PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Collen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zachary Sawyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ryan Collen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Collen
vs
Sawyer

160 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

160 cm
18
175 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple 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 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Collen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zachary Sawyer!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Collen misses with a takedown

and Sawyer counters with a shoot takedown. Collen fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Sawyer stands and steps away. Collen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Collen really is a fat lump.

Sawyer drives through with a takedown into guard.
Collen working a defensive guard here.

Sawyer stands and steps away. Collen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Collen tries to sprawl but Sawyer drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Collen wants to improve his position but Sawyer is controlling well.
Sawyer wants to stand but Collen has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Sawyer is trying to control the action in half guard but Collen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sawyer thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sawyer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Collen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Collen tries to roll over but Sawyer keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sawyer in particular looking to stall.
Sawyer prevents Collen from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sawyer decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Collen enables Sawyer to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Collen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sawyer advances position into side control!

Sawyer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Collen pushes Sawyer away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sawyer gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collen stops Sawyer from passing to mount.
Sawyer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Collen keeps working.
Sawyer moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Collen is looking to reverse the position.

Sawyer tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Collen is trying to control Sawyer's posture but Sawyer avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collen is looking to reverse the position.
Collen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sawyer on the ground.

Sawyer decides to stand up, so the ref orders Collen to his feet.
Collen is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Collen wants to clinch.
Sawyer shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Sawyer dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sawyer fails with a takedown attempt.
Ryan Collen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Collen stuffs the takedown.
Collen with a poor takedown

and Sawyer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sawyer.
Collen misses with the head strike.
Collen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Sawyer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Collen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sawyer circles away.
Collen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sawyer is fending him off so far but Collen persists. Nope, Sawyer circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Collen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sawyer fails with the takedown.
Sawyer blocks a head kick by Collen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sawyer clinches up with Collen and pushes him back against the cage.

Collen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sawyer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sawyer tries to close the distance and clinch up but Collen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Collen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sawyer shoots in but Collen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sawyer fails with the takedown.
Sawyer is breathing heavily.
Sawyer is looking to clinch but Collen is avoiding it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Collen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Collen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sawyer somewhat.
Sawyer dives in and grabs Collen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Collen pushes down on Sawyer's head and hops out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Collen is defended easily by Sawyer.

Collen feints and as Sawyer raises his hands in defense, Collen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sawyer is controlling Collen's posture.
Sawyer wants to sweep here but Collen controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sawyer is retaining full guard.
Sawyer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sawyer keeping moving, preventing Collen from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sawyer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Collen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sawyer swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Collen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sawyer swivels and escapes.
Nice takedown defense from Collen. No joy for Sawyer on that attempt.
Sawyer tries to bum rush Collen with a series of wild strikes but Collen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Collen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sawyer throws a leg kick but Collen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Collen as Sawyer shoots in.

Collen pushes Sawyer up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Collen breaks the clinch.
Collen tries for a takedown but Sawyer circles away easily

and Sawyer counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sawyer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ryan Collen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Collen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A punch combination from Sawyer misses.
Sawyer shoots in looking for a takedown but Collen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sawyer's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sawyer throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sawyer looks for a takedown but Collen sprawls well.

Collen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Collen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Collen decides to stand back up.
Sawyer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Collen has managed to clinch.
Collen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sawyer fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ryan Collen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Sawyer.
The referee calls for Collen to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collen gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Collen managing to block the knees to the body from Sawyer.
Sawyer tries to land knees in the clinch but Collen avoids the damage to the body.
Sawyer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Collen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sawyer pulls guard successfully.
Sawyer keeping moving, preventing Collen from controlling successfully.
Collen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collen trying to control but Sawyer is working from the bottom.
Collen preventing the sweep.
Sawyer is trying to keep Collen in close.
Collen advances to half guard.
Sawyer is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sawyer wants to control but Collen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sawyer tries to get to full guard but Collen has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Collen wants to stand but Sawyer has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Sawyer is defending against the submission attempts here by Collen.
Sawyer manages to get to full guard.
Sawyer wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawyer working a defensive guard here.

Sawyer is looking for a triangle but Collen pushes his legs off easily.
Sawyer wants to get back to his feet but Collen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Collen wants to stand but Sawyer has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ryan Collen.
I think Collen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ryan Collen!