PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafa Sliknot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafa Sliknot could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Matt Ribeiro's chin.

Sliknot
vs
Ribeiro

188 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rafa Sliknot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sliknot closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ribeiro quickly recovers to half guard.
Sliknot throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sliknot missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sliknot working the head and body with strikes.
Sliknot throwing shots but Ribeiro is blocking nicely.
Sliknot throwing shots but Ribeiro is blocking nicely.
Sliknot thows a huge punch but Ribeiro dodges it nicely.
Sliknot throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ribeiro manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ribeiro controls Sliknot momentarily but Sliknot frees himself.
Sliknot lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sliknot trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sliknot postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ribeiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sliknot missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro trying to keep a closed guard but Sliknot is proving a slippery customer.
Sliknot postures up in Ribeiro's guard and throws a big left but Ribeiro blocks it.
Sliknot is looking to work some ground and pound but Ribeiro has wrist control.
Sliknot is looking to work some ground and pound but Ribeiro has wrist control.
Sliknot landing some decent shots from guard.
Ribeiro trying to control the position.
Ribeiro wants to sweep here but Sliknot controlling him for the moment.
Sliknot throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sliknot with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sliknot is looking to work some ground and pound but Ribeiro has wrist control.
Sliknot lands a couple of digs.
Ribeiro not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sliknot pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ribeiro is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sliknot is in close to Ribeiro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sliknot in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ribeiro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sliknot.
Sliknot postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ribeiro can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sliknot throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sliknot throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro trying to keep a closed guard but Sliknot is proving a slippery customer.
Sliknot scoring with punches to the head and body.

Ribeiro wriggles free and stands up.
Ribeiro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ribeiro looks gassed!

Sliknot manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ribeiro on his heels. He'll look to pass Ribeiro's guard now, I'm sure.
Sliknot throws a strike but Ribeiro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ribeiro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sliknot wants to stand but Ribeiro is controlling the position.
Ribeiro looking to pass the guard.
Ribeiro throws a big right hand that misses.
Ribeiro trying to move into half guard but instead Sliknot has managed to sweep!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sliknot's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sliknot postures up in Ribeiro's guard and throws a big left but Ribeiro blocks it.
Ribeiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Ribeiro enables Sliknot to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Ribeiro manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ribeiro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ribeiro keeping full guard, as Sliknot tries to pass.
Sliknot postures up in Ribeiro's guard and throws a big left but Ribeiro blocks it.
Ribeiro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ribeiro had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sliknot defends it easily.
Sliknot throwing strikes but missing.
Sliknot in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sliknot throws an elbow that misses. Ribeiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sliknot's guard. Nice move by Ribeiro!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro tries to stand but Sliknot is controlling from the bottom.

Ribeiro stands up and waves to Sliknot to follow him.

Sliknot throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ribeiro tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sliknot is in Ribeiro's guard.
Ribeiro wants to sweep here but Sliknot controlling him for the moment.
Sliknot missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sliknot with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ribeiro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sliknot working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sliknot throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ribeiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sliknot loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ribeiro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sliknot is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ribeiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sliknot lands a couple of elbows.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sliknot postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sliknot postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ribeiro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sliknot missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ribeiro is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro looking to control.
Sliknot is in close to Ribeiro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sliknot working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sliknot throws a big right hand that misses.
Sliknot postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sliknot lands a couple of elbows.
Sliknot with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sliknot stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ribeiro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ribeiro is trying to keep Sliknot in close.
Sliknot throwing strikes from guard but Ribeiro blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sliknot landing some decent shots from guard.
Sliknot throws an elbow that misses. Ribeiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sliknot's guard. Nice move by Ribeiro!
Ribeiro wants to control from the top but Sliknot keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ribeiro postures up in Sliknot's guard and throws a big left but Sliknot blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafa Sliknot dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sliknot stalks Ribeiro and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ribeiro's face. Ribeiro staggers backwards, shaken.
Sliknot digs a good hook to Ribeiro's body.
Ribeiro tries for a takedown but Sliknot sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Sliknot closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ribeiro to the mat! Ribeiro manages to get full guard.
Rafa Sliknot overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sliknot throws a big right hand that misses.
Sliknot postures up in Ribeiro's guard and throws a big left but Ribeiro blocks it.
Sliknot is in close to Ribeiro's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sliknot is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sliknot throws a big right hand that misses.
Sliknot is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Sliknot working some strikes from top position.
Ribeiro controls Sliknot momentarily but Sliknot frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sliknot in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sliknot trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sliknot with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sliknot throws a strike but Ribeiro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ribeiro throws an elbow that misses. Sliknot uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ribeiro's guard. Nice move by Sliknot!
Ribeiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sliknot postures up in Ribeiro's guard and throws a big left but Ribeiro blocks it.
Sliknot with a nice head shot there.
Sliknot scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ribeiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sliknot cracks Ribeiro with a solid left hand.
Sliknot postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ribeiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sliknot throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ribeiro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sliknot throws an elbow that misses. Ribeiro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sliknot's guard. Nice move by Ribeiro!
Ribeiro wants to control from the top but Sliknot keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ribeiro throws a strike but Sliknot rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sliknot is working Ribeiro over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sliknot throws a strike but Ribeiro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ribeiro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sliknot is looking to stand up but Ribeiro isn't so interested in that idea.
Ribeiro slips nicely into half guard.

Ribeiro is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sliknot defends it well.
Matt Ribeiro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rafa Sliknot is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ribeiro wants to work for an arm triangle but Sliknot is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafa Sliknot showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sliknot has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafa Sliknot!