PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Casey Ryback (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blue Belt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Ryback
vs
Belt

195 cm
29
280 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

187 cm
23
256 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Casey Ryback!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Blue Belt!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belt darts in and clinches Ryback up against the cage.
Belt tries to break the clinch but Ryback is controlling the position.

Belt decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ryback lands a couple of digs.
Ryback loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ryback stopping the sweep attempt from Belt.

Belt is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ryback postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Belt is looking to sweep but instead, Ryback has passed into half guard.

Ryback is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Belt has managed to free his arm - good work.
Belt tries to get to full guard but Ryback has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belt is still trying to improve position.
Belt is trying to maintain the position but Ryback is very close to passing his half guard.
Belt manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryback got a little sloppy there for a moment and Belt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ryback has managed to get both his arms back between Belt's legs - danger averted.
Belt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ryback is concentrating on defense, preventing Belt from advancing position.
Ryback is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Belt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Belt's back!
Ryback throwing sloppy strikes.
Ryback controlling well, preventing Belt from escaping the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryback missing with strikes from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ryback working for the choke.
Belt trying to control the hands but Ryback won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryback connects with a big shot to the side of Belt's head.
Ryback is trying to stick to Belt's back but Belt is turning into Ryback. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ryback's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Belt.
Belt postures up in Ryback's guard and throws a big left but Ryback blocks it.

Belt is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Belt won't allow Ryback to sweep him here.
Ryback trying to keep a closed guard but Belt is proving a slippery customer.
Belt is looking to work some ground and pound but Ryback has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belt postures up in Ryback's guard and throws a big left but Ryback blocks it.
Belt throws a strike but Ryback rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Belt working a defensive guard but Ryback manages to pass into side control anyway.
Ryback is looking to take a break and control but Belt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Belt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryback creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belt misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Belt misses with the combination.
Belt shoots in for a takedown but Ryback shows good takedown defense.
Belt moves away from the strike by Ryback.
Belt takes one on the button.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Belt enables Ryback to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Belt manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Belt wants to sweep here but Ryback controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belt is on top in guard.
Belt looking to pass the guard.

Belt avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Belt throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryback is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Belt felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Belt is looking to improve his position.
Ryback is trying to control the action in half guard but Belt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Belt looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ryback is taking a breather. Belt 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.
Belt is staying active underneath Ryback, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Belt trying to hold on to Ryback's head to control him but Ryback postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryback lands strikes from half guard.
Belt is trying to control but can't.
Ryback working the head and body with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Belt tries to roll over but Ryback keeps him under control.
Ryback is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Belt!
Ryback trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Belt is desperately trying to improve his position but Ryback has a good base and remains in mount.
Belt tries to hold on but Ryback postures up.
Belt sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt trying to hold on to Ryback's head to control him but Ryback postures up.
Casey Ryback overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ryback is working for a submission of some sort.
Ryback keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Ryback slips a nice elbow through Belt's hands, connecting with Belt's forehead.
Ryback missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Ryback is working for a submission of some sort.

Belt looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belt trying to control but Ryback postures up.
Ryback is keen to just control but Belt is a slippery customer.

Belt looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ryback trying to mount his opponent but Belt defends it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryback is keen to just control but Belt is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Ryback dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Belt is looking to land body kicks.
Belt looks to clinch

and Ryback counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Belt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryback is one step ahead there.
Ryback throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Belt thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Belt manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Belt throwing strikes here but Ryback is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ryback is desperately trying to improve his position but Belt has a good base and remains in mount.
Ryback wants to hold on but Belt pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belt unloading with bombs!
Belt lands a nice shot to the head.
Ryback tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ryback manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Ryback is defending against the submission attempts here by Belt.

Ryback looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Belt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ryback has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belt looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ryback manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ryback looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belt is one step ahead there.
Belt throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belt postures up in Ryback's guard and throws a big left but Ryback blocks it.
Belt throws a big elbow that misses.
Belt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ryback avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ryback managing to control the position.
Belt lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Belt forces his way into half guard.
Ryback wants to control but Belt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Belt wants to advance to full mount but Ryback doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Belt throwing strikes from guard but Ryback blocks nicely.
Belt pushing down on Ryback's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Belt thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ryback has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Belt is working away from the top position though.

Belt is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ryback sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryback on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Blue Belt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryback wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blue Belt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ryback 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Casey Ryback!
During a confident post fight interview, Casey Ryback thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.