PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Ryske (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Ryske has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bryan Bernard's chin.

Bernard
vs
Ryske

153 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Ryske!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, William Peck and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryske tries to clinch up but Bernard circles away and keeps his distance.
Bernard tries to counter with a takedown but Ryske is quick to defend against it.
Bernard really is a fat lump.
Bernard stuffs the takedown attempt from Ryske. Ryske gets slowly back to his feet.
Bernard feinted with a counter takedown.

Bernard clinches up with Ryske and pushes him back against the cage.

Bernard pulls guard.
Ryske trying to control the position from guard on top but Bernard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bernard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bernard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bernard throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ryske escapes and throws Bernard's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryske stands up and beckons Bernard to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Bernard as Ryske shoots in.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt.

Bernard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ryske looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ryske struggling a bit here.

Bernard stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ryske fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bryan Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Ryske.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard slips under a jab from Ryske.
Bernard swats away the attempt to clinch by Ryske.

Ryske closes the distance and pushes Bernard back into the cage.

Bernard manages to break the clinch.

Bernard clinches with his opponent.
Bernard is trying to force a seperation but Ryske has the dominant position.
Ryske tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bernard just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bernard decides to pull guard.
Bernard is adopting a defensive guard.
Bernard is trying to keep Ryske in close.
Ryske wants to control from the top but Bernard keeps moving.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Bernard manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Bernard jumps guard and drags Ryske to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ryske trying to control but Bernard is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bernard has his foot on Ryske's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ryske works his way back into a safe position though.
Ryske stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bernard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bernard is adopting a defensive guard.

Bernard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ryske stands up and waves to Bernard to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bernard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bernard pushes Ryske up against the cage in a clinch.

Bernard pulls guard effortlessly.
Bernard keeping moving, preventing Ryske from controlling successfully.
Bernard wants to sweep here but Ryske controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryske throws a big right hand that misses.
Bernard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ryske advances to half guard.
Ryske is thwarting Bernard's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard is not content to let Ryske control the position.
Ryske working the head and body with strikes.
Ryske trying to control the action but Bernard is working from the bottom.
Ryske wants to pass to mount but Bernard is defending the position.
Ryske is keen to just control but Bernard is a slippery customer.
Bernard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ryske can do to turn this around?
Bernard trying to control here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.
Ryske prevents Bernard from improving his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Ryske shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bernard punching from the bottom.

Ryske is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ryske not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bernard looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bernard moves into full guard.
Ryske works over Bernard with some ground and pound from guard.
Ryske postures up.

That's four 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.
Bernard controlling the position.
Ryske wants to control from the top but Bernard keeps moving.
Bernard is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ryske misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bernard.
Ryske is looking to clinch.

Bernard gets a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ryske gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bernard.
Bernard tries to pull guard but Ryske forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Ryske showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bernard clinches.

Bernard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ryske fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ryske tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bernard defends well and Ryske ends up having to push Bernard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Bernard. No joy for Ryske on that attempt.
Bryan Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Ryske.
Bernard circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryske gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bernard holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ryske manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryske misses with a wild combination.
Bernard swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Ryske takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ryske shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bernard sprawls well. Bernard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ryske gets slowly back to his feet.

Bernard has managed to clinch.

Ryske's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas Ryske seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryske misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryske misses with a takedown

and Bernard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bernard.
Ryske is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Ryske is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bernard is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ryske to the mat. Ryske regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bernard wants to get up but he can't break Ryske's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bryan Bernard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bernard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bernard working some strikes from top position.
Bernard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ryske is proving hard to escape from.

Ryske escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bernard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bernard landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ryske is proving hard to escape from.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ryske just misses with a punch to the body.

Bernard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bernard misses with an elbow strike.

Bernard manages to pull guard.

Bernard has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ryske is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Bernard tightens his grip and picks Ryske up, before dumping him to the ground. Ryske manages to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard postures up.
Bernard wants to stand but Ryske has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bernard distracts Ryske with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ryske lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Bernard has control of Ryske's left arm, preventing Ryske from doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Bernard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bernard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Bernard!