PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Workman (ranked 24838 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ed Ricoop (ranked 7629 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricoop has chosen Bad to the Bone as his entrance music. Ed Ricoop has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Workman
vs
Ricoop

220 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

172 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joey Workman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ed Ricoop!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Workman gets tackled into the cage by Ricoop. Ricoop maintains the clinch.

Workman jumps guard.
Workman pulls Ricoop in close to prevent any damage.
Ricoop trying to control the position from guard on top but Workman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Workman wants to sweep but no luck.
Ricoop wants to control from the top but Workman keeps moving.
Workman has a closed guard, preventing Ricoop from standing up.
Ricoop lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Workman pulls Ricoop in close to prevent any damage.
Ricoop stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Workman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Workman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ricoop looking to sit in guard and control but Workman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ricoop is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ricoop wants to free his trapped foot but Workman is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ricoop trying to control from half guard but Workman is working away.
Workman controlling the position well.
Ricoop wants to control but Workman is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Workman is trying to stand up here but Ricoop is controlling him well.

Ricoop is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Workman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ricoop.
Ricoop looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Workman makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Ricoop drives through and clinches with Workman against the cage.

Ricoop pulls Workman into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Workman stands up from Ricoop's guard - Workman perhaps looking for a knockout.
Workman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ricoop lands a nice hook to Workman's body. Workman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Ricoop clinches up with Workman and pushes him back against the cage.
Ricoop trying to land knees to the body.
Workman is stalling here.

Workman successfully pulls guard.

Ricoop decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Workman, up you get!

Ricoop shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Workman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Workman has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ricoop wants to control from the top but Workman keeps moving.
Workman wants to stand and escape but Ricoop is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ricoop content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Workman keeping moving, preventing Ricoop from controlling successfully.
Ricoop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ed Ricoop dominated that 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.

Ricoop fails with the takedown.
Ricoop avoids a punch combination nicely.

Ricoop takes the fight into the clinch.
Ricoop prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ricoop being controlled against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Workman as Ricoop tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Workman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Workman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Workman wants it to stay on the feet.
Workman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nice takedown defense from Workman. No joy for Ricoop on that attempt.
Joey Workman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ed Ricoop.

Workman feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Ricoop manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Workman as the two fighters clinch.

Workman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Workman has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ricoop regains guard immediately.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ricoop can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Workman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Workman stands and steps away. Ricoop gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ricoop fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Ricoop scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Workman throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Ricoop forces Workman back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricoop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ricoop darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ricoop is breathing heavily.
Workman is refusing to be controlled, as Ricoop sits in half guard.
Workman is looking for a sweep. Ricoop is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Workman is not content to let Ricoop control the position.
Ricoop not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joey Workman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Workman gets back to full guard.
Ricoop wants to pass the guard but Workman is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ricoop stands up and waves to Workman to follow him.

Ricoop shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Workman preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Workman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
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 Joey Workman will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Workman fails with a takedown attempt.

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

Workman manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Workman.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ricoop closes the distance and clinches.

Workman manages to pull guard.
Workman is trying to control the position but Ricoop postures up.
Workman keeping full guard, as Ricoop tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ricoop wants to control from the top but Workman keeps moving.
Workman controls Ricoop momentarily but Ricoop frees himself.
Ricoop stops Workman from standing up.

Ricoop gets to his feet - Workman follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ricoop manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Workman on his heels. He'll look to pass Workman's guard now, I'm sure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ricoop seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Workman wants to stand but Ricoop is controlling the position.
Ricoop postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ricoop must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ricoop is looking to pass into half guard but Workman pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Workman is in guard.

Workman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Ricoop has an active guard here but Workman has managed to pass into half guard.

Workman decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ricoop takes the fight into the clinch.
Ricoop stops a takedown attempt from Workman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Workman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ricoop as Workman tries to tie him up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Maybe Workman would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.

Workman breaks from the clinch.

Ricoop gets the takedown into side control.

Workman throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Workman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Ricoop darts in and clinches Workman up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Workman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ricoop tries to pull guard but Workman holds him up against the cage and eventually Ricoop drops back down to his feet.
Workman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Workman working hard to break the clinch.

Ricoop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ricoop feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Joey Workman.
I think Workman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joey Workman!
The defeated Ed Ricoop had this to say: 'You always have 15% left in the tank. Never give up.'.