PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Belcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sau Minneo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minneo has chosen PowerTrip by Monster Magnet as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Belcher
vs
Minneo

175 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Belcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sau Minneo!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Lou da Vinci and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belcher keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Minneo walks into a jab.
Minneo closes the distance and clinches up with Belcher, looking for a takedown. Minneo pushes Belcher against the cage but Belcher circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Minneo fails to land the takedown.
Ryan Belcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sau Minneo.
Belcher stuffs the takedown attempt from Minneo. Minneo gets slowly back to his feet.
Belcher throws a body kick that misses.

Belcher closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Minneo's guard.
Belcher's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Belcher drops back looking for a leg! Minneo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Minneo manages to kick Belcher off! Belcher jumps back into Minneo's guard.
Belcher knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Minneo on the ground.
Belcher controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ryan Belcher just wasn't active enough.

Belcher closes the distance and clinches.
Minneo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Belcher is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minneo pulls guard successfully.

Minneo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Belcher can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belcher is stalling in the full guard.
Belcher stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Minneo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Belcher avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Minneo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher content to stall in guard here.
Minneo looking to control.
Belcher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Minneo looking for a guillotine here but Belcher defends easily.
Minneo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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

Belcher scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Belcher really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Belcher is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Minneo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Belcher controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Belcher dominated that round.
That's time! Belcher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Belcher leaves Minneo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Minneo shoots in looking for a takedown but Belcher manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Minneo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Belcher gets a takedown into half guard.
Belcher controlling the action here.
Minneo wants to control but Belcher is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher is taking a breather. Minneo says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ryan Belcher just wasn't active enough.
Minneo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Belcher sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Minneo somewhat.
Ryan Belcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sau Minneo.
Minneo tries to clinch there but Belcher circles away.
Belcher walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Minneo checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Minneo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Belcher circles away.

Minneo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Belcher to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ryan Belcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Minneo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Belcher pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Minneo is keeping the position for now.
Belcher wants to stand but Minneo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minneo can't keep his opponent in guard - Belcher advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minneo regains full guard. Nicely done.

Minneo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Belcher defends well.
Belcher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Belcher not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belcher stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Minneo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Belcher sprawls well. Belcher wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Minneo gets slowly back to his feet.

Belcher has managed to clinch.
Belcher tries to break the clinch but Minneo is controlling the position.
Belcher has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Minneo leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Minneo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Belcher to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Belcher dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Minneo fails with the takedown

and Belcher moves into the clinch.
Minneo is trying to pull guard but Belcher turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Minneo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Belcher is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ryan Belcher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sau Minneo.
Belcher stalling in the clinch.
Minneo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belcher pulls his leg out and moves away.

Belcher rushes Minneo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Minneo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Minneo being controlled against the cage.

Minneo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Belcher stands up from Minneo's guard - Belcher perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minneo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Minneo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Belcher pinned against the cage. Belcher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Minneo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Belcher lands a nice shot to the body.
Minneo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Belcher defends it nicely.

Belcher is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Minneo's half guard.
Belcher sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belcher has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Belcher gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minneo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Belcher swivels and escapes.
Sau Minneo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Belcher gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Belcher decides to pull guard.
Belcher managing to control the position.
Minneo trying to control but Belcher is working from the bottom.
Belcher 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher is working hard here to advance position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Belcher keeping moving, preventing Minneo from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sau Minneo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Minneo misses with a takedown attempt - Belcher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Belcher drives through with a takedown into guard.
Belcher missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sau Minneo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belcher looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Belcher showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Belcher has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Belcher!