PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Felix Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Ryan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Stanton
vs
Ryan

189 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Felix Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Ryan!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Ryan has closed the distance and engaged Stanton in a clinch.
Stanton is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ryan tries to break the clinch but Stanton is controlling the position.
Stanton tries to score a body lock takedown but Ryan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Ryan has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stanton regains guard immediately.
Ryan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ryan wants to control from the top but Stanton keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Stanton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton keeping full guard, as Ryan tries to pass.
Ryan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Stanton darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Ryan gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Stanton is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ryan is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stanton to the mat. Stanton regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ryan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ryan wanted to stand there but Stanton had control of the position.
Stanton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ryan.
Stanton 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.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Ryan from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Ryan controls Stanton momentarily but Stanton frees himself.

Ryan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stanton defends it easily.
Stanton is looking to stand up but Ryan won't let him.

That's four 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.
Ryan keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.
Stanton 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ryan moves into the clinch.

Ryan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ryan avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stanton dives in and scores a takedown into Ryan's guard.
Stanton won't allow Ryan to sweep him here.
Ryan is still trying to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Ryan dominated that 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.

Some wild striking there from Ryan.

Ryan gets a clinch.
Stanton jumps guard but Ryan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ryan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ryan has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Stanton clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stanton trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryan tries to keep control of the position but Stanton is staying busy.
Stanton looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Ryan misses with a punch to the head.

Stanton defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Ryan somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

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.
Ryan gets his hands free as Stanton looks to control.
Stanton covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Ryan is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Stanton wants to escape the position.
Ryan trying to control momentarily.
Ryan is trying to control but Stanton is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ryan.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryan wants to control the pace but Stanton is squirming around nicely.
Ryan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Stanton bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Stanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan being controlled here, momentarily.

Ryan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stanton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stanton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Stanton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ryan's guard.
Ryan controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stanton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stanton throws a big elbow that misses.
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.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Stanton or perhaps it was just good defense by Ryan, which made it look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stanton is trying to pull guard but Ryan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Ryan pulls Stanton into guard.
Stanton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stanton preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanton trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.

Ryan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stanton defends well.
Stanton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ryan's guard.
Stanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ryan controlling Stanton's posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Stanton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sloppy strikes from Ryan. Those never looked like landing.

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.
Stanton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Stanton stuns Ryan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Ryan clinches up with Stanton and pushes him back against the cage.

Ryan pulls guard.
Ryan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stanton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ryan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stanton wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.
Stanton wants to get up but he can't break Ryan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Stanton 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ryan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan keeping moving, preventing Stanton from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ryan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ryan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stanton is trying to control the position but Ryan postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ryan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stanton, up you get!
Stanton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ryan is fending him off so far but Stanton persists. Nope, Ryan circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Felix Stanton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ryan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stanton drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ryan gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Ryan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Stanton uses from the top position.
Stanton throwing strikes but missing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stanton trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.
Felix Stanton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matt Ryan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Ryan uses the cage to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Ryan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ryan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Ryan!