PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eli Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Ritchie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Davis
vs
Ritchie

211 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Eli Davis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Graham Ritchie!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Davis pushes Ritchie up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ritchie's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ritchie has Davis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Ritchie pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Davis tumbling to the mat - Ritchie dives into Davis's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Davis wants to stand and escape but Ritchie is having none of it.
Davis looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ritchie preventing the sweep.
Ritchie controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ritchie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Davis moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ritchie pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ritchie is on top in guard.
Davis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Davis 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.
Davis controlling the position.
Ritchie advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ritchie trying to control from half guard but Davis is working away.
Ritchie should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Davis kicks off Ritchie and gets to his feet.
Ritchie throws a head kick but Davis moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ritchie moves into the clinch.

Ritchie gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ritchie prevents Davis from getting back to his feet.
Davis has a closed guard, preventing Ritchie from standing up.
Ritchie prevents Davis from getting back to his feet.
Ritchie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Davis seems keen to control Ritchie's posture.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Ritchie feints and as Davis raises his hands in defense, Ritchie changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Davis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis pulls Ritchie in close to prevent any damage.
Davis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ritchie is one step ahead there.
Davis is adopting a defensive guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ritchie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ritchie pushing down on Davis's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Davis is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis is pressing down on Ritchie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ritchie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ritchie tries to free his leg and advance position but Davis is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davis pulls Ritchie in close to prevent any damage.
Ritchie trying to control but Davis is working from the bottom.
Davis wants to stand and escape but Ritchie is having none of it.
Davis is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ritchie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ritchie lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ritchie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Ritchie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Davis throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Ritchie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Davis tries to control but Ritchie manages to take his back.
Ritchie missing with strikes.

Davis showing good submission defense here.

Davis is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ritchie gets his way!
Ritchie lands with a hammerfist to the side of Davis's head.
Davis holding both Ritchie 's hands and preventing any damage.
Davis covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What can Davis do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Ritchie seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Davis's chin but Davis turns very nicely into Ritchie's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Davis.
Davis landing with the ground and pound.
Ritchie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Davis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Davis throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis throwing strikes from guard but Ritchie blocks nicely.
Ritchie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Davis.
Davis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Davis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Davis throwing strikes from guard but Ritchie blocks nicely.
Davis lands a couple of digs.
Davis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Davis throws a big right hand that misses.

Ritchie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Davis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Davis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ritchie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Davis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ritchie's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis chips away with some ground and pound.
Davis is in close to Ritchie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ritchie tries to strike from the bottom.
Davis is in close to Ritchie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ritchie not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ritchie is breathing heavily.
Davis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ritchie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Davis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Davis lands a couple of elbows.
Davis connects with a couple of short punches.
Davis lands a couple of digs.
Davis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ritchie's head.
Davis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Davis is working Ritchie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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!
Davis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Davis is working Ritchie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Davis lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Davis landing with the ground and pound.
Ritchie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Davis wants to control but Ritchie is having none of it.
Davis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ritchie takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Davis regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Davis dominated that second round.
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!

Ritchie pushes Davis up against the cage in a clinch.
Ritchie has had enough of the clinch but Davis keeps him there for the moment.
Davis drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ritchie pulls his leg out and moves away.
Graham Ritchie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ritchie moves into the clinch.

Ritchie gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Davis trying to control here.
Davis wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis wants to improve his position but Ritchie is controlling well.
Ritchie wants to take a breather but Davis is having none of it.
Davis wants to get back to his feet.
Davis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ritchie is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ritchie gets the takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ritchie stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Ritchie shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Davis is trying to defend but Ritchie finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davis trying to control here.
Ritchie is trying to control. Davis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ritchie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Davis looks like he's trying to stand up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Ritchie tries to pass to full mount but Davis defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davis is trying to stand up here but Ritchie is controlling him well.
Ritchie wants to take a breather but Davis is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Graham Ritchie.

Ritchie fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Davis sprawls well initially but Ritchie persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ritchie tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Davis.
Ritchie is looking to take a break and control but Davis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Davis is trying to stand back up but Ritchie is controlling him
Ritchie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Davis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Graham Ritchie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Davis closes the distance and pushes Ritchie back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Davis pulls Ritchie into guard.

Davis has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ritchie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Ritchie rushes Davis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Davis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ritchie is defending well.

Ritchie pulls guard successfully.
Ritchie controls Davis momentarily but Davis frees himself.
Davis throwing strikes from guard but Ritchie blocks nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Davis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ritchie wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graham Ritchie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ritchie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graham Ritchie!
Post fight, an emotional Graham Ritchie said 'If he dies...........he dies!.'.