PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Riccio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Taker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rico Riccio has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Riccio
vs
Taker

177 cm
27
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
20
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rico Riccio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jim Taker!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Taker has closed the distance and engaged Riccio in a clinch.
Riccio keeps control of Taker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riccio is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Riccio looking to throw knees to the head but Taker is blocking nicely.
Taker is trying to break the clinch but Riccio has him pressed against the cage.
Taker misses with a punch on the inside.
Taker takes an elbow to the temple.
Riccio prevents the takedown attempt.
Riccio lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Riccio lands an elbow inside.
Taker has had enough of the clinch but Riccio keeps him there for the moment.
Nice elbow from Riccio.
Taker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Riccio is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Taker is keeping busy.
Riccio keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Taker's efforts to push away.
Taker takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Jim Taker has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riccio leaning his opponent against the cage.
Riccio blocks the elbow strike.
Riccio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Taker manages to break the clinch.

Taker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Riccio stops a takedown attempt from Taker.
Riccio crunches a lovely knee into Taker's ribcage.
Riccio lands an elbow inside that Taker shrugs off.
Riccio lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Riccio lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Riccio gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riccio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Taker has Riccio pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Riccio manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rico Riccio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Taker.
Riccio lands an elbow that stopped Taker in his tracks for a moment.
Riccio lands a nice knee to the body.
Taker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Riccio is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taker letting Riccio take a breather here.
Taker is looking to take this one to the mat.
Taker looks gassed!
Taker misses with some punches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riccio.
Taker is looking to break free of the clinch but Riccio has double underhooks.
Taker takes an elbow to the temple.
Riccio lands a damaging elbow.
Riccio lands an elbow inside.
Riccio crunches a lovely knee into Taker's ribcage.
Riccio blocks an uppercut.
Riccio lands a nice elbow.
Riccio lands an elbow inside that Taker shrugs off.
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Riccio creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taker's defenses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riccio.
Riccio utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Riccio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Riccio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riccio lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Riccio keeps control of Taker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riccio lands a nice knee to the body.
Taker has Riccio pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Riccio manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Riccio's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Riccio lands an elbow just above Taker 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riccio.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riccio.
Riccio lands an elbow just above Taker 's eye.
Taker is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A knee to the head by Riccio.

Taker is rocked!
Taker takes an elbow to the temple.
Taker is still on wobbly legs! Can Riccio finish him?
Riccio creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taker's defenses.
Riccio lands a nice elbow.
Taker takes an elbow to the temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Riccio gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Riccio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riccio connects with a nasty looking knee right to Taker's face.
Riccio lands a nice elbow.
Riccio connects with a nasty looking knee right to Taker's face.
Taker takes a knee to the side of the body.
A bit of stalling here from Riccio.
Taker misses with a punch on the inside.
Riccio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Riccio lands an elbow inside that Taker shrugs off.
Taker is looking to break free of the clinch but Riccio has double underhooks.
Riccio scores with a knee to the head.
Taker takes an elbow to the temple.
Taker wants to get back to striking at distance but Riccio won't allow it.
Riccio lands a damaging elbow.
Riccio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Riccio lands a nice elbow.
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees to the body from Riccio.
Taker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Riccio prevents Taker from breaking the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Riccio dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jim Taker's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taker swats away the attempt to clinch by Riccio.
Riccio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taker swats away the attempt to clinch by Riccio.
Taker avoids the head kick by Riccio.

Riccio moves into the clinch.
Taker seems to have recovered his senses.
Riccio lands an elbow inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Riccio.
Taker has a couple of punches blocked by Riccio.
Riccio has Taker pressed against the cage.
Riccio lands a good knee to the midsection. Taker won't want to take too many of those.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taker.
Taker takes an elbow to the temple.
Taker swings wildly with an uppercut but Riccio uses good head movement to avoid it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Riccio lands an elbow that stopped Taker in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riccio displaying some good clinch control by pressing Taker up against the cage.
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Taker is looking to break free of the clinch but Riccio has double underhooks.
Riccio lands an elbow inside.
Taker is trying to push Riccio away but Riccio has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Riccio prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee is keeping an eye on Riccio - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Riccio lands an elbow inside that Taker shrugs off.
Taker is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Riccio lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Riccio's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Riccio working Taker over with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Riccio has him pressed against the cage.
Riccio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Riccio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Riccio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taker can do to turn this around?
Riccio gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riccio using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Taker is breathing heavily.
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Riccio lands an elbow just above Taker 's eye.
Taker tries to break free but Riccio pushes him back against the cage.
Riccio prevents Taker from breaking the clinch.
Rico Riccio has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taker being controlled against the cage.
Riccio lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Riccio scores with a knee to the head.
Riccio with a knee to the head.
Riccio with a knee to the head.
Taker is trying to break the clinch but Riccio is controlling him.
Taker throws a punch but it's blocked by Riccio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taker tries to circle away but Riccio has him pinned against the cage.
Riccio trying to stall but Taker improves his position.
Taker misses with a punch on the inside.
Riccio lands a nice elbow.
Taker goes for a takedown in the clinch but Riccio prevents it.
Rico Riccio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Taker.
Riccio comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That has opened up Jim Taker's cut even more.
Riccio tries to stall but Taker uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Riccio creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taker's defenses.
Riccio gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Taker takes an elbow to the forehead.
Riccio has Taker pressed against the cage. He pushes Taker back and as he springs towards him off the cage, Riccio throws a beautiful elbow that sends Taker crashing to the floor! Riccio piles on the pressure with more strikes! Taker is flailing away but he's not defending himself and the referee steps in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rico Riccio!