PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Ponting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Ribera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Ricky Ponting has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ricky Ponting seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ponting
vs
Ribera

170 cm
31
160 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

180 cm
35
165 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Ponting!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Manny Ribera!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponting loads up on a big right hand but Ribera slips the punch.
Ribera moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ponting swings widly with a right hand

and Ribera counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ribera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ponting keeping moving, preventing Ribera from controlling successfully.
Ponting tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ribera wants to control from the top but Ponting keeps moving.
Ribera sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manny Ribera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ponting lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ribera at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ribera slips a straight right by Ponting.
Ribera thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribera takes a swing at Ponting's ribcage but misses.
Ponting moves forwards but Ribera connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ribera moves out of range of the strikes.
Ponting keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ribera.
Ribera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ponting sizes up Ribera with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ribera loads up on a big right hand but Ponting slips the punch.
Ponting wants to land a leg kick but Ribera is out of range.
Ponting throws a body punch but Ribera moves out of range.
Ribera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ribera misses the shot to the body.
Ponting moves out of range as Ribera strikes.
Ribera checks a low kick from Ponting.
Ribera misses with a right hand
and Ponting counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ribera with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribera bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponting swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ponting takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ponting walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ribera swinging wildly here.
Ribera takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ribera has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Manny Ribera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ribera misses with a wild body shot.
A slow jab from Ponting misses its intended target.
Ribera moves away from the strike by Ponting.
Ponting with a jab.
Ponting misses with the combination.
Ribera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ponting walks into a straight right hand from Ribera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribera swings for the body but Ponting moves out of range.
Ponting fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ribera's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ponting connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ribera scrambles back to his feet.
Ponting scores with a sloppy right hand. Ribera should have avoided that one.
Ponting thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ponting walks into a left hand.
Ribera slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ponting throws a hook but Ribera avoids it easily.
Good work by Ribera as he checks the leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Ribera. No joy for Ponting on that attempt.
Ponting misses with a wild body shot.
Ponting takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ribera misses with a wild body shot.
Ribera ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ribera misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponting fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ponting missing with a left hand there. Ribera was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ponting has been working on his balance at McGarrys plant works, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Ribera.
Ribera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ponting moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ribera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ponting.
Ribera is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ponting had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Ponting shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ribera is trying to defend but Ponting finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ribera tries to kick Ponting off but Ponting keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ponting trying to pass the guard but Ribera defending well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ponting trying to control the action but Ribera is working from the bottom.
Ponting throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Ribera 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.

Ribera bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ponting's head.
Ribera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big left from Ponting misses.
Ribera has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ponting will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ribera takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ribera works the jab nicely.
Ribera feints a jab promting Ponting to slip. Ribera then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ponting slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ponting swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ponting lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ribera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ponting throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ponting slips a jab from Ribera.
Ponting throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ribera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribera misses with a two punch combination.

Ponting fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ribera sprawls well initially but Ponting persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ribera is looking to improve his position.
Ribera trying to control from the bottom.
Ribera preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ponting wants to take a breather but Ribera is having none of it.
Ponting prevents Ribera from improving his position.
Ponting throws a strike but Ribera avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Ponting slips nicely into half guard.
Ponting sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ribera defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ponting misses with a head shot. Ribera uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ponting with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ponting pushes down on Ribera's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponting thows a huge punch but Ribera dodges it nicely.
Ribera wants to control but Ponting is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ribera gets full guard.
Ponting connects with a couple of short punches.
Ponting trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribera wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ponting is now in half guard.
Ponting working Ribera over with strikes.
Ribera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ponting is looking to work some ground and pound but Ribera has wrist control.
Ribera controls Ponting momentarily but Ponting frees himself.
Ponting throwing strikes from guard but Ribera blocks nicely.
Ponting trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ribera trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponting looking to sit in guard and control but Ribera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ponting is trying to keep Ribera in close.
Ribera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Ponting has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ribera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ponting working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ribera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ribera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ponting keeping moving, preventing Ribera from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ponting dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ponting attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ribera digs a good hook to Ponting's body.
Ribera on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ribera takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ponting throws a jab when Ribera was well out of range.
Ponting tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ribera defends well and Ponting ends up having to push Ribera into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Ponting breaks from the clinch.
Ponting misses with a two punch combination.
Ribera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ribera tries to clinch up.
Ponting shoots in but no luck this time.
Ponting steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ribera.
Ponting shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Ponting. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribera cracks Ponting with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Ribera sizes up Ponting with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ribera misses with a straight left.
Ribera scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ribera throws a right and a left that Ponting avoids nicely.
Ponting throws a head kick but Ribera moves out of range.
Ribera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ribera looks to score with a jab to the body but Ponting is just out of range.
Ponting swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ponting pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ribera smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ponting takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ribera uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ponting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribera pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ribera throws a lazy right hand but Ponting sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ribera cracks a nice hook into Ponting's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A jab from Ribera does it's job there.
Ribera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ponting bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ponting smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ponting throws a big shot that misses.
Ribera fails to land with a series of punches.
Ponting needs to keep his hands up - Ribera had a free shot at his head there.
Ponting throws a hook but Ribera blocks it.
Ribera fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ribera moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ribera throws a hook but Ponting avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribera misses with a straight right.
Ribera moves out of range of the strikes.
Ponting displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ribera throws out the jab.
Ribera misses with the combination.
Ponting cracks Ribera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ribera scores with a jab. Ponting acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ponting throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ribera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ponting shoots in for a double leg but Ribera sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ponting misses with a looping right.
Ribera throws an overhand right that lands on Ponting's shoulder, as Ponting tries to avoid the shot.
Ribera lands with a shot to the body.
Ponting misses with a lunging right hand
and Ribera counters with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribera clinches up against the cage.
Ribera working aggressively here.
Ponting wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ponting's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ribera swings wildly with an uppercut but Ponting uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ribera being controlled against the cage.
Ribera keeps control of Ponting as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ponting is trying to force a seperation but Ribera has the dominant position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ribera throws a punch but it's blocked by Ponting.
Ponting blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Ribera.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Ribera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ribera has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Ribera!
Manny Ribera very nearly forgot to thank Kemists ↑ 5x160Q amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.