PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Verno Ackhbar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Ryder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacob Ryder acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the ring.

Ackhbar
vs
Ryder

162 cm
23
162 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
169 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Verno Ackhbar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jacob Ryder!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ackhbar is looking to clinch but Ryder is avoiding it.
Ryder shoots in for a takedown but Ackhbar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ryder throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ackhbar's waist but Ackhbar gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ryder off to one side.
Ackhbar displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Ryder feints and as Ackhbar raises his hands in defense, Ryder changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ryder connects with a couple of short punches.
Ryder throwing strikes but missing.
Ackhbar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ryder.
Ackhbar wants to stand and escape but Ryder is having none of it.
Ryder postures up and lands a big shot to Ackhbar's brow.
Ackhbar is looking to stand up but Ryder isn't so interested in that idea.
Ryder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ackhbar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ryder trying to control but Ackhbar is working from the bottom.
Ryder's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ackhbar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ryder.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ryder accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ryder throws a strike but Ackhbar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ryder looking for a sweep. Not yet Ryder, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ackhbar swinging wilding here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ackhbar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ryder fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ackhbar sprawls well initially but Ryder persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ryder not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ackhbar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ackhbar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryder.
Ryder stalling away here and it's allowed Ackhbar to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ackhbar on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ackhbar tries to get out of the position.
Ryder throwing strikes from guard but Ackhbar blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Ryder dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ryder closes the distance and clinches up with Ackhbar, looking for a takedown. Ryder pushes Ackhbar against the ropes but Ackhbar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ackhbar throws a head kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Ackhbar. No joy for Ryder on that attempt.
Ryder fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ackhbar avoids it really well and circles away.
Verno Ackhbar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Ryder.
Ackhbar is looking to clinch but Ryder is avoiding it.
Jacob Ryder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ackhbar is looking to clinch.
Ryder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ackhbar wants to clinch up but Ryder keeps it at a distance.

Ackhbar forces Ryder back against the ropes and clinches.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ryder fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Ryder is having none of it.
Ackhbar tries to clinch up but Ryder circles away and keeps his distance.

Ryder looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ryder not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ryder is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ackhbar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ryder.
Ackhbar wants to get back to his feet.
Ryder is keen to just control but Ackhbar is a slippery customer.
Ackhbar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryder.
Ryder not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ackhbar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ryder scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ryder missing with the ground and pound from half 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ryder fails with a takedown attempt.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ryder paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Ryder scores a takedown into full mount!
Ryder misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ryder scoring with strikes but Ackhbar is staying in there.
Ryder looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ryder throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ackhbar because Ryder loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Ryder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ackhbar has managed to clinch.
Ackhbar is pressed up against the ropes. Ryder has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ackhbar down to the mat. Ackhbar avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ryder shoots for a takedown but Ackhbar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ryder closes the distance and clinches up with Ackhbar, looking for a takedown. Ryder pushes Ackhbar against the ropes but Ackhbar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Verno Ackhbar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Ryder.
Ryder swats away the attempt to clinch by Ackhbar.
Ryder fails to land the takedown.
Ackhbar wants to clinch up but Ryder keeps it at a distance.
Ackhbar misses with a double jab.

Ackhbar clinches with his opponent.
Ackhbar looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ackhbar.

Ackhbar breaks from the clinch.
Ackhbar moves in looking to clinch but Ryder pushes him off.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ryder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ryder closes the distance and clinches up with Ackhbar, looking for a takedown. Ryder pushes Ackhbar against the ropes but Ackhbar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ryder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ackhbar tries to clinch up.
Ackhbar tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown by Ryder or perhaps it was just good defense by Ackhbar which made him look bad.
Ryder takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryder looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ackhbar fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ackhbar fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ackhbar closes the distance and clinches.
Ackhbar lands a damaging elbow.
Ackhbar is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Ryder takes a shot to the head.
Ackhbar lands with a left to the head.
Ackhbar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ryder is defending well for now.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ackhbar throws a combination. Ryder tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Ryder is having none of it.

Ackhbar forces Ryder back against the ropes and clinches.
Ryder tries for a takedown but Ackhbar manages to get underhooks.
Ackhbar comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Ackhbar manages to break the clinch.
Ryder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ackhbar pushes Ryder up against the ropes in a clinch.

Ackhbar manages to break the clinch.
Ackhbar jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ryder circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ackhbar pushes Ryder up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ackhbar breaks the clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Ackhbar. That snapped Ryder's head back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ackhbar fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ackhbar cracks Ryder with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ackhbar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ryder closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ryder lands in his opponent's guard.
Ryder working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ackhbar's head.
Ryder with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ackhbar wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Verno Ackhbar clearly takes that round.
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.

Ryder swats away the attempt to clinch by Ackhbar.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ackhbar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ackhbar tries to clinch there but Ryder circles away.
Ryder shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ackhbar as he avoids it easily.
Ryder shoots in for a takedown but Ackhbar shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Ryder gets a takedown into half guard.

Ackhbar has one foot on Ryder's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ackhbar is looking to clinch.
Ryder is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Ryder looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryder stops Ackhbar from standing up.
Ryder sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ryder throwing strikes from guard but Ackhbar blocks nicely.
Ryder throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Ryder postures up in Ackhbar's guard and throws a big left but Ackhbar blocks it.
Ryder throws a strike but Ackhbar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ackhbar has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ryder is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ryder is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ackhbar.
Ackhbar wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Jacob Ryder will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ryder closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ackhbar circles away.
Jacob Ryder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ackhbar stuffs the takedown.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ackhbar is looking to clinch.
Ackhbar doesn't manage to clinch there - Ryder circles away.
Ackhbar misses with a two punch combination.
Ryder fails with a takedown attempt.
Verno Ackhbar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacob Ryder.
Ryder fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ackhbar wants to clinch up but Ryder keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryder swats away the attempt to clinch by Ackhbar.

Ackhbar moves into the clinch successfully.

Ackhbar manages to break the clinch.
Ryder is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Ackhbar is looking to clinch but Ryder is avoiding it.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ackhbar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ryder is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ackhbar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Ackhbar has Ryder up against the ropes in a clinch.
Ackhbar lands a left hand.

Ackhbar breaks from the clinch.
Ryder closes the distance and clinches up with Ackhbar, looking for a takedown. Ryder pushes Ackhbar against the ropes but Ackhbar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Ackhbar scores with a four punch combination!
Verno Ackhbar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ackhbar wants to clinch.
Ackhbar moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Ryder keeps the fight on the outside.
Ackhbar fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Ackhbar does no damage.

Ackhbar gets a clinch.

Ackhbar breaks from the clinch.
Ryder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ackhbar tries to close the distance and clinch but Ryder swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ackhbar works over Ryder's head and body with a nice combination.
Ackhbar tries to clinch up.
Ackhbar wants to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ryder.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ryder is defended easily by Ackhbar.
Ackhbar scores with a nice head shot.
Ackhbar tries to clinch but Ryder moves out of range.

Ryder is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Ackhbar's half guard.
Ackhbar wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Verno Ackhbar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ryder 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 47:48
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Ryder!