PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Casey Ryback (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kinfe Kidane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kidane is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Buraka Som Sistema - Kalemba (wegue wegue). Casey Ryback has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ryback
vs
Kidane

195 cm
31
280 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

196 cm
28
261 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

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 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Casey Ryback!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kinfe Kidane!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryback throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ryback.
That kick from Kidane tenderised Ryback's leg. Ryback is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ryback is looking to land body kicks.
Kidane fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ryback throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Kidane to counter with a crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Kidane.
Ryback throws a shot to the body.
Ryback looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ryback tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ryback misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ryback is looking to chop away at Kidane's legs.
Kidane avoids the head kick by Ryback.
Ryback tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kidane sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ryback somewhat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kidane. Ryback does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryback fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ryback goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kidane moves out of range of the leg kick from Ryback.
Ryback misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kidane.
Kidane tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ryback manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Casey Ryback seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryback lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ryback blocks the body kick.
A lazy body kick from Kidane

so Ryback counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ryback advances to half guard.
Ryback not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryback is taking a breather. Kidane 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 crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ryback is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Kidane to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Ryback 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.
Ryback tries to free his leg and advance position but Kidane is retaining full guard.
Ryback throws a big right hand that misses.
Kidane avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryback looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryback stops Kidane from standing up.
Kidane is looking to stand back up but Ryback counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kidane.
Ryback seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kidane does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ryback tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kidane knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ryback prevents Kidane from standing back up.
Ryback not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryback with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ryback is trying to control the action in half guard but Kidane is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ryback is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kidane looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ryback trying to mount his opponent but Kidane defends it.
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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ryback motions for Kidane to come forward. Ryback throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Ryback misses the target.
Kidane chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ryback can pounce on him.
Kidane moves to clinch but Ryback breaks away

and Ryback counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ryback.
Kidane utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ryback wants to control from the top but Kidane keeps moving.
Ryback stands and throws Kidane's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kidane is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ryback has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ryback wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kidane keeps working.
Ryback lands a decent elbow from side control.
Ryback trying to control the position but Kidane is working away.

Ryback is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kidane knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
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.
Ryback fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kidane really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ryback. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ryback prevents Kidane from escaping the position.
Ryback throws an elbow but Kidane slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ryback in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kidane is trying to buck Ryback off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryback wants to control for a moment but Kidane uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Ryback tries to pass to full mount but Kidane defends it.
Kidane wants to get back to his feet.
Ryback slows the pace down in half guard.
Ryback wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kidane keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casey Ryback overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ryback looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kidane looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ryback trying to control from half guard but Kidane is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Casey Ryback has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ryback keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Casey Ryback dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Ryback misses.
Kidane bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ryback's head.
Ryback fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kidane manages to avoid it.
Ryback keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick by Ryback misses
and Kidane counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ryback throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ryback scores with a hook to the body. Kidane takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Some wild striking there from Kidane.
Ryback misses with a right hand
letting Kidane counter with a right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ryback tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kidane is able to avoid easily.
Ryback tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kidane sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ryback somewhat.
Ryback throws a body punch but Kidane moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kidane clinches up against the cage.
Kidane misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ryback drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kidane gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ryback throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kidane takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ryback tries a knee to the head but Kidane blocks it.

Ryback decides to pull guard.
Ryback lands some strikes from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryback looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kidane passes into half guard.
Kidane is looking to pass Ryback's guard but actually Ryback recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidane trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryback is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kidane accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kidane pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ryback is keeping the position for now.

Ryback has his foot on Kidane's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kidane works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidane is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Kinfe Kidane has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ryback works Kidane's body with a nice hook.
Kinfe Kidane has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kinfe Kidane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kidane fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ryback is out of range.
Ryback just misses with a punch to the body.
Kidane tries a low kick but Ryback avoids it.

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 Casey Ryback.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ryback, 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Casey Ryback!
An out of breath Casey Ryback thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.