PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Belgian Maniac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Rico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rico has chosen The Fight Song as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maniac
vs
Rico

175 cm
24
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
23
147 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

TFP Graphics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Belgian Maniac!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Johnny Rico!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rico scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Belgian Maniac has been cut.
Rico throws a nice looking combination but Maniac bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rico misses with a straight right.
Maniac tries to close the distance and clinch but Rico swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rico misses with a double jab.
Maniac needs to keep his hands up - Rico had a free shot at his head there.
Rico takes one to the side of the head.

Maniac closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Maniac looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rico can do anything to dispel that myth.
Maniac working away.
Maniac misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Rico is looking to reverse the position.
Maniac is looking to take a break and control but Rico is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rico manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rico wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maniac moves out of range as Rico strikes.
Rico throws a hook to the side of Maniac's head but Maniac sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maniac staying out of range there.
Maniac is looking to clinch.
Maniac ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maniac tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rico swivels and escapes.
Rico thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maniac displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rico throws out the jab.
Rico avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rico swats away the attempt to clinch by Maniac.
Rico misses with a series of wild punches.
Rico throws a head kick but Maniac moves out of range.
Rico throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Maniac.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rico throws a right and a left that Maniac avoids nicely.
Rico misses with a series of wild punches.
Rico just misses with a punch to the body.

Maniac shoots in and bounces Rico off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Maniac is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Maniac with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rico trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rico wants to stand but Maniac is controlling the position.
Maniac stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rico swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maniac wants to control from the top but Rico keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maniac throws and elbow that misses. Rico uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maniac's guard. Nice move by Rico!
Maniac not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maniac is looking to clinch but Rico is avoiding it.
Nice cross by Rico.
Maniac tries to close the distance and clinch but Rico swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rico throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rico keeps the fight on the outside.
Maniac is looking to clinch.
Rico throws a series of punches but Maniac avoids them all with ease.
Rico circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rico clobbers Maniac with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Maniac misses its intended target.
Rico fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maniac looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Maniac is breathing heavily.
Maniac shoots in for a double leg but Rico sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rico scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rico throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rico throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maniac on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rico takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A left and a right from Rico both land. Nice combination.
Rico clobbers Maniac with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Maniac on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rico scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A head kick misses from Rico.
Rico keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters circling - Rico throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice cross by Rico.
Rico throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maniac displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rico throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Rico dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Belgian Maniac's cut.
That's time! Maniac's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rico moves out of range of the body kick from Maniac.
Rico misses with a looping right.
Rico lands a right hook to the body.
Maniac fails with a takedown attempt.
Maniac tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rico paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Maniac bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maniac takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maniac bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maniac throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rico throws a body punch but Maniac moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maniac needs to keep his hands up - Rico had a free shot at his head there.
Belgian Maniac is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rico throws a looping overhand right but Maniac ducks down to avoid it.
Rico throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A left and a right from Rico both land. Nice combination.

Maniac closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rico tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maniac wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rico's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Maniac is chipping away with strikes.
Maniac working the strikes but Rico uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rico avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maniac.
Maniac stops Rico from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Rico.

Maniac fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rico sprawls well initially but Maniac persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Maniac seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rico pushes Maniac off looking to stand but Maniac dives back in and keeps control.
Rico is staying active underneath Maniac, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rico tries to get to full guard but Maniac has control of the leg.

Rico looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Maniac pushes past his half guard into mount!
Rico flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rico keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maniac landing strikes from the mount and Rico is in trouble!
Maniac trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rico is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maniac is working for a guillotine from mount but Rico frees his head quite easily.
Rico is looking to get to half guard.
Maniac is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rico can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Rico working to try and regain half guard.
Maniac can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rico is looking to escape.
Maniac is really struggling to control Rico but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rico tries to lock up and control but Maniac gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maniac tries to control but Rico wriggling away.

Maniac goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Rico is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rico lands a couple of digs.

Maniac is looking for a triangle but Rico pushes his legs off easily.
Rico would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Belgian Maniac will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Belgian Maniac's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rico lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Maniac moves out of range as Rico strikes.
Rico throws a one two combo.
Rico throws a shot from downtown. Maniac moves away and avoids it.
Maniac moves out of range as Rico throws a body kick.
Rico thows a body shot but no joy.
Rico misses with a hook. Maniac ducked under it nicely.
Rico cracks Maniac with an open hand slap.
Rico throws a looping overhand right but Maniac ducks down to avoid it.
Rico misses with a looping left.

Maniac closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rico is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Rico is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Maniac's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Rico is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rico tries to get to full guard but Maniac has control of the leg.
Rico is staying active underneath Maniac, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maniac wants to free his trapped foot but Rico is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Rico makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rico.
Rico keeping full guard, as Maniac tries to pass.
Rico has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Maniac thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Maniac won't allow Rico to sweep him here.
Maniac sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rico's guard.
Rico tries to roll over but Maniac keeps him under control.
Rico is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rico manages to get to full guard.
Maniac is in close to Rico's body, working some short punches and elbows.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rico is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maniac trying to control the position.
Rico preventing the sweep.
Maniac has momentary wrist control but Rico slips an elbow through the middle.
Maniac 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.
Rico trying to control the position from guard on top but Maniac is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maniac wants to sweep here but Rico controlling him for the moment.
Rico working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Maniac's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Maniac manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Rico keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maniac looking to control but Rico is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rico wants to hold on but Maniac pushes him away.
Maniac wants to control but Rico has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Rico is pressing down on Maniac's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maniac throws a strike but Rico rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Rico comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rico 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Rico!