PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Lesnar (ranked 5434 p4p, 6616 weight class) and Stepan Rykov (ranked 506 p4p, 574 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lesnar
vs
Rykov

201 cm
23
265
1 - 1 - 0

199 cm
26
255
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cain Lesnar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stepan Rykov!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lesnar scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Lesnar shoots in and bounces Rykov off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

Lesnar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lesnar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Lesnar gets to his feet - Rykov follows without any prompting.
Rykov throws a combination that misses

and Lesnar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lesnar.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lesnar.
A frustrated look appears on Rykov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rykov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Lesnar breaks from the clinch.
Rykov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lesnar counters with a straight right hand.
Rykov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lesnar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rykov misses with a double jab

and Lesnar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lesnar.
Rykov is looking to stand back up but Lesnar counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rykov.

Well, if Lesnar is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lesnar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rykov's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Lesnar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rykov defends it well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lesnar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lesnar moves nicely into side control.
Rykov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lesnar controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar scores with punches from side control.

Lesnar decides to stand back up.
Lesnar looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lesnar throws a head kick but Rykov moves out of range.
Rykov swinging wildly here.
Rykov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rykov misses with a lunging right hand

and Lesnar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rykov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Lesnar dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Lesnar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rykov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've been informed that Rykov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Lesnar controlling the position from side mount.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lesnar working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lesnar taking a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Lesnar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lesnar uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rykov.

Lesnar drives through and clinches with Rykov against the ropes.

Lesnar breaks the clinch.
Lesnar slips a jab and a cross from Rykov.
Rykov throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Lesnar counters with a shoot takedown. Rykov fights it but they end up in guard.
Rykov being controlled here, momentarily.
Lesnar prevents Rykov from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesnar works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Lesnar wants to work for an arm triangle but Rykov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lesnar stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar thows a huge punch but Rykov dodges it nicely.
Rykov is not content to let Lesnar control the position.
Lesnar misses with a head shot. Rykov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Lesnar is pushing down on Rykov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rykov is fighting to maintain full guard but Lesnar has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two 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.
Lesnar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rykov's head.
Rykov is in trouble now - Lesnar has advanced to mount!
Lesnar controlling the position easily from mount.
BOOM! Lesnar connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Lesnar looking for a guillotine from mount but Rykov is having none of it.
Rykov can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Lesnar lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Lesnar with good strikes from the mount here!
Cain Lesnar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lesnar looking to control but Rykov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Rykov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Lesnar controlling from the full mount.

Lesnar has hold of Rykov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Rykov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Lesnar controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lesnar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Lesnar dominated that second round.
That's time! Lesnar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rykov swinging wildly here.
Rykov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Lesnar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lesnar is looking to counter punch.

Rykov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lesnar to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rykov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Lesnar manages to pass to side control.

Rykov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lesnar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rykov has hold of Lesnar's hands but Lesnar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lesnar is working for a kimura but Rykov is defending it quite comfortably.
Lesnar works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rykov dodges the ground and pound from Lesnar.
Rykov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Lesnar staying calm.

That's two 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.

Lesnar decides to stand back up.
Rykov throws a combination that misses
and Lesnar counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rykov works Lesnar's body with a nice hook.
Lesnar keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lesnar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lesnar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Lesnar moves into the clinch successfully.

Lesnar gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lesnar gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Rykov is looking to clinch.
Rykov blocks a head kick by Lesnar.
Rykov misses with a two punch combination.
Lesnar thinks about countering with a body kick.

Lesnar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rykov working hard to break the clinch.

Lesnar manages to pull guard.
Lesnar bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rykov's guard.

Lesnar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rykov can do to turn this around?
Lesnar is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lesnar is pushing down on Rykov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Rykov is fighting to maintain full guard but Lesnar has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar is nestled in close to Rykov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lesnar uses his free foot to push down on Rykov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rykov.

Lesnar with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Lesnar controlling from mount.
Stepan Rykov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Lesnar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lesnar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Lesnar!