PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Danny Ratliff (ranked 25110 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Kearney (ranked 6131 p4p, 0 weight class). Jay Kearney acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ratliff
vs
Kearney

183 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Danny Ratliff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jay Kearney!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Hugh Johnson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kearney darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ratliff wants to improve his position but Kearney is controlling well.
Kearney perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ratliff avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kearney.

Kearney is working for a kimura but Ratliff is defending it quite comfortably.
Ratliff tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ratliff misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Ratliff is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kearney keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ratliff wants to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Kearney seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kearney goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Ratliff gets a double leg takedown into Kearney's guard.
Ratliff wants to stand but Kearney is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff prevents Kearney from getting back to his feet.

Kearney working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ratliff doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ratliff manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ratliff stopping the sweep attempt from Kearney.
Kearney trying to control the position here.
Ratliff postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff postures up in Kearney's guard and throws a big left but Kearney blocks it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kearney moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Kearney's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ratliff fails to pull guard.
Ratliff jumps guard but Kearney stands there with Ratliff around his waist. Ratliff gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kearney tries to circle away but Ratliff has him pinned against the cage.
Ratliff stalling in the clinch but Kearney improves position.
Ratliff is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Kearney has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ratliff regains guard immediately.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kearney's guard.

Kearney working a defensive guard here.
Ratliff is looking to stand up but Kearney won't let him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kearney is on top in guard.

Ratliff doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ratliff 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kearney passes into half guard.
Ratliff manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Kearney dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kearney shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ratliff napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The strikes coming from Kearney are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ratliff sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ratliff misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kearney content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ratliff tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kearney prevents Ratliff from improving his position.

Kearney is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ratliff sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratliff wants to control but Kearney is keeping busy.
Kearney keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kearney blocks the strikes from Ratliff.
Ratliff trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ratliff tries to sprawl but Kearney drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Ratliff has one foot on Kearney's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Kearney instigates a clinch.

Kearney manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kearney manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ratliff manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kearney's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ratliff throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kearney looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kearney slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Ratliff.
Kearney throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ratliff flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kearney is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ratliff is just riding it out for now. Kearney eventually gives up the hold.

Kearney stands up out of the half guard.
Jay Kearney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kearney looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ratliff wants to get back to full guard.
Kearney has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ratliff wants to get back to full guard but Kearney has passed into side control.
Kearney trying to control the action but Ratliff is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff is trying to work for a sweep but Kearney has mounted him!
Ratliff swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ratliff tries to lock up and control but Kearney gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ratliff is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kearney sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Kearney is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Ratliff is surviving well by controlling Kearney's body position as best he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ratliff is looking to get to half guard.
Kearney throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Kearney showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ratliff fails with the takedown

and Kearney moves into the clinch.
Ratliff wants to stall.
Ratliff wants to get back to striking at distance but Kearney won't allow it.
A short left from Kearney.
Kearney is stalling here.

Kearney has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ratliff is trying to keep an underhook but Kearney manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kearney stands up from half guard.

Kearney scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ratliff is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Kearney crashes against the mat.
Kearney blocks the strikes from Ratliff.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Ratliff is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kearney stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kearney is looking to take a break and control but Ratliff is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ratliff tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ratliff manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kearney throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ratliff works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ratliff is trying to hold Kearney in close to prevent damage but Kearney has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ratliff has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kearney is working away from the top position though.
Kearney content to control rather than advance.
Ratliff is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kearney sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ratliff defending well though.
Kearney controlling the action here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ratliff is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kearney rushes Ratliff and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kearney pulls guard successfully.

Kearney pushes Ratliff off and gets back to his feet.
Kearney misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ratliff shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kearney defends it nicely.

Kearney feints and as Ratliff raises his hands in defense, Kearney changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kearney tries to free his leg and advance position but Ratliff is retaining full guard.

Kearney gets to his feet. Ratliff looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kearney looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ratliff!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kearney throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ratliff works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Kearney comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kearney 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Kearney!