PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erick Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Muscle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Bryan
vs
Muscle

184 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Erick Bryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Muscle!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bryan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Muscle tries to pull guard but Bryan won't allow it.
Muscle gets underhooks to prevent Bryan's takedown attempt.

Bryan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bryan scores with a takedown into Muscle's guard.
Muscle trying to keep a closed guard but Bryan is proving a slippery customer.
Muscle keeping full guard, as Bryan tries to pass.
Bryan would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bryan postures up and lands a big shot to Muscle's brow.
Bryan tries to free his leg and advance position but Muscle is retaining full guard.
Muscle working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Muscle keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Muscle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bryan counters with a single leg into guard. Muscle didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Muscle keeps moving.
Bryan is looking to stand up but Muscle won't let him.
Muscle is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Muscle looking for a sweep. Not yet Muscle, not yet.
Muscle is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Bryan dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bryan taking a breather here.
Bryan scoring with punches from side control.
Muscle is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bryan has just dragged him back down to the mat.

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.
You can see the frustration on Muscle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bryan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Muscle keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Muscle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bryan wants to control but Muscle is keeping him busy.
Bryan is breathing heavily.
Muscle regains half guard.

Bryan decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Muscle shoots in but Bryan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Erick Bryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Muscle.
No luck for Muscle with that takedown attempt.
Bryan is looking to clinch but Muscle is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan looks for a takedown but Muscle sprawls well.
Muscle tries to clinch but Bryan moves away

and Bryan counters with a single leg into guard. Muscle didn't expect that.
Bryan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Muscle striking off his back but it's not causing Bryan any problems.

Muscle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bryan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Muscle looking to control.
Bryan tries to free his leg and advance position but Muscle is retaining full guard.
Muscle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bryan stopping the sweep attempt from Muscle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Muscle swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Muscle goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Muscle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bryan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Muscle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Muscle wants to hit a switch here but Bryan passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Muscle there!

Bryan has hold of Muscle's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Muscle manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Bryan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Max Muscle's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Muscle circles away from the clinch attempt.
Muscle with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bryan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Muscle's guard now.
Bryan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Muscle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bryan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Muscle keeping full guard, as Bryan tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Muscle working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muscle keeping moving, preventing Bryan from controlling successfully.
Bryan looking to pass the guard.
Muscle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bryan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Muscle tries to close the distance and clinch but Bryan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Muscle wants to clinch

and Bryan counters with a shoot takedown. Muscle fights it but they end up in guard.
Muscle is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bryan is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan content to stall in guard here.
Bryan is looking to work some ground and pound but Muscle has wrist control.
Bryan wants to control from the top but Muscle keeps moving.
Bryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Muscle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bryan leaves Muscle with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan with a poor takedown

and Muscle counters by moving into the clinch.
Muscle taking a breather.
Muscle wants a takedown but no success here.
Erick Bryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Muscle.

Bryan manages to pull guard.
Muscle in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bryan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Muscle must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Bryan working for submissions but it's allowed Muscle to get to half guard.
Muscle blocks the strikes from Bryan.
Muscle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bryan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Muscle missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bryan wants to control but Muscle is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muscle wants to stand up but Bryan has a hold of him and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Bryan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bryan working the ground and pound.
Bryan with the ground and pound but Muscle regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Bryan trying to control the action but Muscle is working from the bottom.

Muscle manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Bryan misses with a takedown attempt - Muscle sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Muscle wants to clinch up but Bryan keeps it at a distance.
Bryan dives in and grabs Muscle's left leg, looking for a takedown. Muscle pushes down on Bryan's head and hops out.
Muscle clinches but Bryan breaks the clinch

and Bryan holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Bryan dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Max Muscle's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Muscle lands with a kick to the temple. Bryan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Muscle scores with a head kick.

Bryan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bryan is looking to take a break and control but Muscle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bryan working the head and body with strikes.
Muscle takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Bryan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Muscle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Muscle tries to bench press Bryan off him but Bryan keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Muscle sneaks out the side door and pushes Bryan away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muscle fails with the takedown

and Bryan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Muscle's guard.
Bryan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Muscle keeping moving, preventing Bryan from controlling successfully.
Muscle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bryan.

Bryan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Muscle looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Muscle looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Muscle!

Muscle decides to stand back up.
Muscle shoots for a double leg takedown but Bryan sprawls well. He's pushed Muscle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Muscle fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Erick Bryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Muscle.

Bryan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Muscle!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice elbow there by Bryan.
Bryan controlling from mount.
Muscle bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Muscle won't allow Bryan to sweep him here.
Muscle wants to pass the guard but Bryan is keeping the position.
Muscle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bryan trying to keep a closed guard but Muscle is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan keeping moving, preventing Muscle from controlling successfully.
Muscle wants to stand but Bryan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Muscle stopping the sweep attempt from Bryan.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Muscle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Erick Bryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryan tries for a takedown but Muscle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bryan wants to clinch.
Muscle throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bryan's head.
Muscle tries to clinch up but Bryan circles away and keeps his distance.
Muscle closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Horrible takedown by Bryan or perhaps it was just good defense by Muscle which made him look bad.
Muscle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bryan.
No luck for Bryan with that takedown attempt.

Muscle has closed the distance and engaged Bryan in a clinch.
Muscle fails to pull guard.
Max Muscle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Erick Bryan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Muscle is pressed up against the cage. Bryan has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Muscle down to the mat. Muscle avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Muscle tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Bryan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bryan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Bryan!