PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rob Rayburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Sky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rayburn comes to the cage accompanied by Rocket Man. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sky's choice of entrance music: Papa Roach - Last Resort. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rayburn
vs
Sky

178 cm
19
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rob Rayburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Sammy Sky!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rayburn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rayburn.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rayburn is trying to break the clinch but Sky has him pressed against the cage.
Rayburn slows down the pace here.
Sky tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sky trying to land knees to the body.
Rayburn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rayburn goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sky prevents it.

Rayburn has picked Sky up - he's going for a ride! Rayburn dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Sky has his hands clasped together around Rayburn's back. He's all about the action.
Rayburn wants to stand up but Sky has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Rayburn is looking to take a break and control but Sky is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Sky has one foot on Rayburn's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sky shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rayburn's guard.
Rayburn wants to sweep here but Sky controlling him for the moment.

Sky gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sky misses with an uppercut. Rayburn saw that one coming.
Rayburn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rob Rayburn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No joy there for Rayburn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Sky gets a clinch.
Sky stops a takedown attempt from Rayburn.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rob Rayburn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rayburn is breathing heavily.
Rayburn wants to get back to striking at distance but Sky won't allow it.
Sky drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rayburn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sky can't get the takedown.

Sky escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rayburn misses with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sky tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rayburn swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rayburn tries to keep at a distance but Sky has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rayburn goes for a takedown attempt but Sky pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rayburn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rayburn is looking to break free of the clinch but Sky has double underhooks.
Rayburn can't break the clinch.

Rayburn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sky throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rayburn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rayburn working over Sky with some ground and pound. Sky looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sky is refusing to be controlled, as Rayburn sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sky manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sky working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rayburn.
Sky manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rayburn tries to hold on but Sky pushes him away.
Rayburn regains half guard.
Rayburn regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rayburn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn is trying to control the position but Sky postures up.
Rayburn wants to stand up but Sky is controlling him.
Rayburn looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sky puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sky is taking a breather. Rayburn says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rayburn tries to get to full guard but Sky has control of the leg.
Rayburn trying to control here.
Rayburn is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rob Rayburn will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sky misses with a takedown attempt - Rayburn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sky takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sky fails with the takedown
and Rayburn makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Rayburn gets a clinch.

Rayburn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rayburn takes the fight into the clinch.

Rayburn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rayburn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Rayburn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rayburn manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sky manages to get himself to full guard.
Rayburn has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rayburn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sky working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rayburn.
Rayburn content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rayburn working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rayburn is working Sky over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rayburn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rayburn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sky is trying to control the position but Rayburn postures up.
Rayburn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sky looking for a sweep. Not yet Sky, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rayburn throws a combination. Sky tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rayburn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sky waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Rayburn.
Rayburn scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rayburn looks for a takedown but Sky sprawls well.
Sky misses with a takedown
and Rayburn counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rob Rayburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sammy Sky.
Rayburn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rayburn circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rayburn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rayburn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Rayburn stands up and beckons Sky to join him on the feet.

Rayburn changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sky looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rayburn controlling the position from side mount.
Rayburn working the ground and pound.
Rayburn throws a strike aimed at the side of Sky's head but Sky avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayburn in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Rayburn trying to control the action but Sky is working from the bottom.

Rayburn tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rayburn creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Sky sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rob Rayburn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rayburn misses with the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rayburn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Rayburn dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rayburn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rayburn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rayburn lands strikes from half guard.
Rayburn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rayburn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sky's head.
Rayburn throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sky regains full guard. Nicely done.
Rayburn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rayburn passes Sky's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rayburn lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayburn trying to control the action but Sky is working from the bottom.
Rayburn with the ground and pound but Sky uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sky utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rayburn stops Sky from standing up.
Rayburn trying to control but Sky is working from the bottom.
Sky keeping full guard, as Rayburn tries to pass.
Rayburn trying to control but Sky is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rayburn doesn't manage to clinch there - Sky circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rayburn finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sky fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rayburn is out of range.
Rayburn dips to his left and cracks Sky with an uppercut!
Sky throws a lazy right hand but Rayburn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rayburn lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rayburn misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Rayburn does no damage.

Rayburn scores with a takedown into Sky's guard.
Rayburn throws a strike but Sky rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rayburn is looking to stand up but Sky isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rayburn had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sky is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Rayburn Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sky's back instead.
Sky breaks Rayburn's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rob Rayburn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rayburn tries to strike from the bottom.
Sky stops Rayburn from standing up.
Rayburn trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sky wants to control from the top but Rayburn keeps moving.

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.
Rayburn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rayburn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sky counters with a one-two to the body.
Rayburn throws a right and a left that Sky avoids nicely.
Sky tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rayburn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Rayburn closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rayburn in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Rayburn trying to control the position but Sky is working away.
Sammy Sky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rayburn in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob Rayburn showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rayburn 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob Rayburn!