PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Arenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denny Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Arenas
vs
Ryan

173 cm
19
165 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nicolas Arenas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denny Ryan!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arenas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ryan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Arenas back to the cage. Ryan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Ryan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ryan lands a right hand.
Ryan gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arenas.

Ryan jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Ryan has his foot on Arenas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Arenas works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arenas is looking to stand up but Ryan won't let him.
Ryan controlling the position.
Ryan is trying to control the position but Arenas postures up.
Arenas tries to stand but Ryan is controlling from the bottom.

Ryan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arenas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Arenas postures up.

Ryan is looking for a triangle but Arenas pushes his legs off easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arenas tries to stand but Ryan is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan trying to keep a closed guard but Arenas is proving a slippery customer.
Arenas trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.
Ryan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ryan is on top in guard.
Ryan wants to stand but Arenas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Ryan won't allow Arenas to get back to his feet.
Ryan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Arenas is not content to let Ryan control the position.
Ryan is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Arenas's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arenas is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ryan is controlling him well.
Ryan throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Ryan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arenas keeps working.
Arenas pushes Ryan away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ryan gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
A lull in the action here.
Ryan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ryan tries for a kimura but Arenas is defending well.
Arenas wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Ryan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan working the ground and pound.
Arenas is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Arenas is not content to let Ryan control the position.

Ryan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ryan wants to control but Arenas is keeping him busy.
Ryan tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ryan trying to control the position but Arenas is working away.
Arenas dodges the ground and pound from Ryan.
Arenas is pushing Ryan's head away, looking to escape. Ryan manages to hold on to the position though.
Ryan looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Arenas is avoiding damage well.
Arenas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ryan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ryan is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Arenas will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ryan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ryan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Arenas has escaped the position, nice work there.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Ryan dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ryan closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Ryan on the inside.
Arenas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ryan after a bit of a struggle.
Ryan scores with a shoulder strike.
Arenas takes a shot to the head.
Arenas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Arenas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ryan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ryan.
Ryan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ryan gets through Arenas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ryan lands an uppercut.
Ryan throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Arenass head.
Arenas is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Arenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ryan lands a nice uppercut.
Ryan scores with a shoulder strike.
Ryan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ryan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Ryan breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ryan lands in his opponent's guard.
Ryan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arenas is keeping the position for now.
Arenas wants to stand up but Ryan is controlling him.
Ryan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ryan stops Arenas from standing up.
Ryan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ryan is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ryan with a nice cross.
Nicolas Arenas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Ryan rushes Arenas and presses him up against the cage.
Arenas tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ryan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Arenas enables Ryan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Arenas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ryan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ryan lands a couple of digs.
Ryan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Denny Ryan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ryan tries to bum rush Arenas with a series of wild strikes but Arenas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arenas misses with a few strikes there.

Ryan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Arenas, pushing him back against the cage.

Ryan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ryan scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Nicolas Arenas has been cut.
Sloppy strikes from Arenas. Those never looked like landing.

Arenas gets tackled into the cage by Ryan. Ryan maintains the clinch.
Arenas has Ryan pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ryan manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ryan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ryan creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ryan pushes Arenas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ryan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Arenas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Arenas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ryan lands a nice uppercut.

Ryan breaks from the clinch.
Arenas throws a jab but it's blocked by Ryan.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Still in the clinch, Ryan scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ryan lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Ryan manages to pull guard.
Arenas postures up.
Arenas is looking to stand up but Ryan won't let him.
Ryan throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Ryan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Arenas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Arenas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ryan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arenas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ryan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Arenas defends well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ryan striking off his back but it's not causing Arenas any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Ryan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nicolas Arenas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Arenas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Arenas. Those never looked like landing.
Ryan misses with a wild combination.
Denny Ryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arenas throws a series of punches but Ryan avoids them all with ease.

Ryan moves into range and clinches up with Arenas.
Ryan working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Ryan successfully pulls guard.
Ryan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Arenas wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.

Ryan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Arenas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ryan looking for a guillotine here but Arenas defends easily.
Arenas wanted to stand there but Ryan had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryan looking for a guillotine here but Arenas defends easily.
Arenas trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Arenas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ryan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Arenas has managed to get both his arms back between Ryan's legs - danger averted.

Ryan is looking for a triangle but Arenas pushes his legs off easily.
Ryan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Arenas wanted to stand there but Ryan had control of the position.
Nicolas Arenas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arenas is looking to work some ground and pound but Ryan has wrist control.
Ryan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ryan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Ryan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Arenas is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Arenas and Ryan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ryan in side control lands a decent elbow.
Arenas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ryan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ryan tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ryan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Denny Ryan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arenas is being controlled here.
Denny Ryan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arenas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ryan asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Arenas trying to remain calm as Ryan controls from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Denny Ryan has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Arenas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ryan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from Arenas. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Ryan catches Arenas right on the button with a cross.
Arenas throws a right and a left that Ryan avoids nicely.
Arenas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Arenas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ryan dodges the punch combination from Arenas.

Ryan drives through and clinches with Arenas against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Ryan scores with a nice short uppercut.

Ryan pulls Arenas into guard.
Ryan pulls Arenas in close to prevent any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denny Ryan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ryan 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

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