PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nihat Ryuko (ranked 4864 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Drnold (ranked 4440 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ryuko
vs
Drnold

180 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nihat Ryuko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sam Drnold!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ryuko has closed the distance and engaged Drnold in a clinch.
Ryuko displaying some good clinch control by pressing Drnold up against the cage.
Ryuko pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ryuko lands an elbow inside that Drnold shrugs off.

It looks like Sam Drnold has been cut.
Drnold wants a takedown but no success here.
Drnold is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ryuko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryuko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryuko lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Drnold managing to block the knees to the body from Ryuko.
Ryuko misses with a knee to the head.
Ryuko struggles to land a body shot inside as Drnold controls his hands.
Drnold drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nihat Ryuko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Drnold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drnold wants to take the fight to the mat but Ryuko manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Drnold has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ryuko after a bit of a struggle.
Drnold goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ryuko prevents it.
Ryuko stalling in the clinch.
Ryuko lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ryuko.
Ryuko taking a breather.
Ryuko gets underhooks to prevent Drnold's takedown attempt.
Ryuko prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryuko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryuko misses with a looping right.
Ryuko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Drnold. That did some damage!
Ryuko tries to clinch but Drnold moves out of range.
Drnold moves out of range as Ryuko throws a body kick.

Drnold looking to score a takedown here. Ryuko is defending well but Drnold drives through and ends up in Ryuko's guard.
Drnold controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Drnold might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Drnold throws a strike but Ryuko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ryuko 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.
Ryuko being controlled here momentarily.
Ryuko trying to control the position from guard on top but Drnold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Drnold managing to control the position.
Ryuko passes into half guard.
Drnold tries to get to full guard but Ryuko has control of the leg.
Drnold controlling the position for now.
Ryuko is trying to control the action in half guard but Drnold is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ryuko prevents Drnold from improving his position.

Ryuko decides to return to a standing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nihat Ryuko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Drnold's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ryuko gets caught napping as Drnold dives in and scores a takedown. Ryuko manages to retain guard.
Drnold looking to pass the guard.
Ryuko being controlled here, momentarily.
Ryuko trying to keep a closed guard but Drnold is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drnold stays in close to Ryuko's body and controls the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Let's hope that Drnold has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryuko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Drnold's guard.

Drnold looking for a sweep. Not yet Drnold, not yet.
Ryuko throws a big right hand that misses.
Ryuko being controlled here momentarily.
Drnold keeping moving, preventing Ryuko from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ryuko is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Drnold is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Drnold pulls Ryuko in close to his closed guard and prevents Ryuko from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Drnold fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ryuko sprawls well initially but Drnold persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sam Drnold has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ryuko trying to control here.
Drnold is looking to advance position but Ryuko won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Drnold there.
Drnold controlling the action here.
Ryuko trying to control but Drnold postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Ryuko makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nihat Ryuko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Drnold takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Drnold uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ryuko.
Ryuko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Drnold can do to turn this around?
Drnold shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ryuko but Ryuko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ryuko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nihat Ryuko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ryuko is looking to clinch but Drnold is avoiding it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Drnold drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Drnold tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nihat Ryuko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Drnold's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Drnold gets the takedown into side control.

Ryuko throws Drnold to one side and escapes!
Ryuko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ryuko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Drnold. That did some damage!
Drnold checks the leg kick.
Drnold takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryuko wants to clinch

and Drnold counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ryuko won't be happy with that.
Drnold moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryuko is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Drnold's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Drnold controlling the pace.

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.
Ryuko looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Drnold fails with the takedown.

Ryuko has Drnold up against the cage in a clinch.
Ryuko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Drnold.

Drnold wants the takedown. Ryuko is fighting it off but Drnold persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ryuko's guard against the cage.

Ryuko has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Drnold is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drnold is trying to drag Ryuko to the mat but Ryuko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Drnold drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nihat Ryuko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Drnold.
Ryuko is pressed up against the cage. Drnold has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ryuko down to the mat. Ryuko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nihat Ryuko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drnold swats away the attempt to clinch by Ryuko.
Drnold wants to clinch up but Ryuko keeps it at a distance.
Sam Drnold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryuko scoring well with a low kick there.
Ryuko wants to clinch

and Drnold counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ryuko wants to control but Drnold is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Drnold controlling the pace.
Drnold drops an elbow to the side of Ryuko's head.
Ryuko gets full guard.
Drnold is stalling in the full guard.
Drnold throws an elbow that misses. Ryuko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Drnold's guard. Nice move by Ryuko!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nihat Ryuko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ryuko 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nihat Ryuko!