PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bjorn Linus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micheal Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linus comes to the cage accompanied by Throwdown - Forever. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Linus
vs
Bryant

197 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

192 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bjorn Linus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Micheal Bryant!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linus fails with the takedown.

Bryant is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Linus's half guard.
Bryant takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nice strikes from Bryant there.

Linus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bryant is controlling the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryant lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bryant working over Linus with some ground and pound. Linus looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Linus looking for submissions off his back.

Linus looking for submissions off his back.
Bryant sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linus regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bryant scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bryant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bryant connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bryant's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Linus keeping full guard, as Bryant tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Linus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bryant keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Linus's head.

Linus had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bryant is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Linus Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bryant's back instead.
Linus is breathing heavily.
Bryant tries to escape but Linus has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bryant looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Bryant tries to escape but Linus has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bryant defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Linus's arms.
Bryant tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Bryant is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bryant is looking to improve his position but Linus isn't that keen on the idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bryant can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bryant really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Linus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bryant manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Linus is thwarting Bryant's attempts to control the position.
Bryant tries to roll over but Linus keeps him under control.
Bryant throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bryant tries to get to full guard but Linus has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant punching from the bottom.
Bryant is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bryant feints and as Linus raises his hands in defense, Bryant changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Linus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Linus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bryant lands a couple of elbows.
Bryant stands up over Linus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bryant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bryant controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Bryant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant trying to control but Linus is working from the bottom.

Linus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bryant pushing down on Linus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bryant slips a nice elbow through Linus's hands, connecting with Linus's forehead.
Bryant slips a nice elbow through Linus's hands, connecting with Linus's forehead.
Bryant is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bryant takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bryant connects with a nice short shot to Linus's temple.
Bryant looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bryant is nestled in close to Linus, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Linus actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Linus shoots and misses

and Bryant counters with a shoot takedown. Linus fights it but they end up in guard.
Bryant must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bryant scoring with some ground and pound.
Bryant postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Linus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bryant connects with a couple of short punches.
Bryant is working Linus over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bryant stands up over Linus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bryant scoring with punches to the head and body.

Linus looking for a guillotine here but Bryant defends easily.
Bryant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bryant working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bryant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bryant is in close to Linus's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linus working for a triangle but Bryant defends it easily.
Micheal Bryant has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bryant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Linus is keeping the position for now.

Linus looking for a guillotine here but Bryant defends easily.

Linus had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bryant is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Linus Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bryant's back instead.
Linus has the hooks in. Bryant is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Bryant controlling Linus 's hands.
Bryant turns into Linus and is now in his guard.

That's two 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.
Bryant connects with a couple of short punches.

Linus has his foot on Bryant's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bryant works his way back into a safe position though.
Bryant is stalling in the full guard.
Linus keeping full guard, as Bryant tries to pass.
Bryant works over Linus with some ground and pound from guard.
Bryant lands a couple of elbows.
Bryant with a nice head shot there.
Bryant scoring with punches to the head and body.

Linus is looking for a triangle but Bryant pushes his legs off easily.
Bryant working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Linus's head.
Bryant trying to control the position from guard on top but Linus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bryant keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Linus's head.
Bryant chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant trying to control but Linus is working from the bottom.

Linus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bryant gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bryant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Linus's brow.

Linus is looking for a triangle but Bryant pushes his legs off easily.

Linus is looking for a triangle but Bryant pushes his legs off easily.
Linus has momentary wrist control but Bryant slips an elbow through the middle.
Bryant is in close to Linus's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Bryant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Linus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bryant with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Linus working for a triangle but Bryant defends it easily.
Bryant stands and throws Linus's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bryant scoring with punches from side control.
Linus takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Linus taking a bit of punishment here - Bryant scoring with strikes.
Bryant is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bryant landing a few strikes.
Bryant lands some shots froms side control.
Bryant has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bryant works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Linus is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micheal Bryant showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bryant is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Linus's half guard.
Bryant tries to pass to full mount but Linus defends it.
Bryant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Linus with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Linus tries to get to full guard but Bryant has control of the leg.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bryant connects with a nice short shot to Linus's temple.

Linus actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Bryant there.
Bryant lands strikes from half guard.

Linus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Linus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Linus has hold of Bryant's hands but Bryant slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Bryant is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bryant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Linus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bryant lands with a punch from half guard.
Bryant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Linus with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bryant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bryant lands strikes from half guard.
Bryant content to control rather than advance.

Linus actively working from the bottom here.
Bryant scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bryant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bryant seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant trying to pass the guard but Linus defending well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bryant lands a nice short elbow.

Linus looking for submissions off his back.

Linus looking for submissions off his back.
Bryant landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Linus on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bryant tries to pass the half guard into mount. Linus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Bryant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bryant looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bryant wants to control but Linus is keeping him busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bryant in particular looking to stall.
Let's hope that Bryant has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Linus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Linus taking some punishment here, with Bryant in his half guard.
Bryant takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Linus tries to roll over but Bryant keeps him under control.
Bryant controlling the action here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bryant lands a nice short elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bryant looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Linus with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Linus on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Linus actively working from the bottom here.
Bryant scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bryant not doing much here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bryant connects with a nice short shot to Linus's temple.
Bryant working over Linus with some ground and pound. Linus looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Linus on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Linus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bryant scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bjorn Linus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryant blocks the strikes from Linus.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micheal Bryant comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bryant has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micheal Bryant!