but Powell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ritter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritter keeping full guard, as Powell tries to pass.
Ritter trying to control the position.
Powell's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ritter wants to stand and escape but Powell is having none of it.

Ritter wriggles free and stands up.
Ritter misses with a combination
letting Powell counter with a right hand.
Ritter lands with a straight right. Powell didn't see that one coming.
Ritter might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Powell dodges the punch combination from Ritter.
Powell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
As Ritter backs away, Powell returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Ritter misses.
Powell tries to counter with a takedown but Ritter is quick to defend against it.
A slow jab from Ritter misses its intended target.
Powell throws an off balance right hand
and Ritter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Powell fails with a takedown attempt.
Ritter looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ritter swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Powell counters with a single leg into guard. Ritter didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Powell with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Ritter manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Ritter.
Powell presses Ritter against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Ritter is breathing heavily.
Ritter prevents the takedown attempt.
Ritter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ritter scores with a shoulder strike.

Powell has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ritter uses from the top position.
Powell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ritter's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sylvester Ritter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sylvester Ritter's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ritter throws a series of punches but Powell moves out of range.
Powell connects with a body shot.
Ritter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Powell.
Ritter throws a combination that misses

and Powell counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ritter pulls Powell in to control the position.
Ritter is looking to stand up but Powell isn't so interested in that idea.
Powell postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ritter wants to stand but Powell is controlling the position.
Powell wants to control from the top but Ritter keeps moving.
Ritter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powell stops Ritter from standing up.
Powell throwing strikes from guard but Ritter blocks nicely.
Ritter is looking to stand up but Powell isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritter seems keen to control Powell's posture.
Ritter wants to stand but Powell is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ritter takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ritter takes a swing at Powell's ribcage but misses.
Ritter throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Powell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Ritter manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Powell keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Powell avoiding damage as Ritter throws knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Powell creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ritter fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Powell wants a takedown but no success here.
Ritter lands a shoulder strike.
Ritter lands a hook that snaps the head of Powell backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powell lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ritter or not.
Powell lands with a light punch inside.

Powell tightens his grip and picks Ritter up, before dumping him to the ground. Ritter manages to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Powell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Powell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ritter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Powell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Powell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ritter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Powell.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Powell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Powell scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Powell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Powell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Ritter pushes Powell off and gets back to his feet.

Powell gets a double leg takedown into Ritter's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Powell is controlling him.
Ritter is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Powell dives into side control.
An elbow from Powell crashes against the mat.
Powell looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ritter is avoiding damage well.
Ritter is trying to get back to his feet.
Powell lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Powell lands a few punches from side control.
Ritter tries to escape but Powell is in control.
Powell looks up at the clock and then as Ritter takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Powell smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Ritter is rocked!
Powell scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Ritter is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Powell can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jimi Powell!
During a confident post fight interview, Jimi Powell thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Sylvester Ritter had this to say: 'To all the young kids out there... Its not the failures that define who you are but how hard you bite back once you get up.'.