PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Marko II (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Ryba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cain Marko II has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marko II
vs
Ryba

210 cm
23
270 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

198 cm
24
256 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cain Marko II!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mike Ryba!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Roberts and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marko II is defended easily by Ryba.

Ryba has taken the fight to the clinch.

Ryba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ryba darts in and clinches Marko II up against the cage.
Ryba misses with a knee strike.

Ryba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ryba tries a head kick but it misses.
Marko II shoots in for a takedown but Ryba shows good takedown defense.
Marko II tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ryba closes the distance and clinches.
Ryba scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Cain Marko II has been cut.

Ryba breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marko II takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ryba tries a head kick but it misses.
Ryba connects with a high kick.
Ryba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ryba pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ryba pushes Marko II up against the cage in a clinch.
Ryba with a knee to the head.
Marko II is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ryba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marko II closes the distance and clinches up with Ryba, looking for a takedown. Marko II pushes Ryba against the cage but Ryba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Marko II. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ryba closes the distance and clinches.
Ryba looking to throw knees to the head but Marko II is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryba manages to break the clinch.

Ryba instigates a clinch.

Ryba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ryba throws a sloppy head kick and Marko II moves out of range easily.
Ryba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Marko II tries to keep at a distance but Ryba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Marko II takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ryba landing knees to the head.
Ryba tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Ryba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ryba keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Marko II.
Ryba pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ryba clinches with his opponent.

Marko II has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ryba uses from the top position.
Marko II looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryba is one step ahead there.
Marko II will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko II is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ryba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Marko II. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ryba wanted to stand there but Marko II had control of the position.
Marko II tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marko II tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ryba rushes Marko II and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Marko II wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko II is trying to drag Ryba to the mat but Ryba just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ryba misses with a knee to the head.
Ryba connects with a nasty looking knee right to Marko II's face.
Ryba misses with a knee to the head.
Marko II is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ryba breaks from the clinch.
Marko II closes the distance and clinches up with Ryba, looking for a takedown. Marko II pushes Ryba against the cage but Ryba circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ryba displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Marko II.

Marko II tries to keep at a distance but Ryba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ryba throws a knee to the head but misses.
A right hand to the body from Marko II.
Ryba misses with a knee to the head.

Marko II pulls Ryba into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Marko II escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ryba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marko II working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marko II doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Marko II tries to strike from the bottom.

Marko II escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ryba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Marko II striking off his back but it's not causing Ryba any problems.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marko II throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Marko II trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ryba dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cain Marko II's cut.
That's time! Marko II's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marko II works Ryba's body with a nice hook.
Ryba throws a head kick that misses.

Ryba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ryba tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Ryba breaks the clinch.
Marko II takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Marko II closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ryba circles away.
Marko II misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ryba scores with a head kick.

Ryba pushes Marko II up against the cage in a clinch.
Ryba tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Marko II prevents Ryba from breaking the clinch.

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

Marko II gets the takedown into side control.
Marko II working the head with strikes.

Ryba explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marko II throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marko II shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ryba but Ryba pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko II tries to clinch but Ryba moves out of range.
Ryba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Marko II shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ryba is trying to defend but Marko II finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Marko II 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.
Marko II drops an elbow to the side of Ryba's head.
Marko II lands strikes from half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ryba. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Marko II in particular looking to stall.

Marko II stands up out of the half guard.
Ryba throws a head kick that misses.
Ryba wants to clinch

and Marko II counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marko II working the body and head with strikes.
Marko II takes a little break here. Ryba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Marko II throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ryba wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ryba is not content to let Marko II control the position.
Marko II scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marko II scoring with punches and elbows.
Marko II in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marko II working the ground and pound.
Ryba taking a bit of punishment here - Marko II scoring with strikes.

Marko II is trying to get an arm triangle but Ryba is defending well.
Marko II lands a nice forearm strike.
Ryba is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Marko II has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Marko II scoring with punches from side control.

Marko II is trying to get an arm triangle but Ryba is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marko II lands some shots froms side control.
Ryba is pushing Marko II's head away, looking to escape. Marko II manages to hold on to the position though.
Marko II grinds an elbow into Ryba's temple.
Marko II looks up at the clock and then as Ryba takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Marko II smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Marko II in side control lands a decent elbow.
Marko II landing strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ryba is trying to get back to his feet.
Ryba is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Marko II creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ryba sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cain Marko II dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cain Marko II's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ryba throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Marko II.
Marko II shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ryba as he jumps to the side.
Ryba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marko II.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ryba with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ryba tries to land a knee to the head but Marko II blocks with his arms.
Ryba gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Marko II.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cain Marko II. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A knee to the head by Ryba.

Ryba breaks the clinch.
Marko II circles away from the clinch attempt

and Marko II counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ryba's guard now.
Marko II looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Marko II sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marko II throwing strikes from guard but Ryba blocks nicely.
Marko II loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ryba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ryba keeping moving, preventing Marko II from controlling successfully.
Marko II controlling from the top position.
Marko II makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ryba keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Marko II is defended easily by Ryba.
Marko II shoots for a takedown but Ryba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ryba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ryba wants to clinch up but Marko II keeps it at a distance.

Ryba gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marko II is in close to Ryba's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Marko II throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Marko II with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ryba is looking to stand up but Marko II isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marko II is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Marko II trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Marko II's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Marko II advances to half guard.
Marko II throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nice strikes from Marko II there.
Ryba wants to get back to his feet.
Ryba has hold of Marko II's hands but Marko II slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

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.

Marko II seems to be looking for submissions.

Marko II seems to be working for a kimura but Ryba defends the submission attempt.
Marko II missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Marko II trying to control the action but Ryba is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ryba defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Marko II.
Ryba stuffs the takedown.
Ryba throws a nice head kick!
Marko II blocks a head kick by Ryba.

Marko II closes the distance and pushes Ryba back into the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cain Marko II showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Marko II 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cain Marko II!