PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Brendan Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Pulver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Pulver has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Brendan Ryan's chin.

Ryan
vs
Pulver

188 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

167 cm
22
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brendan Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, George Pulver!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulver tries to clinch up.
Good shot there by Ryan.
Ryan misses with a double jab.
Pulver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ryan connects with the punch.

It looks like George Pulver has been cut.
Ryan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryan misses with a series of wild punches.
Ryan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ryan misses with a series of wild punches.
Ryan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pulver's waist but Pulver gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ryan off to one side.
Ryan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ryan just misses with a punch to the body.
Ryan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ryan lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pulver at a distance.
Pulver tries to clinch up but Ryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryan wants to clinch.
Ryan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pulver swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulver tries to clinch up but Ryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Ryan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ryan closes the distance and clinches up with Pulver, looking for a takedown. Ryan pushes Pulver against the cage but Pulver circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pulver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Good work by Ryan as he checks the leg kick.
Ryan misses with a double jab.
Pulver moves out of range of the strikes.
Ryan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ryan swinging wilding here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pulver.

Pulver wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ryan, who protects the arm well.
Ryan manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pulver has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ryan is working away from the top position though.
Pulver landing a few short strikes.
Pulver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ryan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pulver gets full guard.
Pulver scores with a nice shot.
Ryan wants to control from the top but Pulver keeps moving.

Pulver has his foot on Ryan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ryan works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pulver looks gassed!
Pulver with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Ryan can't handle though.
Pulver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ryan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ryan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ryan with a nice head shot there.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pulver can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pulver preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ryan connects with a single shot there.
Pulver takes one on the button.
Pulver tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ryan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pulver swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pulver throws the kick towards the body but Ryan avoids it.

Ryan has closed the distance and engaged Pulver in a clinch.
Ryan prevents Pulver from breaking the clinch.

Ryan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ryan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pulver doesn't seem bothered though.

Ryan instigates a clinch.

Ryan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ryan stalks Pulver and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pulver's face. Pulver staggers backwards, shaken.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ryan scores with a nice strike.

Pulver tries to keep at a distance but Ryan has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ryan decides to pull guard.
Pulver controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pulver accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pulver is looking to work some ground and pound but Ryan has wrist control.
Ryan is trying to keep Pulver in close.
Ryan wants to stand and escape but Pulver is having none of it.
Ryan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pulver accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ryan is controlling Pulver's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ryan lands a body shot.

Ryan forces Pulver back against the cage and clinches.
Ryan lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pulver or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brendan Ryan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Pulver's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ryan scores with a punch to the head.
Pulver fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pulver looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ryan has his takedown stuffed

and Pulver counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryan is trying to control the position but Pulver postures up.
Ryan wants to stand up but Pulver is controlling him.
Pulver pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ryan is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ryan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ryan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pulver won't allow Ryan to sweep him here.
Pulver trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ryan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pulver is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ryan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Pulver counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ryan won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pulver scores with a couple of short elbows.
Ryan tries to buck Pulver off but Pulver is having none of it.
Pulver is putting a hurting on Ryan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pulver scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ryan to see if he's OK.
Pulver is chipping away with strikes.
Pulver working the ground and pound but Ryan is defending the strikes.
Ryan wants to control but Pulver postures up.
Ryan is trying to get back to his feet.

Pulver wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ryan, who protects the arm well.
Ryan tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.
Pulver working away.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A combination from Ryan does no damage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pulver.
Brendan Ryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ryan throws out a loose jab but Pulver uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pulver fails with the takedown.
Ryan dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Ryan pushes Pulver up against the cage in a clinch.

Ryan breaks from the clinch.
Brendan Ryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pulver tries to clinch but Ryan is having none of it.

Ryan rushes Pulver and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pulver drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pulver being controlled here momentarily.
Pulver working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pulver thows a big elbow that misses.
Ryan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pulver!
BOOM! Ryan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Pulver throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ryan. What's that going to do exactly?
Pulver tries to hold on but Ryan postures up.
Ryan lands a big elbow.
Ryan scoring with strikes but Pulver is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ryan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ryan with the ground and pound from mount.
Pulver throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ryan. What's that going to do exactly?
Ryan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ryan putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pulver tries to hold on but Ryan pushes him away.
Ryan lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ryan landing strikes from the mount and Pulver is in trouble!
Ryan has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Pulver's face.
Ryan dominating with strikes here.
George Pulver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
BOOM! Ryan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pulver tries to hold on but Ryan pushes him away.
Ryan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ryan wants to control the pace but Pulver is squirming around nicely.
A nice elbow there by Ryan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but George Pulver will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on George Pulver'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. This is the final round!

Pulver avoids the head kick by Ryan.
Pulver circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pulver is looking to clinch but Ryan is avoiding it.
Ryan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pulver pinned against the cage. Pulver gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan swats away the attempt to clinch by Pulver.
Pulver is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ryan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulver misses with a takedown attempt
and Ryan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ryan shoots and misses

and Pulver counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ryan!
A nice elbow there by Pulver.
Pulver lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Ryan is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulver looking to ground and pound but Ryan is blocking nicely.
Ryan is trying desperately to improve position.
Ryan is working hard here to advance position.
Pulver breaks from Ryan's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pulver punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ryan tries to hold on but Pulver pushes him away.
Pulver scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pulver throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ryan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ryan is looking to control Pulver's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ryan avoid being mounted?
Ryan is trying to stand.

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.
Ryan wants to get back to full guard.
Pulver lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ryan is looking for a sweep. Pulver is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ryan wants to control but Pulver is keeping busy.
Pulver lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ryan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ryan moves into range and clinches up with Pulver.

Ryan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryan misses with a takedown attempt - Pulver sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brendan Ryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pulver is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan misses with a straight right.
Ryan is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ryan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ryan scores with a punch to the head.
Ryan goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Brendan Ryan is winning the standup battle so far.
Pulver looks to clinch
and Ryan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pulver closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ryan circles away.
Pulver takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ryan scores with a punch to the head.
A slow jab from Ryan misses its intended target.
Pulver avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pulver moves out of range as Ryan strikes.

Pulver shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ryan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pulver is working Ryan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pulver prevents Ryan from getting back to his feet.
Pulver keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ryan's head.
Pulver with a nice head shot there.
Pulver trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pulver trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ryan trying to control the position.
Pulver preventing the sweep.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pulver tries to clinch up but Ryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Some wild striking there from Ryan.
Pulver tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Pulver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pulver has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!