PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cruz Price (ranked 5174 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Rice (ranked 7809 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicholas Rice has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cruz Price's chin.

Price
vs
Rice

188 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Cruz Price!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicholas Rice!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, John Roberts and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rice is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Price throws a sloppy head kick and Rice moves out of range easily.
Price throws a head kick that misses.
Rice lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Price at a distance.
No joy there for Rice, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Price thinks about countering with a head kick.
Rice moves in looking to clinch but Price pushes him off.
Price throws a quick counter head kick but Rice was just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Price tries a low kick but Rice avoids it.
Rice tries to clinch there but Price circles away.
Rice misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rice pushes Price up against the cage in a clinch.
Price is looking to control Rice's arms but Rice gets an underhook and turns him. Now Price has his back to the cage.
Price is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rice gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rice manages to break the clinch.

Rice shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Price desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rice wants to control but Price is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rice seems to be working for a kimura but Price defends the submission attempt.
Price is controlling Rice's trapped leg to prevent Rice from advancing to side control.
Price is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rice wants to stand up but Price has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Price avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rice.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Rice misses its intended target.

Rice moves into the clinch.
Rice lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Price backwards.

Rice has hold of one of Price's legs. Price is fighting the takedown attempt but Rice gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rice forces his way into half guard.
Price preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Price avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Price slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Price really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Price looking for a sweep. Not yet Price, not yet.
Price is working hard here to advance position.
Rice is looking to pass into half guard but Price pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Price is in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Price lands a couple of elbows.
Rice working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Price.
Rice trying to keep a closed guard but Price is proving a slippery customer.
Rice really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Price. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Rice dominated that round.
That's time! Price's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rice tries to clinch up but Price circles away and keeps his distance.

Rice closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Price to the mat! Price manages to get full guard.
Price trying to control the position here.
Price looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nicholas Rice has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Price keeping moving, preventing Rice from controlling successfully.
Price managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Price looking for a sweep. Not yet Price, not yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Price utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice body kick there by Rice.
Rice doesn't manage to clinch there - Price circles away.

Rice gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Price has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rice avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Price is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rice ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rice no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rice controls Price momentarily but Price frees himself.
Rice is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rice avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Price lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rice looking to control.
Price looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Price controlling from the top position.
Price postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Price distracts Rice with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Price wants to control from the top but Rice keeps moving.
Price with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Price trying to control the position from guard on top but Rice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rice working a defensive guard here.
Price postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Price with a nice head shot there.
Rice tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rice is trying to keep Price in close.
Price scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rice not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Price stands up over Rice, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Price trying to control the position from guard on top but Rice is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rice has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rice striking off his back but it's not causing Price any problems.
Price chips away with some ground and pound.
Price looking to pass the guard.

Price drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Price seems to have locked his on tight now - Rice screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Price, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Cruz Price!