PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shaikh Ishaq (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mance Rayder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mance Rayder is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ishaq
vs
Rayder

172 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
195 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaikh Ishaq!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mance Rayder!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishaq misses with a low kick.

Ishaq feints and as Rayder raises his hands in defense, Ishaq changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rayder working a defensive guard here.
Ishaq wants to control from the top but Rayder keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rayder holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rayder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ishaq.
Rayder can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ishaq controls the pace.
Ishaq is looking to work some ground and pound but Rayder has wrist control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishaq trying to control but Rayder is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rayder throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ishaq appears to be looking for a big counter.
Ishaq wants to clinch but Rayder slips to the side
and Rayder counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ishaq with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rayder counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Ishaq closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ishaq lands in his opponent's guard.
Rayder is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ishaq slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayder tries to improve position but can't.
Ishaq trying to control the action but Rayder is working from the bottom.
Rayder parries the strikes from Ishaq easily there. Ishaq is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rayder to escape.

Ishaq has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ishaq throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rayder.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ishaq tries for a takedown but Rayder circles away easily
and Rayder counters with a straight right hand.
Ishaq takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ishaq darts in looking for a takedown but Rayder gets double underhooks and turns Ishaq into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaikh Ishaq. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ishaq wants to clinch
and Rayder counters with a nice uppercut.
Rayder throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice uppercut lands for Rayder. That snapped Ishaq's head back.
Rayder bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ishaq's head.
A big right from Rayder misses.
Ishaq tries for a takedown but Rayder circles away easily
and Rayder counters with a nice body shot.
Ishaq is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayder throws the kick towards the body but Ishaq avoids it.
Rayder has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ishaq fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rayder with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Shaikh Ishaq seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rayder throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ishaq on the side of the head.
Ishaq throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rayder counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rayder fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ishaq is out of range.
A jab lands there for Rayder.
Mance Rayder is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ishaq gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rayder counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ishaq thows a leg kick but Rayder checks it
enabling Rayder to counter with a crisp jab.

Rayder gets tackled into the cage by Ishaq. Ishaq maintains the clinch.

Ishaq jumps guard and drags Rayder to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ishaq avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rayder postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rayder preventing the sweep.

Rayder got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ishaq has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rayder has managed to get both his arms back between Ishaq's legs - danger averted.
Ishaq on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ishaq tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rayder throws a strike but Ishaq rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ishaq trying to control but Rayder is working from the bottom.
Ishaq would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayder has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Rayder working a defensive guard here.
Ishaq wants to pass the guard but Rayder is keeping the position.
Rayder pulls Ishaq in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mance Rayder seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Rayder. That snapped Ishaq's head back.
A clash of legs there as Ishaq blocks the low kick.
Rayder throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ishaq checks a leg kick.

Ishaq closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rayder quickly recovers to half guard.
Rayder controlling the position well.
Ishaq trying to control from half guard but Rayder is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayder has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ishaq is working away from the top position though.
Ishaq trying to control the action but Rayder is working from the bottom.
Ishaq tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Rayder tries to roll over but Ishaq keeps him under control.

That's four 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.
Rayder is staying active underneath Ishaq, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A swing and a miss from Rayder.
Rayder lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ishaq slips a jab from Rayder.
Ishaq looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ishaq darts in trying to clinch
and Rayder counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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 Shaikh Ishaq will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rayder blocks a head kick by Ishaq.
Rayder is trying to counter with his kicks.
Ishaq checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ishaq tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rayder paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ishaq throws a wild body kick that Rayder sees coming a mile off.
Rayder flicks out a counter leg kick but Ishaq steps away.
Ishaq with a poor takedown
and Rayder connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rayder blocks the body kick.
Rayder feints a counter leg kick.
Ishaq misses with a double jab
and Rayder counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rayder lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ishaq has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ishaq and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A low kick from Ishaq is predictable there
and Rayder counters with a stiff right hand.
Ishaq with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rayder counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rayder has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayder lands with a right hand.
Ishaq shoots and misses
enabling Rayder to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaikh Ishaq. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ishaq fails with the takedown
and Rayder counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rayder attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rayder throws the kick towards the body but Ishaq avoids it.
Ishaq closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rayder counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rayder thuds a left hand into Ishaq's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayder throws out a leg kick but Ishaq moves out of range and Rayder only half commits.
Ishaq misses with a body kick.
Rayder darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rayder throws a leg kick but Ishaq moved away.
Ishaq is looking to counter with a body kick.
Rayder throws a low kick, looking for Ishaq's leg but Ishaq calmly moves out of range.
Rayder fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rayder works the jab nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rayder scores with a jab.
Rayder misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayder scores with a one two! Ishaq had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Ishaq is rocked!
An inside leg kick from Rayder misses.
Rayder looks to land a left hand but Ishaq moved out of range nicely.
Ishaq darts in trying to clinch
and Ishaq takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Oh Ishaq is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rayder fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ishaq seems to have got his legs back now.
Ishaq loads up on a big right hand but Rayder slips the punch.
Shaikh Ishaq is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rayder pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ishaq back to the cage. Rayder follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishaq throws a body punch but Rayder moves out of range.
Rayder is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ishaq with a body shot.
Rayder lands with an overhand left.
Rayder lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rayder pounces like a tiger and cracks Ishaq with a vicious hook! Ishaq is down but not out! Rayder follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Mance Rayder!
Mance Rayder was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.