PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Ryan (ranked 588 p4p, 513 weight class) and Jian Zhao (ranked 75 p4p, 67 weight class). Zhao has chosen Dirty Harry (Schtung Chinese New Year Remix) - Gorillaz as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ryan
vs
Zhao

180 cm
31
162
20 - 13 - 0

173 cm
35
156
25 - 15 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
30th Century Beer Store

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 3, fighting out of London, Jian Zhao!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zhao.
Ryan tries to counter with a takedown but Zhao is quick to defend against it.
We've been hearing reports that Ryan has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ryan lands a nice shot to the body.
Zhao takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zhao throws out a powerful jab.
Ryan works the jab nicely.
Ryan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ryan shoots in for a takedown but Zhao shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ryan is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Zhao throws a shot from downtown. Ryan moves away and avoids it.
Ryan sizes up Zhao with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A big right from Ryan misses.
Ryan takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Zhao ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhao throws a low kick but Ryan avoids it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ryan darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zhao enables Ryan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zhao manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryan preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao wants to stand but Ryan is controlling the position.
Zhao can't keep his opponent in guard - Ryan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zhao controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Zhao manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Ryan drops back looking for a leg! Zhao is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zhao manages to kick Ryan off! Ryan jumps back into Zhao's guard.

Ryan drops back looking for a leg! Zhao is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zhao manages to kick Ryan off! Ryan jumps back into Zhao's guard.
Zhao is pulling down on Ryan's head. It's preventing any offense from Ryan, at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zhao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ryan throws a hook but Zhao blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ryan waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zhao.
Zhao bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ryan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zhao stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zhao misses with a body shot.
Zhao walks into a jab.
Ryan missing with a left hand there. Zhao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zhao avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zhao's corner calls for a 1-2. Zhao obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jian Zhao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhao tries to clinch up but Ryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryan appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A jab from Ryan misses.
Ryan misses with a hook.
Zhao moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zhao throws a leg kick that misses.
A jab from Ryan finds it's way through Zhao's defenses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Ryan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Zhao throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ryan sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ryan looks to land a left hand but Zhao moved out of range nicely.
Zhao lands with a nice combination. Ryan backs away looking to recover.
Zhao throws a big shot that misses.
Zhao throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ryan scores with a jab to the body.
Ryan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Zhao to score with a decent uppercut.
Zhao pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ryan is out of range and Zhao settles back down.
Ryan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Zhao connects with a solid leg kick.
Ryan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ryan lands with a shot to the body.
Ryan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ryan throws a hook but Zhao blocks it.
Zhao throws a body shot but no joy.
Zhao takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zhao at a distance.
Ryan lands with a hook. Zhao tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Eddie Ryan is winning the standup battle so far.
A low kick from Zhao is predictable there
and Zhao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhao misses with a hook
and Ryan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big right from Ryan misses.
Ryan misses with a double jab.
Ryan with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ryan avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ryan slips under a jab.
Zhao with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zhao tries to clinch but Ryan moves out of range.
Zhao throws the kick towards the body but Ryan avoids it.
Zhao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zhao misses with a body shot.
Jian Zhao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zhao connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ryan's hands.

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

Zhao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ryan tries a body shot but Zhao blocks it.
Ryan is trying to pull guard but Zhao turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Zhao swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Zhao throws a head punch that misses.
Ryan jumps guard but Zhao stands there with Ryan around his waist. Ryan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ryan prevents a body shot from Zhao.
Zhao lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zhao has a couple of punches blocked by Ryan.

Ryan jumps into guard, dragging Zhao to the mat.
Ryan keeping full guard, as Zhao tries to pass.
Ryan keeping moving, preventing Zhao from controlling successfully.

Ryan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zhao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zhao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zhao 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.
Zhao is continuing to stall.

Ryan is working an open guard so Zhao takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

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.
Zhao throws a hook but Ryan avoids it easily.
Zhao scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ryan doesn't seem bothered though.
Ryan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zhao staying out of range there.
Zhao misses with a hook. Ryan ducked under it nicely.
Ryan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zhao.
Zhao misses with a wild body shot.
Ryan throws a shot from downtown. Zhao moves away and avoids it.
Ryan avoids a kick to the body.
Ryan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zhao was well out of range. Poor timing from Ryan.
Ryan blocks the body kick.
Zhao takes a jab right on the kisser.
Zhao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jian Zhao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Zhao closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ryan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zhao is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zhao throws a head kick that misses
and Ryan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zhao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ryan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zhao tries to clinch there but Ryan circles away.
Zhao goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ryan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ryan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ryan with a nice cross.
Ryan is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zhao connects with a right hand. Ryan shakes it off.
Ryan checks a low kick from Zhao.
Ryan misses with a wild combination.
Ryan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhao swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Zhao is looking to chop away at Ryan's legs.
Ryan changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zhao throws a sloppy head kick

and Ryan counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ryan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zhao is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zhao has escaped and now he's on top!

Ryan has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Zhao should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Ryan has tightened it up now! Zhao should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Eddie Ryan!
After winning the bout, Eddie Ryan thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.