PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony McCowan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan comes to the cage accompanied by Van Hallen - Running With The Devil. The crowd seem to be enjoying McCowan's choice of entrance music: I Will Not Bow. Joey Ryan has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ryan
vs
McCowan

188 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joey Ryan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tony McCowan!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ryan tries to clinch but McCowan moves out of range.

Ryan clinches.
Ryan misses with a knee to the head.

Ryan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McCowan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck for Ryan with that takedown attempt.
Ryan blocks a head kick by McCowan.
McCowan misses with a head kick.
McCowan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ryan.

Ryan moves into the clinch.
Ryan is trying to break the clinch but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
Ryan avoiding damage as McCowan throws knees to the body.
Ryan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McCowan blocks it with crossed arms.
McCowan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ryan is looking to break free of the clinch but McCowan has double underhooks.
Ryan wants to break free but McCowan has control.
McCowan lands an elbow just above Ryan 's eye.
Ryan wants a takedown.
McCowan prevents Ryan from breaking the clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on McCowan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ryan wants to break the clinch but can't.
McCowan keeps control of Ryan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ryan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCowan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCowan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ryan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McCowan stalls.
Ryan tries to break the clinch but McCowan is controlling the position.
Ryan throws an elbow but it misses.
Ryan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ryan letting McCowan take a breather here.
Ryan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ryan is breathing heavily.
Ryan is trying to break the clinch but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
McCowan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ryan has had enough of the clinch but McCowan keeps him there for the moment.
Ryan cracks McCowan with a nice body shot.
Ryan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ryan wants to break free but McCowan has control.
Ryan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ryan trying to stall but McCowan improves his position.
Ryan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ryan is trying to break free.
McCowan misses with a knee strike.
McCowan scores with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McCowan prevents Ryan from breaking the clinch.
McCowan misses with a knee strike.
McCowan lands an uppercut.
McCowan lands an elbow that stopped Ryan in his tracks for a moment.
McCowan throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ryan blocks it with crossed arms.
Ryan takes a knee right on the jaw!
McCowan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McCowan lands a nice elbow.
Ryan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
A knee to the head by McCowan.
McCowan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ryan can't break the clinch.
McCowan slows down the pace here.
McCowan landing knees to the head.
McCowan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
McCowan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
McCowan lands a nice knee to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony McCowan.
Ryan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

McCowan has managed to clinch.
The is referee keeping an eye on McCowan - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McCowan lands a shoulder strike.
McCowan stalls.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tony McCowan.
McCowan connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by McCowan there.
McCowan lands a jab-cross combination.
McCowan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McCowan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ryan will feel that in the morning.
McCowan throws a right hand that Ryan ducks under and follows up with a left that Ryan also avoids with ease.
McCowan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ryan throws a lazy head kick
and McCowan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McCowan circles away from the clinch attempt
and McCowan counters with an inside leg kick.
Ryan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McCowan counters with a right hand to the body.
McCowan throws a quick inside leg kick.
A head kick misses from McCowan.
Tony McCowan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ryan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McCowan counters with a head kick. That will keep Ryan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ryan takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ryan tries to clinch up
letting McCowan counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony McCowan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ryan moves into the clinch successfully.
McCowan trying to land knees to the body.
Ryan is looking to break free of the clinch but McCowan has double underhooks.
McCowan's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
McCowan lands a nice knee to the body.

Ryan manages to break the clinch.
Ryan closes the distance looking to clinch
and McCowan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ryan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ryan has his takedown stuffed
and McCowan counters with a nice leg kick.
McCowan scores with a shot to the body.
Ryan avoids the head kick by McCowan.
Joey Ryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCowan thuds his shin into the meat of Ryan's side.
McCowan fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McCowan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Good standup being displayed there by McCowan as he connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCowan throws a sloppy head kick and Ryan moves out of range easily.
McCowan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ryan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before McCowan can pounce on him.
Ryan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McCowan pinned against the cage. McCowan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan walks into a straight right hand from McCowan.

McCowan clinches up with Ryan and pushes him back against the cage.
McCowan has Ryan pressed against the cage.
Ryan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ryan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McCowan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees to the body from McCowan.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
McCowan landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McCowan looking to throw knees to the head but Ryan is blocking nicely.
McCowan has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McCowan trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan wants to break the clinch but can't.
McCowan misses with a knee to the head.
McCowan lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Ryan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McCowan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ryan wants to clinch
and McCowan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
McCowan throws a nice looking combination but Ryan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A left and a right from McCowan both land. Nice combination.
McCowan displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
McCowan lands an overhand right.
Ryan darts in trying to clinch
and McCowan counters with a body kick.
Ryan looks to clinch

and McCowan counters by clinching up.
McCowan avoiding damage.

Ryan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCowan throws a nice looking combination but Ryan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ryan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McCowan counters with a good low kick that Ryan was not able to check.
Ryan darts in trying to clinch

and McCowan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McCowan.
McCowan tries a knee to the head but Ryan blocks it.
Ryan misses with a knee to the head.
Ryan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ryan avoiding damage as McCowan throws knees to the body.
McCowan stalls.
Ryan tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Ryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCowan tries to land a knee to the head but Ryan blocks with his arms.
McCowan gets underhooks to prevent Ryan's takedown attempt.
Ryan wants to get back to striking at distance but McCowan won't allow it.
McCowan throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ryan has had enough of the clinch but McCowan keeps him there for the moment.

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.
Ryan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
McCowan is looking to control Ryan's arms but Ryan gets an underhook and turns him. Now McCowan has his back to the cage.

Ryan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McCowan throws a series of punches but Ryan avoids them all with ease.
McCowan lands a high kick!
Ryan darts in trying to clinch
and McCowan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
McCowan throws a head kick that misses.
Ryan misses with a double jab
and McCowan counters with an inside leg kick.
Ryan wants to clinch but McCowan slips to the side
and McCowan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Ryan tries for a takedown but McCowan circles away easily
and McCowan counters with a solid body kick.
Ryan misses with a takedown

and McCowan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ryan wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony McCowan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

A nice inside leg kick there by McCowan. That's going to slow Ryan down.
McCowan circles away from the clinch attempt
and McCowan counters with a slapping leg kick.
McCowan stuffs the takedown attempt from Ryan. Ryan gets slowly back to his feet.
McCowan throws a nice outside leg kick.

McCowan darts in and clinches Ryan up against the cage.
McCowan pushes Ryan back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ryan takes an elbow to the temple.
A knee to the head by McCowan.
McCowan with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ryan takes an elbow to the forehead.
McCowan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McCowan keeps control of Ryan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McCowan misses with a knee to the head.
Ryan tries to break the clinch but McCowan is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
Ryan takes an elbow to the forehead.
McCowan stalling.
Ryan takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ryan has had enough of the clinch but McCowan keeps him there for the moment.
Ryan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
McCowan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ryan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
McCowan unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ryan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
McCowan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McCowan keeps control of Ryan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McCowan lands a nice elbow.
Stalling in the clinch from McCowan.
Ryan throws a knee to the head but misses.
McCowan landing knees to the body.
McCowan looking to throw knees to the head but Ryan is blocking nicely.
Ryan tries to break the clinch but McCowan is controlling the position.
McCowan is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ryan is keeping busy.
McCowan misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Ryan tightens his grip and picks McCowan up, before dumping him to the ground. McCowan manages to land in guard.
Ryan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ryan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McCowan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ryan postures up in McCowan's guard and throws a big left but McCowan blocks it.
McCowan is adopting a defensive guard.
Ryan lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Joey Ryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan throwing strikes from guard but McCowan blocks nicely.
Ryan throws and elbow that misses. McCowan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ryan's guard. Nice move by McCowan!
McCowan is standing up over Ryan. Ryan looks to escape but McCowan dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

McCowan has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ryan wants to clinch but McCowan slips to the side

and McCowan moves into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ryan throws an elbow but misses.
Ryan wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McCowan lands an elbow just above Ryan 's eye.
Ryan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McCowan taking a breather.
Knees to the body from McCowan.
Tony McCowan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ryan wants a takedown but no success here.
McCowan lands with a light punch inside.
McCowan connects with a knee to the head.
Ryan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCowan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ryan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ryan misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by McCowan.
McCowan slowing the pace effectively.
Ryan wants to break the clinch but can't.
McCowan is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ryan tries to break the clinch but McCowan is controlling the position.
Ryan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McCowan has him pressed against the cage.
Ryan tries to land knees in the clinch but McCowan avoids the damage to the body.
Ryan tries to pull guard but McCowan holds him up against the cage and eventually Ryan drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joey Ryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as McCowan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ryan is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony McCowan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McCowan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony McCowan!
Tony McCowan is the new lightweight champion!