PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chou Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JB Bradnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chou Rico has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rico
vs
Bradnar

225 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 14 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chou Rico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, JB Bradnar!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Nard Betker and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bradnar shoots in but Rico avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bradnar tries to close the distance and clinch but Rico swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bradnar closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rico to the mat! Rico manages to get full guard.
Rico really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rico has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Rico is looking for a triangle but Bradnar pushes his legs off easily.
Rico looking to control but Bradnar passes into half guard.
Bradnar is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Bradnar looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bradnar content to control rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradnar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rico missing with punches from the bottom.
Rico moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rico manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The referee warns Bradnar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bradnar tries to reverse the position but Rico maintains control.

Rico has hold of Bradnar's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Bradnar manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rico with a couple of short strikes.
Bradnar reaches up to try and control the position but Rico seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Bradnar rolls and tries to escape and now Rico has his back!
Rico not allowing Bradnar to control his hands.

Rico looking for the choke from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rico is breathing heavily.
Rico is trying to stick to Bradnar's back but Bradnar is turning into Rico. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Rico's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Bradnar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradnar preventing the sweep.
Bradnar trying to control but Rico is working from the bottom.

Bradnar drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rico looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rico looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rico!
Bradnar taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bradnar is trying to control Rico's posture but Rico avoids it.
Bradnar is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
What's Bradnar going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
A lull in the action here as Rico stalls from top position.
Bradnar is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chou Rico dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rico lands a head kick!
Rico shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bradnar counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rico misses with a body shot.
Bradnar shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rico sprawls well. Rico wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bradnar gets slowly back to his feet.

Bradnar has managed to clinch.

Rico gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bradnar regains guard.

Bradnar throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bradnar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rico thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rico throws a big right hand that misses.
Bradnar keeping moving, preventing Rico from controlling successfully.
Bradnar wants to get back to his feet but Rico is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bradnar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bradnar trying to control the action but Rico is working from the bottom.

Bradnar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rico defends it well.
Bradnar is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Rico manages to get to full guard.
Bradnar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradnar postures up and lands a big shot to Rico's brow.
Rico pulls Bradnar in to control the position.
Rico lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bradnar!
Rico controlling from the full mount.
Rico avoids the attempt from Bradnar to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rico lands with some strikes.
Bradnar flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rico lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Rico lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rico wants to finish this one by submission but Bradnar is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rico.
Bradnar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chou Rico dominated that second round.
That's time! Rico's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rico tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bradnar paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Bradnar closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bradnar lands in his opponent's guard.
Rico has a closed guard, preventing Bradnar from standing up.
Rico has Bradnar pulled in close to control his posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rico is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bradnar wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bradnar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rico throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Chou Rico is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bradnar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rico swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rico fails with the takedown

and Bradnar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rico pulls Bradnar into guard.
Bradnar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rico wants to stand and escape but Bradnar is having none of it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bradnar is looking to stand up but Rico won't let him.
Rico working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bradnar.
Bradnar is looking to stand up but Rico won't let him.
Rico is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Chou Rico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rico is keen to just control but Bradnar is a slippery customer.
Bradnar is looking for a sweep. Rico is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bradnar misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradnar works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rico looking to sit in guard and control but Bradnar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bradnar wants to pass the guard but Rico is keeping the position.
Bradnar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rico is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bradnar is aware though and is defending well.
Rico looking to control.
Rico looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bradnar is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rico lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bradnar!

Rico looking to secure an arm triangle but Bradnar defends it well.
Bradnar working to try and regain half guard.
JB Bradnar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chou Rico is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rico sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chou Rico.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rico, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chou Rico!