PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Russell Northrop (ranked 3122 p4p, 385 weight class) and John Rydeland (ranked 2692 p4p, 340 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Northrop might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Alive And Kicking. Rydeland has chosen Robbery - Not sneak attack as his entrance music. John Rydeland has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Northrop
vs
Rydeland

180 cm
38
175 lbs
24 - 24 - 0

185 cm
36
185 lbs
21 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 24 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Russell Northrop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Rydeland!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rydeland checks a leg kick.
Rydeland thuds a left hand into Northrop's body.

Rydeland pushes Northrop up against the cage in a clinch.
Northrop tries to circle away but Rydeland has him pinned against the cage.
Northrop can't find room to land a body shot as Rydeland controls the action.
Rydeland works on Northrop's body with a couple of short punches.

Northrop breaks the clinch.

Rydeland throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Northrop tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rydeland is in Northrop's guard.

Northrop has his feet on Rydeland's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Northrop is looking to chop away at Rydeland's legs.
Northrop misses with a double jab.
Northrop misses with a two punch combination.
Rydeland lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Northrop at a distance.
Northrop ducks right into an uppercut from Rydeland.
Northrop looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rydeland takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A shot to the liver by Rydeland. Beautiful body shot.
Rydeland lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Northrop misses with a takedown attempt - Rydeland sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Rydeland clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop has Rydeland pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rydeland manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rydeland makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rydeland lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Northrop.
Northrop works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rydeland misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Northrop is trying to pull guard but Rydeland turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Northrop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Northrop lands an uppercut.
Northrop is trying to pull guard but Rydeland has him pressed against the cage.
Rydeland lands a right hand that snaps the head of Northrop backwards.
Northrop blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rydeland lands a body punch in the clinch.
Northrop blocking some punches.

Northrop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Northrop will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Northrop fails with the takedown.
Northrop sets himself, and Rydeland steps forward looking for the clinch! Northrop avoids it this time.
Northrop tries to score with a low kick but Rydeland moves his leg out of the way.
Rydeland darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rydeland clinches with his opponent.
Northrop tries to pull guard but Rydeland forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Northrop is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rydeland pushes Northrop back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Northrop struggles to land a body shot inside as Rydeland controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rydeland.

Northrop gets control of Rydeland's arms and successfully pulls guard. Northrop will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Northrop looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Rydeland has picked Northrop up and slammed him! Northrop can't keep hold of the triangle and Rydeland manages to pass to side control!
Rydeland staying calm.
Northrop is trying to improve his position.
Northrop manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Northrop wants to free his trapped foot but Rydeland is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Northrop sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rydeland defending well though.
Rydeland gets back to full guard.
Northrop is looking to work some ground and pound but Rydeland has wrist control.
Northrop trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rydeland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Northrop trying to control but Rydeland is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Northrop is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Northrop working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rydeland looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Northrop throws a big right hand that misses.
Northrop wants to control from the top but Rydeland keeps moving.
Northrop 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.
Rydeland is pulling down on Northrop's head to control his posture.
Northrop missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Northrop postures up in Rydeland's guard and throws a big left but Rydeland blocks it.
Northrop trying to control but Rydeland is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Northrop connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rydeland momentarily.
Rydeland tries to clinch there but Northrop circles away.

Northrop rushes Rydeland and presses him up against the cage.
Northrop has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rydeland avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Northrop jumps guard and drags Rydeland to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Northrop tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Rydeland will probably get the nod.
That's time! Northrop's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Northrop takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Russell Northrop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Northrop tries to keep at a distance but Rydeland has taken the fight into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Rydeland scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Rydeland fails to land.
Northrop wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Northrop misses with a hook from the clinch.
John Rydeland seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rydeland scores with a shoulder strike.
Northrop wants to get back to striking at distance but Rydeland won't allow it.
Northrop wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rydeland working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Northrop.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rydeland.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rydeland digs a right hand underneath Northrop's ribcage. Northrop let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Northrop looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rydeland creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Rydeland fails to land.
Rydeland blocks an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Northrop blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Northrop is trying to pull guard but Rydeland has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Northrop avoiding damage as Rydeland throws knees to the body.
Rydeland has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Northrop tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Northrop.
Northrop lands an uppercut.
Rydeland blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rydeland lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Northrop misses with the head strike.
Northrop is trying to pull guard but Rydeland has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russell Northrop. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rydeland lands with a light punch inside.

Northrop pulls Rydeland into guard.
Rydeland not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Northrop looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rydeland postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rydeland controlling from the top position.
Northrop working a defensive guard here.
Russell Northrop overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Northrop throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rydeland stays in close to Northrop's body and controls the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rydeland tries to clinch up.
Northrop swats away the attempt to clinch by Rydeland.

Rydeland closes the distance and clinches.
Northrop is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland working Northrop over with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rydeland.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Rydeland scores a nice knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from Rydeland.
Northrop throws a punch but it's blocked by Rydeland.
Northrop is trying to pull guard but Rydeland has him pressed against the cage.
Rydeland lands a right hand.
Rydeland gets through Northrop's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Rydeland.
Northrop is trying to maintain a safe position but Rydeland gets an underhook and turns Northrop into the cage.
Rydeland lands an uppercut.
Rydeland utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rydeland lands a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Rydeland.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Northrop fails to pull guard.
Rydeland lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Northrop backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Rydeland.
Rydeland throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Northrops head.
Rydeland fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Rydeland.
Rydeland misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rydeland will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Northrop up against the cage.
Rydeland scores with a shoulder strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rydeland.
Rydeland prevents a body shot from Northrop.
Northrop is trying to break free.
Northrop wants a takedown.
A right hook to the body lands for Rydeland.
Northrop jumps guard but Rydeland stands there with Northrop around his waist. Northrop gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short left from Rydeland.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rydeland creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rydeland 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Northrop tries to clinch up but Rydeland circles away and keeps his distance.
Northrop buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Rydeland instigates a clinch.
Northrop lands with a left to the head.
Northrop lands with a short shot to the head.
Northrop swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rydeland lands a body punch in the clinch.

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

Rydeland pushes Northrop up against the cage in a clinch.
Rydeland managing to block the knees to the body from Northrop.
Northrop tries to pull guard but Rydeland holds him up against the cage and eventually Northrop drops back down to his feet.
Still in the clinch, Rydeland scores with a nice short uppercut.
Northrop has a couple of punches blocked by Rydeland.
Rydeland lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rydeland lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rydeland lands a left hand.

Northrop is rocked!
A shot in the inside from Rydeland.
Oh Northrop is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rydeland is working Northrop over against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rydeland throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Northrops head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydeland working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rydeland throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rydeland creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Northrop with a big uppercut! Northrop tries to clinch up but Rydeland pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Northrop to the mat! Northrop covers up and Rydeland unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). John Rydeland!
John Rydeland took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'Next and fast, i just want a fight! '.
The defeated Russell Northrop had this to say: 'No fair. He tried to kiss me.'.