PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Graham Marsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Ryan has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Marsh
vs
Ryan

205 cm
18
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Graham Marsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Ryan!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marsh fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marsh tries to clinch up but Ryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Marsh fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Marsh throws a right hand that Ryan ducks under and follows up with a left that Ryan also avoids with ease.
Ryan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ryan swats away the attempt to clinch by Marsh.
Ryan misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marsh is defended easily by Ryan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Graham Marsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Marsh shoots for a double leg takedown but Ryan sprawls well. He's pushed Marsh's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ryan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marsh, pushing him back against the cage.
Marsh pushes Ryan back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ryan leaning his opponent against the cage.
Marsh leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan leaning against his opponent.

Ryan has clasped his hands together around Marsh's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ryan taking a breather here.
Ryan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marsh keeps working.
Marsh is looking to reverse the position.
Marsh is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ryan is controlling him well.
Ryan trying to control the action but Marsh is working from the bottom.
Check out the look on Ryan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Marsh struggling a bit here.
Marsh is not content to let Ryan control the position.
Marsh tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Marsh's face as Ryan controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ryan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ryan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Marsh is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ryan is trying to get an arm triangle but Marsh is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Marsh shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Marsh tries to stand but Ryan is controlling from the bottom.
Ryan seems keen to control Marsh's posture.

Ryan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Marsh defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.

Marsh thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Marsh wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ryan controls Marsh momentarily but Marsh frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Ryan 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.

Marsh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ryan's waist but Ryan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marsh off to one side.
Marsh throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ryan's waist but Ryan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Marsh off to one side.
Ryan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marsh.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Graham Marsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Marsh scores with a four punch combination!
Ryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Marsh pinned against the cage. Marsh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Marsh throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Ryan shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Marsh's guard.
Marsh looking for a sweep. Not yet Marsh, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ryan content to stall in guard here.
Ryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marsh is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marsh can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ryan controls the pace.

Marsh throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ryan uses it to pass to side control.
Marsh is trying to control Ryan's posture but Ryan avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ryan lands an elbow.
Ryan working away.
Ryan in side control lands a decent elbow.
Ryan wants to control but Marsh is keeping him busy.
Marsh is looking for a sweep.
Ryan working the ground and pound.
Ryan tries to move to full mount but Marsh actually manages to regain half guard.
Ryan throwing shots but Marsh is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Marsh pushes Ryan off looking to stand but Ryan dives back in and keeps control.
Ryan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Marsh is trying to get back to full guard.
Ryan stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Let's hope that Ryan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Marsh has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ryan is working away from the top position though.
Marsh flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Marsh kicks Ryan off and gets back to his feet.
Ryan tries for a takedown but Marsh sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marsh fails with the takedown

and Ryan moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Ryan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marsh shoots and misses

and Ryan counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ryan is taking a breather. Marsh says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Ryan escapes and gets back to his feet.
Marsh blocks a head kick by Ryan.

Marsh gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ryan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Marsh trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marsh throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan tries to free his leg and advance position but Marsh is retaining full guard.
Ryan postures up.
Ryan stopping the sweep attempt from Marsh.
Ryan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Marsh trying to keep a closed guard but Ryan is proving a slippery customer.

Marsh is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ryan defends well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ryan looks to clinch

and Marsh counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ryan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marsh manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Marsh is trying to keep Ryan in close.
Ryan sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan won't allow Marsh to sweep him here.

Marsh looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Marsh tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ryan throwing strikes from guard but Marsh blocks nicely.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Marsh with a poor takedown

and Ryan counters with a takedown into side control.
Marsh is looking for a sweep.
Ryan taking a breather here.
Ryan works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Ryan stands up.

Ryan moves into the clinch.
Graham Marsh has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marsh tries to pull guard but Ryan won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Ryan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ryan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Matt Ryan!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Matt Ryan!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Matt Ryan!

Matt Ryan wins by unanimous decision!