PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Fairfax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Cullen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cullen
vs
Fairfax

178 cm
22
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

158 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BC FightWear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Cullen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sammy Fairfax!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danga de danga de dang - Fairfax scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Ryan Cullen has been cut.
Cullen takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Cullen is rocked!
Fairfax doesn't manage to clinch there - Cullen circles away.
Oh Cullen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nice sprawl there from Cullen as Fairfax shoots in.

Fairfax gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Fairfax has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cullen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cullen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cullen seems to have got his legs back now.
Cullen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fairfax keeping moving, preventing Cullen from controlling successfully.

Cullen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Fairfax dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fairfax passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Cullen moves into full guard.
Cullen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fairfax!
Cullen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Cullen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Fairfax because Cullen loaded up on that one.
Fairfax is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cullen has hold of Fairfax's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Fairfax manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Fairfax avoids a series of strikes thrown by Cullen.
Cullen wants to control the action but instead Fairfax gets a body lock and reverses into Cullen's guard! Nice work!
Cullen is trying to keep Fairfax in close.
Fairfax trying to control but Cullen is working from the bottom.
Cullen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fairfax postures up in Cullen's guard and throws a big left but Cullen blocks it.
Cullen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fairfax's guard.
Cullen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fairfax is keeping the position for now.
Fairfax is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cullen dives into side control.
The strikes coming from Cullen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cullen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cullen wants to control but Fairfax is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cullen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Fairfax's legs.

Cullen swings around for an armbar but Fairfax sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Cullen's guard.
Cullen is breathing heavily.
Cullen looking for a sweep. Not yet Cullen, not yet.

Cullen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fairfax postures up in Cullen's guard and throws a big left but Cullen blocks it.
Fairfax is looking to stand up but Cullen won't let him.
Fairfax content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cullen is trying to keep Fairfax in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ryan Cullen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryan Cullen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Fairfax pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Fairfax moves into the clinch successfully.
Cullen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Fairfax smiles and moves away.
Cullen shoots in and drives through. Fairfax sprawls well.
Fairfax throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fairfax throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fairfax throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Fairfax gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fairfax keeping full guard, as Cullen tries to pass.
Cullen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fairfax is keeping the position for now.
Fairfax looking for a sweep. Not yet Fairfax, not yet.
Cullen trying to control but Fairfax is working from the bottom.
Cullen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Fairfax is looking to stand up but Cullen isn't so interested in that idea.
Cullen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fairfax controls Cullen momentarily but Cullen frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fairfax misses with a takedown attempt

and Cullen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cullen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cullen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cullen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cullen trying to control but Fairfax is working from the bottom.
Cullen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen wants to pass the guard but Fairfax is keeping the position.
Cullen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
No luck for Cullen with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Cullen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cullen blocks a head kick by Fairfax.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Fairfax has eaten all the pies!
Cullen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fairfax.

Cullen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Cullen is working for a kimura but Fairfax is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cullen stalling away here and it's allowed Fairfax to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Fairfax is trying to keep Cullen in close.
Fairfax throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cullen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fairfax is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Cullen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Cullen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fairfax misses with a combination

and Cullen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Fairfax's guard now.
Ryan Cullen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fairfax preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cullen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Cullen throwing strikes but missing.
Cullen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Cullen is pushing down on Fairfax's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fairfax is fighting to maintain full guard but Cullen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cullen wants to pass the guard but Fairfax is defending well.
Cullen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cullen throwing shots but Fairfax is blocking nicely.
Cullen trying to control the action but Fairfax is working from the bottom.
Fairfax trying to control but Cullen postures up.

Cullen seems to be looking for submissions.
Fairfax keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Fairfax is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cullen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cullen's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cullen tries to escape the position.
Fairfax loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Cullen hold on?
Fairfax controlling well, preventing Cullen from escaping the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fairfax's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Cullen wants to escape the position.
Fairfax is looking to control Cullen but Cullen is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cullen has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
The referee is taking a good look at Cullen as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Fairfax!
Fairfax trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Cullen breaks Fairfax's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cullen works a leg free and moves into half guard.

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.
Fairfax avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Cullen.

Cullen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cullen is looking to stall here but Fairfax recovers full guard.
Fairfax keeping moving, preventing Cullen from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cullen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Cullen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cullen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight for Ryan Cullen!
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight for Ryan Cullen!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Ryan Cullen!

Ryan Cullen wins by unanimous decision!