PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erick Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riaan le Roux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Bryan
vs
le Roux

184 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
198 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

NUT UP or SHUT UP (153q Rec. /$20)

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 2 - 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, Riaan le Roux!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Thiago Cunha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and le Roux counters with a shoot takedown. Bryan fights it but they end up in guard.
le Roux postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
le Roux stands and throws Bryan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
le Roux landing a few strikes.
le Roux content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Bryan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bryan is looking to regain half guard here but le Roux keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Bryan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
le Roux advances nicely into full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
le Roux controlling the pace for now.
It looks like le Roux might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

le Roux goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bryan is on top in guard.
Bryan tries to free his leg and advance position but le Roux is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bryan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but le Roux manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bryan has le Roux in his guard.
Bryan wants to control but le Roux passes easily into half guard.
le Roux working Bryan over with strikes.
le Roux scoring with strikes to the body and head.
le Roux looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
le Roux's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
le Roux lands with a punch from half guard.
le Roux with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bryan is trying to maintain the position but le Roux is very close to passing his half guard.
le Roux scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bryan is looking to control le Roux's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bryan avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

and le Roux counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bryan's guard now.
le Roux stays in close to Bryan's body and controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Riaan le Roux wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bryan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and le Roux counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bryan won't be happy with that.
Bryan is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
le Roux controlling from side mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bryan tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but le Roux presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riaan le Roux dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bryan misses with a takedown

and le Roux counters with a takedown into side control.
le Roux is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bryan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

le Roux has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Bryan is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. le Roux yanks on the arm and Bryan is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by le Roux.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Riaan le Roux!