PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinnie Longworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monroe kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deep Ocean - Island drumming. Vinnie Longworth has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Monroe
vs
Longworth

166 cm
28
143 lbs
13 - 9 - 2

168 cm
36
145 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vinnie Longworth!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Jonathan Paton and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monroe takes one on the button.
Monroe throws a looping overhand right but Longworth ducks down to avoid it.
Monroe defending well as Longworth loads up on a big left hand.
Longworth takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Monroe fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Longworth on the side of the head.
Monroe throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Longworth stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Monroe throws a hook to the side of Longworth's head but Longworth sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Longworth fails with the takedown.
Jab, jab by Longworth - just one landing.
Longworth throws a body shot but no joy.
Monroe lands a lovely overhand right.
Monroe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Monroe sets himself, and Longworth steps forward looking for the clinch! Monroe avoids it this time.

Longworth fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Monroe sprawls well initially but Longworth persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Monroe is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Longworth lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Monroe works his way to full guard. Good work.
Longworth wants to pass the guard but Monroe is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe tries to strike from the bottom.
Monroe wants to sweep but no luck.
Monroe is working hard here to advance position.
Monroe wants to improve his position but instead Longworth has moved into half guard.

Longworth is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Monroe is trying to maintain the position but Longworth is very close to passing his half guard.
Monroe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Monroe tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Monroe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Monroe wants to improve his position but instead Longworth has moved into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Longworth lands a nice short elbow.
Longworth seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Monroe does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Monroe moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Longworth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Longworth looking to sit in guard and control but Monroe gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Monroe wants to pass the guard but Longworth is keeping the position.
Longworth looking for a sweep. Not yet Longworth, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Longworth is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Monroe is aware though and is defending well.
Monroe landing some decent shots from guard.
Monroe postures up and lands a big shot to Longworth's brow.
Longworth trying to control the position.
Monroe lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Monroe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Longworth's head.
Monroe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Monroe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Longworth keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.
Longworth is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Monroe lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Monroe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Monroe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Longworth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Longworth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Monroe.
Longworth looking to hit a scissor sweep but Monroe is one step ahead there.
Monroe scoring with some ground and pound.
Monroe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Monroe scores with punches from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Longworth manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Monroe tries to get to full guard but Longworth has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe 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.

Nice defenses there by Monroe.
Monroe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Longworth.
Longworth throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Monroe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Longworth uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monroe.
Monroe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Monroe lands a slapping body shot.
Longworth throws out a leg kick but Monroe moves out of range and Longworth only half commits.
Longworth misses with a low kick.
Vinnie Longworth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Monroe lands.
Longworth on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Longworth misses with a two punch combination.
Monroe misses with a looping left.
Monroe fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Longworth has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Monroe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Longworth swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ricky Monroe is winning the standup battle so far.
Monroe misses with an uppercut. Longworth saw that one coming.
Longworth jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Monroe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Longworth can do to turn this around?
Longworth will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Longworth lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longworth avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Longworth attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Longworth attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sloppy strikes from Longworth. Those never looked like landing.
Monroe tries to counter by clinching up but Longworth breaks away and moves out of range.
Longworth cracks Monroe with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Longworth throws a sloppy head kick
and Monroe counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Monroe defending well as Longworth loads up on a big left hand.
Longworth defending well as Monroe loads up on a big left hand.
Monroe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Longworth at a distance.
Longworth cracks Monroe with an open hand slap.
Longworth takes one to the side of the head.
Longworth ducks under a wild hook from Monroe.
Longworth connects with a nice looking jab.
Longworth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Monroe just misses with a punch to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Monroe scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Longworth doesn't seem bothered though.
Monroe misses with an uppercut.
It seemed like Longworth was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Longworth connects with a good right hand that stumbles Monroe. Monroe circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Monroe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Monroe walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Longworth checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Longworth throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Monroe was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Monroe slips under a jab.
Monroe lands a right hook to the body.
Longworth bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Monroe throws a hook but Longworth blocks it.
A head kick by Longworth misses
and Monroe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Longworth moves forwards but Monroe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Longworth uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Both fighters circling a little - Longworth finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Longworth throws a leg kick that is checked
and Monroe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Monroe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Longworth was well out of range. Poor timing from Monroe.
Monroe moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromLongworth.
Monroe avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Longworth takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Longworth goes for a double leg but Monroe avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Monroe continues to drive forward.
Monroe swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longworth moves away from the strike by Monroe.

Monroe gets caught flat footed, as Longworth shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Monroe seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Longworth postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Monroe looking for a sweep. Not yet Monroe, not yet.
Longworth advances to half guard.
Monroe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Longworth is working for a kimura but Monroe is defending it quite comfortably.
Longworth missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longworth is just content to waste time from the top position. Monroe takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Longworth trying to control the position from guard on top but Monroe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monroe doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Monroe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Longworth landing with the ground and pound.
Longworth working some strikes from top position.
Longworth postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Monroe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Monroe lands an upkick as Longworth stands over him.
Longworth slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Monroe.
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 Ricky Monroe will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Longworth steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Monroe.
Longworth scores with a jab to the head.
Monroe scores with a nice strike.
Longworth throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Monroe counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Monroe fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Longworth fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Monroe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Monroe with a jab.
Longworth on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Longworth gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Monroe.
Longworth wants to control from the top but Monroe keeps moving.
Longworth with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longworth is working Monroe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Longworth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monroe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Monroe thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Monroe wants to control but Longworth passes easily into half guard.
Monroe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vinnie Longworth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Longworth has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Longworth in particular looking to stall.
Longworth prevents Monroe from improving his position.

Longworth looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe blocking the ground and pound attempt from Longworth.
Monroe gets full guard.
Monroe wants to improve his position but instead Longworth has moved into half guard.
Monroe is trying to get back to full guard.
Longworth scoring with strikes to the body and 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.

Longworth is working for a kimura here but Monroe manages to reverse the position and he's now in Longworth's guard.
Longworth looking for a sweep. Not yet Longworth, not yet.

Longworth is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Monroe has his hands clasped together but Longworth extends and breaks Monroe's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Longworth.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Vinnie Longworth!
A very excited looking Vinnie Longworth made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.