PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Artemis Bray (ranked 3608 p4p, 4059 weight class) and Saw Ba Nyein (ranked 201 p4p, 223 weight class). Saw Ba Nyein is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bray
vs
Ba Nyein

173 cm
22
144
1 - 0 - 0

163 cm
19
119
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers $120 3 160Q

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Artemis Bray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Saw Ba Nyein!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bray throws the kick towards the body but Ba Nyein avoids it.
Bray checks a leg kick nicely.
Ba Nyein misses with an uppercut. Bray saw that one coming.
Bray tries to counter with a takedown but Ba Nyein is quick to defend against it.
Bray tries to move into range but Ba Nyein moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Good leg kick by Ba Nyein.

Bray fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ba Nyein to the ground. Bray is now in Ba Nyein's guard.
Ba Nyein 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.
Bray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ba Nyein is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bray sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ba Nyein's guard.
Ba Nyein won't allow Bray to pass to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bray missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bray trying to mount his opponent but Ba Nyein defends it.

Bray looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bray trying to mount his opponent but Ba Nyein defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ba Nyein blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bray.
Bray tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ba Nyein knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ba Nyein blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bray.

Bray is looking for a kimura here.
Bray is trying to control. Ba Nyein wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ba Nyein felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ba Nyein is in trouble now - Bray has advanced to mount!
Ba Nyein tries to hold on but Bray pushes him away.
Ba Nyein is squirming around, avoiding Bray's attempts to control the action.
Bray looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Bray throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ba Nyein because Bray loaded up on that one.
Ba Nyein is squirming around, avoiding Bray's attempts to control the action.

Bray working for a guillotine from mount but Ba Nyein is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ba Nyein is squirming around, avoiding Bray's attempts to control the action.
Bray pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Bray is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ba Nyein has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bray misses with a head shot.
Bray raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bray misses with a head shot.
Ba Nyein wants to control but Bray is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Artemis Bray dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bray blocks a leg kick.
Bray feinted with a counter takedown.
Ba Nyein moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ba Nyein throws a poor cross that misses

and Bray counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Bray is trying to work for a kimura but Ba Nyein is defending well.

Bray is working for a kimura but Ba Nyein is defending it quite comfortably.
Bray works his foot free and advances to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bray looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bray avoids the attempt from Ba Nyein to control.
Bray landing shots from mount.
Ba Nyein is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Bray is working for a guillotine from mount but Ba Nyein frees his head quite easily.
Bray lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Bray is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ba Nyein can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bray fails to take his opponent's back.
Bray raining down shots from the mount!
Bray has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee warns Ba Nyein that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ba Nyein wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Bray.
Bray 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bray scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bray lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bray goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ba Nyein is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bray tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bray bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ba Nyein's guard.

Bray works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bray thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bray throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bray tries to pass to full mount but Ba Nyein defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bray works his foot free and advances to mount.

Bray looking for a guillotine from mount but Ba Nyein is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Bray there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Bray scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ba Nyein?
Bray breaks from Ba Nyein's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Ba Nyein is rocked!
Artemis Bray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bray wants to control the pace but Ba Nyein is squirming around nicely.
Ba Nyein is still in real trouble! Can Bray finish him?
Bray is really struggling to control Ba Nyein but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Artemis Bray dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ba Nyein throws an overhand right that lands on Bray's shoulder, as Bray tries to avoid the shot.
Bray feinted with a counter takedown.
Ba Nyein seems to have recovered his senses.
Bray shoots for a takedown but Ba Nyein saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Ba Nyein. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ba Nyein.
Ba Nyein throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ba Nyein lands the left hand.
Ba Nyein does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bray drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ba Nyein sprawls and moves away.
Nice cross by Ba Nyein.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ba Nyein, as that shot connected.
Ba Nyein misses with a straight right.
Bray moves out of range of the strikes.
Bray steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ba Nyein.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bray walks into a straight right hand from Ba Nyein.
Ba Nyein throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bray on the side of the head.
Bray blocks a jab.
Ba Nyein feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Brays jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Saw Ba Nyein seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ba Nyein moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bray avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bray half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Ba Nyein misses with a low kick as Bray jumps back.
Ba Nyein throws a hook but Bray avoids it easily.
Bray drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ba Nyein sprawls and moves away.
Bray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ba Nyein throws out the jab.
Bray tries to counter with a takedown but Ba Nyein is quick to defend against it.
Ba Nyein slaps away a takedown attempt from Bray, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bray staying out of range there.
Ba Nyein connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bray takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bray slips a jab from Ba Nyein.
Artemis Bray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ba Nyein lands with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ba Nyein throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Bray counters with a single leg into guard. Ba Nyein didn't expect that.
Bray slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bray forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bray wants to free his trapped foot but Ba Nyein is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bray has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ba Nyein really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bray. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bray trying to control but Ba Nyein is having none of it.
Bray controlling his opponent.

That's four 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.
Bray looking to control but Ba Nyein is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bray pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Saw Ba Nyein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bray with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
BOOM! Bray connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bray sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ba Nyein has given up his back. Will we see Bray going for some submissions?

And that's the end of the fight!
Saw Ba Nyein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bray has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artemis Bray!
Artemis Bray thanked the fans post fight for their support.