PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Angus Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Lucas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryant's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Scotland the Brave. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bryant
vs
Lucas

184 cm
25
188 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Angus Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Lucas!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Bryant. No joy for Lucas on that attempt.
Bryant slaps away a takedown attempt from Lucas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bryant is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bryant thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Lucas if he has to take too many more of those.
Lucas closes the distance and clinches up with Bryant, looking for a takedown. Lucas pushes Bryant against the cage but Bryant circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Angus Bryant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lucas.
Lucas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bryant tries to avoid it but Lucas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bryant to the ground. Bryant escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lucas moves away from the strike by Bryant.
Lucas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lucas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lucas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bryant circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryant scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bryant tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lucas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick lands from Bryant.
Lucas tries for a takedown but Bryant sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lucas has his takedown stuffed
and Bryant counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas dives in and grabs Bryant's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bryant pushes down on Lucas's head and hops out.
Bryant seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Steve Lucas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bryant counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Lucas is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Bryant is looking to slow Lucas down with leg kicks.
Bryant defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lucas.
Lucas takes one on the button.
Bryant tries to clinch up.
Lucas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bryant sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lucas somewhat.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lucas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bryant is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Bryant just misses with a punch to the body.
Bryant leaves Lucas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A solid body kick from Bryant.
Lucas's coach down at Sydney Fight Team was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lucas's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bryant scoring well with a low kick there.
Lucas has a takedown stuffed.
Bryant displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lucas.

Lucas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bryant is looking to control Lucas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bryant avoid being mounted?
Bryant wants to improve his position but Lucas is controlling well.

Lucas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bryant is just riding it out for now. Lucas eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryant is defending against the submission attempts here by Lucas.
Lucas throwing shots but Bryant is blocking nicely.
Bryant is trying to stand back up but Lucas is controlling him
Lucas is trying to control the action in half guard but Bryant is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bryant trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Lucas manages to pass to mount!

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.
Lucas throwing strikes here but Bryant is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bryant wants to control but Lucas is having none of it.
Lucas looking to control but Bryant is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Lucas stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Lucas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice takedown defense from Bryant. No joy for Lucas on that attempt.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt
and Bryant counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lucas thinking.
Lucas goes for a double leg but Bryant avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bryant continues to drive forward.
Bryant displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lucas.
Bryant fires out a quick counter leg kick but Lucas just manages to avoid it.
Lucas looks winded!
Lucas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Bryant to counter with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angus Bryant 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.

Lucas shoots in but Bryant avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bryant scoring well with a low kick there.
Bryant is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lucas can do to turn this around?
Lucas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lucas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lucas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bryant counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Angus Bryant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lucas.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt - Bryant sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bryant throwing a counter right hand but Lucas manages to avoid it.
No luck for Lucas with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucas shoots for a takedown but Bryant saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bryant scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lucas is breathing heavily.
Lucas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bryant defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas fails with a takedown attempt.
Lucas shoots in but no luck this time.
Lucas just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBryant.
Lucas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lucas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bryant.

Lucas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bryant has his hands on Lucas's head, controlling the position.
Lucas trying to control the position from guard on top but Bryant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bryant keeping full guard, as Lucas tries to pass.
Bryant on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bryant tries to get out of the position.
Bryant trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Lucas wants to control from the top but Bryant keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lucas pushes down on Bryant's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Lucas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bryant defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant is trying to stand.
Bryant trying to hold on to Lucas's head to control him but Lucas postures up.
Bryant is concentrating on defense, preventing Lucas from advancing position.

Lucas seems to be working for a kimura but Bryant defends the submission attempt.
Bryant is looking for a sweep. Lucas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Lucas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bryant has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bryant is controlling Lucas's trapped leg to prevent Lucas from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lucas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lucas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bryant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bryant is trying to control but can't.
Bryant is controlling Lucas's trapped leg to prevent Lucas from advancing to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lucas lands strikes from half guard.

It looks like Angus Bryant has been cut.

Lucas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bryant doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lucas.
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 Angus Bryant will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Angus Bryant's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bryant displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lucas.
Nice takedown defense from Bryant. No joy for Lucas on that attempt.
Lucas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
No luck for Lucas with that takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Bryant misses the target.
Angus Bryant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Lucas.
Lucas shoots in for a double leg but Bryant sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bryant moves in looking to clinch but Lucas pushes him off.
Lucas throws a fast counter high kick but Bryant manages to duck under it in time.
Lucas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bryant sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bryant. No joy for Lucas on that attempt.
Bryant lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lucas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick misses from Bryant.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt - Bryant sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant cracks Lucas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Lucas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bryant circles away.
Bryant lands with a nice body kick.
Angus Bryant is winning the standup battle so far.
Lucas shoots in for a double leg but Bryant sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lucas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bryant.
Bryant lands a head kick!
Bryant connects with a leg kick. Lucas looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Bryant moves into the clinch successfully.
Bryant prevents the takedown attempt.

Lucas drags the fight down to the ground.
Bryant postures up and lands a big shot to Lucas's brow.
Bryant postures up in Lucas's guard and throws a big left but Lucas blocks it.
Bryant throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant throws an elbow that misses. Lucas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bryant's guard. Nice move by Lucas!

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant keeping moving, preventing Lucas from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lucas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lucas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lucas trying to control but Bryant is working from the bottom.

Lucas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lucas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bryant's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bryant has his hands clasped together around Lucas's back. He's all about the action.
Steve Lucas has got the better of the ground game so far.

Lucas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lucas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bryant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Lucas stands up and beckons Bryant to join him on the feet.
Lucas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bryant paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steve Lucas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bryant tries to clinch up but Lucas circles away and keeps his distance.
Lucas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A low kick from Lucas is predictable there
and Bryant counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Angus Bryant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bryant, 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Angus Bryant!
Angus Bryant took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.