PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Chaney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bryan
vs
Chaney

179 cm
30
135 lbs
25 - 12 - 1

190 cm
31
144 lbs
17 - 23 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Bryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Chaney!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Bryan as Chaney shoots in.
Bryan is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Chaney.
Bryan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chaney.
Bryan throws a leg kick that is checked
and Chaney counters with a three punch combo that has Bryan backing up. Bryan nods at Chaney to acknowledge the strikes.
A head kick misses from Bryan.
Chaney displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A head kick by Bryan misses
and Chaney counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Chaney tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bryan clinches with his opponent.

Bryan has clasped his hands together around Chaney's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bryan tries to move to mount but Chaney blocks the move with his legs.
Chaney is letting Bryan control him for a moment.
Bryan working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chaney wants to control but Bryan postures up.
Bryan in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Chaney is looking to regain half guard here but Bryan keeps moving and retains side control.
Bryan prevents Chaney from escaping the position.
Chaney wants to control but Bryan postures up.
Bryan controls the position.
Chaney takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Chaney is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bryan connects with a decent elbow.
Bryan in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan takes a little break here. Chaney wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Bryan cracks Chaney with a big right hand but Chaney just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Chaney is being controlled here.
Chaney is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.

Bryan decides to stand up, so the ref orders Chaney to his feet.

Bryan looking to score a takedown here. Chaney is defending well but Bryan drives through and ends up in Chaney's guard.
Chaney wants to stand up but Bryan is controlling him.
Bryan content to stall in guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bryan preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Bryan 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.

Bryan stuffs the takedown.
Bryan is looking to counter with a body kick.

Bryan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bryan showed some decent athleticism there.
Bryan not doing much here.

Bryan stands up from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chaney darts in trying to clinch

and Bryan counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chaney is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bryan is controlling him.
Bryan stands and throws Chaney's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bryan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chaney keeps working.
Chaney trying to remain calm as Bryan controls from the top position.
You can see the frustration on Chaney's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bryan content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Bryan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chaney can do to turn this around?

That's two 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.

Bryan decides to stand back up. Bryan steps back and let's Chaney get back to his feet.
Bryan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chaney manages to avoid it.

Bryan throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Chaney tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bryan is in Chaney's guard.
Bryan chips away with some ground and pound.
Chaney being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chaney is trying to keep Bryan in close.
Bryan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Chaney 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Daniel Bryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bryan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Daniel Bryan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chaney trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Bryan manages to pass to mount!
Bryan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bryan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan lands a heavy elbow.
Bryan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Bryan has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Chaney's face.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chaney tries to lock up and control but Bryan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bryan prevents Chaney from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Bryan dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Chaney scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bryan doesn't seem bothered though.
Bryan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Chaney. Chaney obviously looking to wear him down.

Bryan closes the distance and pushes Chaney back into the cage.

Bryan pulls guard successfully.
Chaney wants to control from the top but Bryan keeps moving.
Bryan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryan controls Chaney momentarily but Chaney frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chaney won't allow Bryan to sweep him here.
Chaney advances to half guard.
Bryan trying to hold on to Chaney's head to control him but Chaney postures up.
Bryan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bryan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Chaney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Chaney trying to control but Bryan is working from the bottom.
Chaney looking to sit in guard and control but Bryan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bryan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan distracts Chaney with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Chaney controls Bryan momentarily but Bryan frees himself.

Bryan stands and steps away. Chaney gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Bryan gets a double leg takedown into Chaney's guard.
Bryan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bryan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryan stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bryan swats away the attempt to clinch by Chaney.

Chaney gets caught napping as Bryan dives in and scores a takedown. Chaney manages to retain guard.
Bryan looking to pass the guard.
Chaney is looking to stand up but Bryan isn't so interested in that idea.

Chaney is working an open guard so Bryan takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bryan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chaney has had enough of the clinch but Bryan keeps him there for the moment.
Bryan tries to pull guard but Chaney holds him up against the cage and eventually Bryan drops back down to his feet.
Chaney lands a knee to the body.

Bryan jumps guard and drags Chaney to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bryan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bryan controls Chaney momentarily but Chaney frees himself.
James Chaney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniel Bryan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chaney is looking to work some ground and pound but Bryan has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daniel Bryan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bryan, 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Bryan!
Daniel Bryan took some time post fight to say the following; 'YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! '.