PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Welch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kto Rycerz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kto Rycerz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Welch
vs
Rycerz

190 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
130 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruce Welch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kto Rycerz!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rycerz shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Welch defends it nicely.
A left and a right from Rycerz both land. Nice combination.

Welch gets tackled into the cage by Rycerz. Rycerz maintains the clinch.
Welch is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rycerz is defending well.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rycerz.
Rycerz utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rycerz tries to pull guard but Welch forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Welch throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rycerzs head.
Rycerz jumps guard but Welch turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bruce Welch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kto Rycerz.

Welch is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rycerz is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Welch to the mat. Welch regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Welch pushes Rycerz off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch leaves Rycerz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Welch tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Rycerz manages to circle out of the way.
Welch really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rycerz shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Welch is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Rycerz.
Rycerz thuds his shin into the meat of Welch's side.
Rycerz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Welch sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rycerz looks winded!

Welch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rycerz, pushing him back against the cage.
Welch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rycerz just stands there and leans against the cage.
Welch throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rycerz gets underhooks to prevent Welch's takedown attempt.
Rycerz jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Welch walks away with a smile on his face. Rycerz gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Welch blocks a head kick by Rycerz.
Welch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rycerz shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rycerz pushes Welch up against the cage in a clinch.
Rycerz tries to pull guard but Welch won't allow it.
Welch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rycerz prevents it.

Welch manages to break the clinch.
Rycerz shoots in for a takedown but Welch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rycerz doesn't manage to clinch there - Welch circles away.
Kto Rycerz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A cross from Welch lands.
Welch loads up on a big right hand but Rycerz slips the punch.
Welch moves out of range as Rycerz throws a body kick.
Welch tries to counter by clinching up but Rycerz breaks away and moves out of range.

Welch forces Rycerz back against the cage and clinches.
Rycerz tries to circle away but Welch has him pinned against the cage.

Rycerz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Welch shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rycerz's guard.
Welch distracts Rycerz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Welch wanted to stand there but Rycerz had control of the position.
Welch makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Rycerz is looking for a triangle but Welch pushes his legs off easily.
Welch lands a couple of digs.
Welch scoring with punches to the head and body.
Welch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Rycerz is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Welch lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Rycerz has his foot on Welch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Welch works his way back into a safe position though.
Welch working some strikes from top position.

Rycerz is working an open guard so Welch takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rycerz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Welch counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Welch closes the distance and pushes Rycerz back into the cage.
Welch lands a left hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welch has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rycerz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Welch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rycerz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Welch sprawls well. Welch wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rycerz gets slowly back to his feet.

Welch has managed to clinch.
Welch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rycerz pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rycerz is pushing Welch up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Welch dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rycerz fails with the takedown.
Welch seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Bruce Welch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Welch closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Welch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rycerz just stands there and leans against the cage.

Rycerz breaks from the clinch.
Rycerz shoots in for a takedown but Welch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Welch leaves Rycerz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bruce Welch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kto Rycerz.
Rycerz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rycerz is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Welch clinches.
Welch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rycerz can do to turn this around?

Welch tightens his grip and picks Rycerz up, before dumping him to the ground. Rycerz manages to land in guard.
Welch 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.
Welch is working Rycerz over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Welch lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Welch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Welch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rycerz's head.
Welch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rycerz's head.
Welch landing some decent shots from guard.
Welch lands a couple of digs.
Rycerz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bruce Welch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rycerz wants to stand and escape but Welch is having none of it.
Welch connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Welch with a nice head shot there.
Welch postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Welch working some strikes from top position.
Welch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Welch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rycerz's head.
Welch works over Rycerz with some ground and pound from guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rycerz is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rycerz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Welch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Welch wants to stand and escape but Rycerz is having none of it.
Welch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rycerz is one step ahead there.
Welch is working hard here to advance position.
Rycerz wants to stand but Welch has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Welch is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rycerz is controlling him.
Welch is controlling Rycerz's posture.
Welch trying to control the position.
Rycerz preventing the sweep.
Rycerz with a flurry of punches that miss.

Rycerz drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rycerz jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Welch is pulling down on Rycerz's head. It's preventing any offense from Rycerz, at least for the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Welch is looking to clinch but Rycerz is avoiding it.
Rycerz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rycerz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Welch pinned against the cage. Welch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Welch takes the fight into the clinch.
Welch is looking to take this one to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Rycerz is fighting off a takedown attempt but Welch is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rycerz to the mat. Rycerz regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Rycerz uses the cage to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Welch dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bruce Welch is winning the standup battle so far.

Welch shoots in and bounces Rycerz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Welch lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rycerz wants to stand but Welch is controlling the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Welch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Welch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Welch forces Rycerz back against the cage and clinches.

Rycerz jumps into guard, dragging Welch to the mat.
Welch content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rycerz has a closed guard, preventing Welch from standing up.

Rycerz is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Welch defends well.
Welch scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rycerz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch with a nice head shot there.
Welch scoring with some ground and pound.

Rycerz had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Welch defends it easily.
Welch with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Welch lands a couple of elbows.
Welch cracks Rycerz with a solid left hand.
Welch cracks Rycerz with a solid left hand.
Welch postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Welch with a nice head shot there.
Welch is in close to Rycerz's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Welch keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rycerz's head.
Welch lands a couple of digs.
Welch wants to stand but Rycerz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rycerz has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Welch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rycerz has momentary wrist control but Welch slips an elbow through the middle.
Welch distracts Rycerz with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Welch scoring with some ground and pound.
Welch wants to stand but Rycerz has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Welch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Welch is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Welch is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Rycerz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Welch is aware though and is defending well.
Rycerz has momentary wrist control but Welch slips an elbow through the middle.
Welch content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Welch landing some decent shots from guard.
Welch lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Welch working some strikes from top position.
Welch landing some decent shots from guard.
Welch lands a couple of elbows.

Welch stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Welch looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Rycerz!

Welch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rycerz knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Welch tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rycerz is working to avoid the ground and pound but Welch connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Welch lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Welch decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rycerz to his feet.
Rycerz closes the distance and clinches up with Welch, looking for a takedown. Rycerz pushes Welch against the cage but Welch circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rycerz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rycerz takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rycerz tries a head kick but it misses.
Welch seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Welch forces Rycerz back against the cage and clinches.

Welch gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Rycerz manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Welch keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Bruce Welch has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Rycerz ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rycerz no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Welch decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kto Rycerz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruce Welch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rycerz lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Welch showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Welch 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Welch!