PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Ridley (ranked 449 p4p, 296 weight class) and Faarooq Rahim (ranked 62 p4p, 46 weight class). Ridley's entrance music is No Shelter/ Rage Against The Machine. A fine choice. On his way into the cage it seems that Luke Ridley has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Luke Ridley seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ridley
vs
Rahim

175 cm
27
165
12 - 7 - 0

179 cm
27
172
11 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Pulling Guard

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Ridley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Faarooq Rahim!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Ron Honeybunn and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ridley swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Rahim tries to clinch up but Ridley circles away and keeps his distance.

Rahim has taken the fight to the clinch.

Rahim gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ridley regains guard.
Rahim tries to free his leg and advance position but Ridley is retaining full guard.
Rahim is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rahim wants to control from the top but Ridley keeps moving.
Ridley seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Ridley has his foot on Rahim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rahim works his way back into a safe position though.
Rahim must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rahim's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rahim avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rahim scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ridley keeping moving, preventing Rahim from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Ridley'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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahim postures up and lands a big shot to Ridley's brow.
Ridley preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ridley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Rahim controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rahim trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rahim is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rahim trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rahim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ridley wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ridley can't keep his opponent in guard - Rahim advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ridley is trying to control but can't.
Rahim is nestled in close to Ridley, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rahim wants to control but Ridley is keeping him busy.
Rahim looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ridley with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ridley slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Ridley looking for a guillotine here but Rahim defends easily.
Rahim is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rahim keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ridley's head.
Rahim trying to control but Ridley is working from the bottom.
Rahim scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Ridley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rahim trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rahim lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ridley is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Rahim frees his head nicely. Oh but Ridley has switched to an armbar! Rahim is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Luke Ridley!
Luke Ridley decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.