PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ethan Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conroy Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ray
vs
Junior

182 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ethan Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Conroy Junior!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Junior wants to clinch up but Ray keeps it at a distance.
Ray looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A punch combination from Ray misses.

Ray looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Junior is trying to control but can't.
Junior is pressing down on Ray's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Junior is keeping the position for now.
Junior is looking to stand up but Ray isn't so interested in that idea.
Ray throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Junior works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Junior wants to stand and escape but Ray is having none of it.
Ray stopping the sweep attempt from Junior.
Junior wants to stand and escape but Ray is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Ray drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Junior wants to stand up but Ray is controlling him.
Ray pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Junior is keeping the position for now.
Junior working a defensive guard here.
Junior looks gassed!
Junior thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Junior not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ray is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Ray bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ray controlling the position.
Junior is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ray is controlling him well.
Ray misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ray wants to lay and pray for a moment but Junior keeps working.

Ray has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Junior is looking to clinch.
Ray scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Junior if he has to take too many more of those.

Ray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ray works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ray stops Junior from standing up.
Junior is trying to keep Ray in close.
Ray throws a strike but Junior rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Ray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ray is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ray wants to control the position but Junior says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Ray makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ray.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior being controlled here momentarily.
Junior preventing the sweep.
Junior is standing up over Ray. Ray looks to escape but Junior dives into side control.
Ray knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Junior on the ground.
Junior working away.
Junior trying to control the action but Ray is working from the bottom.

Junior is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ray has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Junior tries to stand but Ray is controlling his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Ray dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ray closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ray working away.
Junior regains half guard.
Ray stalling.
Junior is looking to escape.
Ray is keen to just control but Junior is a slippery customer.
Ray tries to stand and escape but Junior is controlling the position.
Junior is trying to stand.

Ray stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Junior is breathing heavily.
Ray scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ray throws a leg kick which misses Junior's front leg but catches the back leg as Junior tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ray.
Ray taking a break here but Junior is having none of it and regains half guard.
Ray is looking to stall here but Junior recovers full guard.
Junior working a defensive guard here.
Ray throws a strike but Junior rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Junior slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray can't do much from the bottom here.
Ray wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Ray takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Junior trying to control the position but Ray is working away.

Junior has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Junior wants to clinch but Ray slips to the side

and Ray counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Junior regains half guard.
Ray working over Junior with some ground and pound. Junior looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Ray stands up and beckons Junior to join him on the feet.
Junior tries to clinch up

so Ray counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior keeping full guard, as Ray tries to pass.

Ray gets to his feet - Junior follows without any prompting.
Ray lands a head kick. Junior smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Junior tries for a takedown but Ray circles away easily

and Ray counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Junior!
Junior wants to control but Ray is having none of it.
Junior is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ray is trying to control here but Junior has managed to regain half guard.
Ray working Junior over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Junior does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Ray looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Junior tries to get to full guard but Ray has control of the leg.
Junior regains full guard. Nicely done.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ray wants to stand but Junior is controlling his posture from full guard.
Junior not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ethan Ray dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Junior doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ray counters with a body kick that stops Junior in his tracks momentarily.
Junior misses with a lunging right hand

and Ray counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Junior trying to control here.
Ray wants to free his trapped foot but Junior is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Junior has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ray is working away from the top position though.
Ethan Ray overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ray is keen to just control but Junior is a slippery customer.
Junior makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Junior.
Junior takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ray stands and steps away. Junior gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ray takes the fight into the clinch.

Ray drags the fight down to the ground.
Ray not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Junior wants to stand but Ray is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ray working a defensive guard here.
Ray wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Junior is now in half guard.
Ray scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Junior manages to mount him!
Junior can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ray is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Junior tries to control but Ray wriggling away.

Junior quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Junior but it's paid off an Ray is forced to tap! Nice work by Junior.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Conroy Junior!