PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Malakai Rios (ranked 3566 p4p, 5984 weight class) and Lonnie Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Malakai Rios has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rios
vs
Bryan

175 cm
25
155
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
20
155
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Malakai Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lonnie Bryan!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bryan gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rios slows down the pace here.
A frustrated look appears on Bryan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rios prevents the takedown attempt.
Bryan is trying to break the clinch but Rios has him pressed against the cage.

Rios manages to break the clinch.

Bryan pushes Rios up against the cage in a clinch.
Bryan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rios is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rios pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bryan leaves Rios with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bryan! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rios darts in and clinches Bryan up against the cage.

Bryan gets control of Rios's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bryan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bryan thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rios slips nicely into half guard.
Bryan is looking to improve his position.
Rios keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bryan trying to hold on to Rios's head to control him but Rios postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios trying to control the pace.

Rios seems to be looking for submissions.
Bryan keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Bryan wants to control but Rios is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan tries to roll over but Rios keeps him under control.
Bryan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rios.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rios looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rios throws a body kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rios is defended easily by Bryan.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bryan.
Rios fails with an attempt to clinch.

Rios closes the distance and pushes Bryan back into the cage.
Rios goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bryan prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malakai Rios. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bryan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rios is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Rios manages to break the clinch.

Rios drives through with a takedown into Bryan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Bryan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rios.
Rios wants to get up but he can't break Bryan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rios throws a big elbow that misses.

Bryan pushes Rios off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rios shoots in and bounces Bryan off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rios postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malakai Rios dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bryan with a poor takedown
and Rios counters with a two punch combo.

Rios forces Bryan back against the cage and clinches.
Rios manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bryan is trying to break the clinch but Rios has him pressed against the cage.

Rios breaks from the clinch.
Bryan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bryan misses with a takedown
enabling Rios to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rios looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bryan has control of Rios's left arm, preventing Rios from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios won't allow Bryan to sweep him here.
Rios passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bryan struggling a bit here.
Rios landing strikes.
Bryan managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rios.

Rios stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bryan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rios as he avoids it easily.
Rios attempts a counter takedown but Bryan avoids it well and moves away.
Malakai Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lonnie Bryan.
Bryan is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rios.
Bryan with a poor takedown
and Rios counters with a series of strikes. Bryan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rios dives in and grabs Bryan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bryan pushes down on Rios's head and hops out.
Bryan has his takedown stuffed
and Rios counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bryan thinking.

Bryan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rios to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rios sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bryan's guard.
Bryan on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Bryan to stand up.
Malakai Rios is winning the standup battle so far.
Rios throws a series of strikes that have Bryan backpedaling.

Rios fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bryan to the ground. Rios is now in Bryan's guard.
Rios landing with the ground and pound.
Rios makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Rios decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Bryan gets tackled into the cage by Rios. Rios maintains the clinch.
Rios is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bryan to keep the fight standing.

Rios breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan looks to throw the jab but Rios is out of range.
Bryan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rios avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Rios as Bryan shoots in.
Rios is looking to counter punch.
Rios shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rios closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bryan quickly recovers to half guard.
Rios working the head and body with strikes.
Rios perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rios is looking to take a break and control but Bryan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Malakai Rios dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rios darts in and clinches Bryan up against the cage.
Bryan jumps guard but Rios stands there with Bryan around his waist. Bryan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rios has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bryan regains guard immediately.

Rios got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bryan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rios has managed to get both his arms back between Bryan's legs - danger averted.

Rios stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rios shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Rios was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bryan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bryan is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rios is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bryan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bryan is not content to let Rios control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Bryan taking punishment in the form of punches.

Rios tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rios has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bryan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Rios's best efforts.
Rios takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Rios is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bryan is just riding it out for now. Rios eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan wants to control but Rios passes into side.
Rios is working Bryan over with some ground and pound from side control.
Bryan trying his best to control but Rios has mounted him.
Rios lands a nice shot to the head.
Bryan working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rios landing strikes from the mount and Bryan is in trouble!
Rios trying to control but Bryan is having none of it.
Rios controlling from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rios avoids the attempt from Bryan to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malakai Rios showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rios 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malakai Rios!