PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Casey Ryback (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruce lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying lee's choice of entrance music: Tourniquet . 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.

Ryback
vs
lee

194 cm
22
217 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

190 cm
23
205 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Casey Ryback!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bruce lee!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryback misses the shot to the body.
Ryback throws a big shot that misses.
Ryback misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from lee.
Ryback swings widly with a right hand
and lee counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Casey Ryback has been cut.
Ryback throws a poor cross that misses
and lee counters with a stiff right hand.
Ryback misses with a right hand
and lee counters with a lovely straight right hand!
lee gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ryback connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Bruce lee has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lee with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ryback counters with a straight right hand.
lee stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ryback.
Ryback misses with an uppercut

and lee counters with a takedown into side control.
Ryback is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ryback wants to control but lee postures up.
lee throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
You can see the frustration on Ryback's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

lee tries for a kimura but Ryback is defending well.
Ryback tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

lee is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ryback knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ryback sneaks back into half guard.

lee is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ryback defends it well.
Ryback is concentrating on defense, preventing lee from advancing position.
lee thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
lee working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ryback is looking to escape.
lee tries to pass to full mount but Ryback defends it.

lee is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ryback doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time lee.
lee not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lee missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ryback on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ryback tries to get out of the position.
lee scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ryback makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ryback.
lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

lee drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and lee jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
lee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ryback swivels though and keeps the full guard.
lee lands a couple of elbows.
Ryback looking for a sweep. Not yet Ryback, not yet.
Ryback knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for lee on the ground.

lee thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ryback trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
lee is working Ryback over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
lee thows a big elbow that misses.
lee has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
lee makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
lee throws a big right hand that misses.
lee landing some decent shots from guard.
Ryback is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
lee is fighting to break Ryback's control of his arms but Ryback is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
lee tries to free his leg and advance position but Ryback is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
lee postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

lee drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ryback dives on top into guard.
Ryback trying to control the position from guard on top but lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce lee dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Ryback's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice defenses there by Ryback.
Casey Ryback seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
lee fails with the takedown
letting Ryback counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Ryback misses

so lee counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
lee throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
lee throwing strikes but missing.
Ryback manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. lee manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

lee is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

lee looking for a guillotine here but Ryback defends easily.
Ryback controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ryback trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

lee is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ryback trying to control the position from guard on top but lee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ryback looking to sit in guard and control but lee gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
lee with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bruce lee has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lee throws a big right hand that misses.
Ryback keeping moving, preventing lee from controlling successfully.
lee content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
lee keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ryback's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ryback utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ryback 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.
Ryback keeping moving, preventing lee from controlling successfully.
lee won't allow Ryback to sweep him here.
Ryback looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four 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.
lee stands and throws Ryback's legs to the side, diving into side control.
lee in side control lands a decent elbow.
lee 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.
Ryback can't do much from the bottom here.
Ryback is looking for a sweep.
Ryback gets back to half guard.
Ryback controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Ryback is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce lee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ryback misses with a body shot

and lee counters with a shoot takedown. Ryback fights it but they end up in guard.
lee stands up over Ryback, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
lee throwing strikes but missing.
lee stands up over Ryback, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
lee scoring with some ground and pound.
Ryback controlling the position.
lee passes Ryback's left leg - he's now in half guard.
lee lands with a punch from half guard.
lee throwing shots but Ryback is blocking nicely.
Ryback is trying to defend against the ground and pound but lee scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ryback is trying to maintain the position but lee is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lee is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

lee seems to be looking for submissions.
Ryback is holding on to half guard well.
Ryback works his way to full guard. Good work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as lee accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
lee postures up.
lee sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ryback's guard.
lee is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ryback trying to hold on to lee's head to control him but lee postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
lee not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
lee working Ryback over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
lee passes the guard and advances to mount!
Ryback tries to hold on but lee postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, lee cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ryback is bucking up trying to escape but lee cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
lee has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ryback's face.

lee looking to secure an arm triangle but Ryback defends it well.
lee breaks from Ryback's wrist control and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

lee is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ryback has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ryback!
Ryback trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryback trying to control but lee is working from the bottom.
Ryback is looking to work some ground and pound but lee has wrist control.
Ryback trying to control but lee is working from the bottom.
Ryback is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ryback lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ryback trying to control but lee is working from the bottom.
Ryback has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ryback is really struggling to control lee but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Casey Ryback has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
lee shoots in for a takedown but Ryback shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ryback misses with a left hand
and lee cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Casey Ryback has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruce lee is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts lee, as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce lee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well lee 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce lee!