PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between The Experimental Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Azazel Reckridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Experimental Fighter
vs
Reckridge

160 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
19
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 Sydney, The Experimental Fighter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Azazel Reckridge!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reckridge closes the distance and clinches.
Experimental Fighter fails to pull guard.

Reckridge drags the fight down to the ground.
Reckridge 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.
Experimental Fighter throws a big right hand that misses.
Reckridge pulls Experimental Fighter in close to his closed guard and prevents Experimental Fighter from doing any damage or advancing position.
Reckridge bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Experimental Fighter's guard.
Reckridge is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Reckridge trying to control the position from guard on top but Experimental Fighter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Reckridge gets to his feet. Experimental Fighter looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Reckridge shoots for a double leg takedown but Experimental Fighter sprawls well. He's pushed Reckridge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Reckridge defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Experimental Fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experimental Fighter shoots in and drives through. Reckridge sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Experimental Fighter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Reckridge gets a double leg takedown into Experimental Fighter's guard.

Reckridge gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Experimental Fighter tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Reckridge counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Reckridge postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Reckridge gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Reckridge shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Experimental Fighter defends it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Reckridge is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Experimental Fighter's half guard.
Reckridge stops Experimental Fighter from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reckridge tries to pass to full mount but Experimental Fighter defends it.
Reckridge winds up and cracks Experimental Fighter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Reckridge stands up and beckons Experimental Fighter to join him on the feet.

Reckridge closes the distance and pushes Experimental Fighter back into the cage.
Experimental Fighter is trying to force a seperation but Reckridge has the dominant position.
Experimental Fighter tries to pull guard but Reckridge holds him up against the cage and eventually Experimental Fighter drops back down to his feet.

Reckridge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Experimental Fighter. No joy for Reckridge on that attempt.

Reckridge moves into the clinch.

Reckridge manages to pull guard.
Reckridge looks gassed!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Experimental Fighter with a flurry of punches that miss.

Reckridge is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Experimental Fighter defends well.
Experimental Fighter wants to control from the top but Reckridge keeps moving.
Reckridge utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Reckridge pushes Experimental Fighter off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Experimental Fighter. No joy for Reckridge on that attempt.
Experimental Fighter tries to clinch but Reckridge is having none of it.
Experimental Fighter is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Experimental Fighter looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reckridge displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Experimental Fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Experimental Fighter shoots in for a double leg but Reckridge sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Experimental Fighter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reckridge's waist but Reckridge gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Experimental Fighter off to one side.

Experimental Fighter gets caught napping as Reckridge dives in and scores a takedown. Experimental Fighter manages to retain guard.
Reckridge slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Experimental Fighter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Reckridge is controlling him.

Experimental Fighter working for a triangle but Reckridge defends it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reckridge is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azazel Reckridge dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Experimental Fighter tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Reckridge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Reckridge.

Reckridge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Experimental Fighter shoots in for a takedown but Reckridge shows good takedown defense.
Experimental Fighter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Experimental Fighter gets caught napping as Reckridge dives in and scores a takedown. Experimental Fighter manages to retain guard.
Reckridge advances position into side control!

Reckridge stands up.

Reckridge gets a takedown into half guard.
Reckridge is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Experimental Fighter is in trouble now - Reckridge has advanced to mount!
Reckridge avoids the attempt from Experimental Fighter to control.
Experimental Fighter is wriggling around trying to escape.
Reckridge scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Reckridge is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Experimental Fighter to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Experimental Fighter shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Experimental Fighter is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reckridge scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Experimental Fighter?
Reckridge wants to control the pace but Experimental Fighter is squirming around nicely.
Azazel Reckridge has got the better of the ground game so far.
Experimental Fighter tries to hold on but Reckridge pushes him away.
Reckridge prevents Experimental Fighter from getting the reversal.
Reckridge breaks from Experimental Fighter's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Reckridge is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Experimental Fighter can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reckridge working the ground and pound effectively.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reckridge takes Experimental Fighter's back.

Reckridge looking for the RNC.
Experimental Fighter looking very determined here, making life difficult for Reckridge.
Reckridge misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reckridge controlling the position well here. Experimental Fighter rolled but Reckridge kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Reckridge gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Experimental Fighter is keeping busy.
Experimental Fighter wants to get back to his feet.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Experimental Fighter is trying to get back to his feet but Reckridge has full control of the position and if anything, Experimental Fighter has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Azazel Reckridge showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Experimental Fighter with a lazy takedown attempt

and Reckridge counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Reckridge.

Reckridge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Experimental Fighter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Reckridge shoots for a double leg takedown but Experimental Fighter sprawls well. He's pushed Reckridge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Experimental Fighter wants to clinch

so Reckridge counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Reckridge content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Experimental Fighter throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Experimental Fighter trying to control the position.
Reckridge forces his way into half guard.
Reckridge trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reckridge is trying to control. Experimental Fighter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reckridge trying to control the pace.
Experimental Fighter wants to control but Reckridge passes into side.
Check out the look on Reckridge's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Reckridge happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Reckridge working the ground and pound.
Experimental Fighter is working to avoid the ground and pound but Reckridge connects with a decent elbow.
Reckridge moves into full mount!

Reckridge wants to finish this one by submission but Experimental Fighter is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Reckridge.
Experimental Fighter blocking the ground and pound.
Reckridge fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reckridge swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Azazel Reckridge!