PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thad Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Feller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Feller will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ray
vs
Feller

209 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

163 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thad Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Feller!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ray shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ray was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ray will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Feller is trying to get back to half guard.
Feller wants to control but Ray postures up.

Ray tries for a kimura but Feller is defending well.
Feller is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ray lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Ray thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Feller tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ray wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Feller, who protects the arm well.

Ray thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ray gets to mount! Feller was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Ray working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Feller tries to lock up and control but Ray gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ray prevents Feller from getting the reversal.

Ray looking to secure an arm triangle but Feller defends it well.
Feller tries to hold on but Ray pushes him away.
Feller is working to get back to half guard.

Ray working for a submission but Feller is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ray cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Ray looking for a guillotine from mount but Feller is having none of it.
Feller working to try and regain half guard.
Feller wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Feller is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Feller tries to break free.
Feller trying to control the hands but Ray breaks the grip.

Ray looking for the choke from the back.

Ray is looking for the choke from the back position but Feller is controlling his hands well.
Feller breaks Ray's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Feller wants to control from the top but Ray keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ray working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Feller.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thad Ray dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Feller, as that shot connected.

Ray scores with a takedown into Feller's guard.
Ray chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Feller working for submissions but it's allowed Ray to get to half guard.
Feller tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Ray is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Feller wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Feller is trying to control but can't.
Feller tries to get to full guard but Ray has control of the leg.

Ray seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Feller has recovered full guard.
Ray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ray landing some decent shots from guard.
Feller is pulling down on Ray's head. It's preventing any offense from Ray, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Feller working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ray.
Feller is trying to keep Ray in close.
Ray is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ray postures up and lands a big shot to Feller's brow.
Ray lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Feller is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ray scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray postures up in Feller's guard and throws a big left but Feller blocks it.
Ray chips away with some ground and pound.
Ray landing with the ground and pound.
Ray stands up over Feller, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Feller is looking for a triangle here but Ray uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Feller is breathing heavily.

Ray tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ray has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ray tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ray has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Ray tries for a kimura but Feller is defending well.
Ray working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Feller manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thad Ray dominated that second round.
That's time! Ray's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ray tries to bum rush Feller with a series of wild strikes but Feller uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ray gets tackled into the cage by Feller. Feller maintains the clinch.

Ray pulls guard successfully.
Ray really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Feller stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ray swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ray is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Feller wants to stand and escape but instead Ray has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Ray working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Feller is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ray won't allow Feller to sweep him here.
Ray throws a big elbow that misses.
Feller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ray lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Feller trying to control the position.
Ray working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Feller controls Ray momentarily but Ray frees himself.
Feller takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ray trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ray throws a big right hand that misses.
Ray throwing strikes from guard but Feller blocks nicely.
Thad Ray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ray scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Feller looking for a sweep. Not yet Feller, not yet.
Ray is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ray is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray scoring with some ground and pound.
Ray throws a big right hand that misses.
Ray scoring with some ground and pound.
Feller is striking from the bottom but Ray uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

Feller looking for a kimura from the bottom but Ray passes into side control!

Ray is trying to get an arm triangle but Feller is defending well.

Ray working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Feller pushes Ray away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ray gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Ray working the head with strikes.
Feller is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Feller is still trying to improve position.
Daniel Feller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thad Ray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ray controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thad Ray showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ray, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thad Ray!