PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kasey Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eloy Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Strong
vs
Ryan

190 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

183 cm
22
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid 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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kasey Strong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eloy Ryan!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan shoots for a takedown but Strong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ryan tries a head kick but it misses.
Ryan shoots in but Strong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ryan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Strong makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ryan really felt that one!
Ryan fails with the takedown.
Kasey Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eloy Ryan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strong wants it to stay on the feet.
Ryan looks to score with a jab to the body but Strong is just out of range.
Ryan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ryan digs a good hook to Strong's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong tries for a takedown but Ryan circles away easily

and Ryan counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Strong working aggressively here.

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

Ryan moves into the clinch.

Strong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ryan.

Ryan stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Ryan has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Strong fails to pull guard.
Strong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ryan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Strong is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Strong stops a takedown attempt from Ryan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strong prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryan missing with knees to the body.
Strong tries to pull guard but Ryan holds him up against the cage and eventually Strong drops back down to his feet.
Strong is trying to pull guard but Ryan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Ryan drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strong preventing the sweep.
Ryan looks winded!
Strong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong won't allow Ryan to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strong preventing the sweep.
Strong throws a big elbow that misses.
Ryan trying to strike off his back.
Strong postures up and lands a big shot to Ryan's brow.
Strong has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ryan is proving hard to escape from.
Strong landing some decent shots from guard.

Ryan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Strong lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Strong lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Strong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Strong throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Strong is looking to work some ground and pound but Ryan has wrist control.
Ryan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Strong.
Ryan has control of Strong's left arm, preventing Strong from doing any damage.
Strong throws a big elbow that misses.
Strong throwing strikes from guard but Ryan blocks nicely.
Strong 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.
Ryan looking for a sweep. Not yet Ryan, not yet.
Strong throws a big right hand that misses.
Ryan wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Strong throws a big elbow that misses.

Strong stands up from Ryan's guard - Strong perhaps looking for a knockout.
Strong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ryan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ryan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Strong sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Strong is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ryan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kasey Strong will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Strong shoots in for a double leg but Ryan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ryan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Strong avoids it really well and circles away.
Strong appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Eloy Ryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strong swivels and escapes.
Strong shoots for a takedown but Ryan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Ryan closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strong manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Strong is looking to stand up but Ryan isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong wants to get back to his feet but Ryan passes into half guard.
Well, if Ryan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Ryan is working for a kimura but Strong is defending it quite comfortably.
Strong tries to get to full guard but Ryan has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ryan controlling the action here.
Strong pushes Ryan off looking to stand but Ryan dives back in and keeps control.
Ryan is looking to take a break and control but Strong is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

Ryan forces Strong back against the cage and clinches.
Ryan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Ryan's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Strong manages to pull guard.
Ryan tries to free his leg and advance position but Strong is retaining full guard.
Strong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ryan prevents Strong from getting back to his feet.
Strong wants to sweep but no luck.

Strong manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Ryan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Strong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Strong shoots for a takedown but Ryan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kasey Strong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ryan gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Strong pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Strong changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ryan tries to avoid it but Strong manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ryan to the ground. Ryan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ryan is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Strong is looking to clinch but Ryan is avoiding it.
Ryan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ryan somewhat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eloy Ryan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Strong stuffs the takedown attempt from Ryan. Ryan gets slowly back to his feet.

Strong gets caught flat footed, as Ryan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Strong keeping moving, preventing Ryan from controlling successfully.
Strong is trying to keep Ryan in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strong wants to stand up but Ryan is controlling him.
Ryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan stopping the sweep attempt from Strong.
Ryan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Strong is wriggling around but Ryan manages to pass to half guard.
Ryan trying to mount his opponent but Strong defends it.

Ryan stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Strong to get to his feet.
Strong really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ryan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ryan throws a head kick but Strong moves out of range.
It looked like Strong was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ryan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ryan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kasey Strong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eloy Ryan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong wants to clinch.
Strong tries for a takedown but Ryan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ryan lands a two punch combo.

Ryan is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Strong's half guard.
Ryan prevents Strong from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong trying to hold on to Ryan's head to control him but Ryan postures up.
Strong is trying to stand back up but Ryan is controlling him
Ryan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ryan not doing much here.
Strong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Ryan gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Strong closes the distance and clinches up with Ryan, looking for a takedown. Strong pushes Ryan against the cage but Ryan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ryan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strong pinned against the cage. Strong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan tries a head kick but it misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ryan closes the distance and clinches.
Ryan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Strong just stands there and leans against the cage.
Strong tries to break the clinch but Ryan is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eloy Ryan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ryan has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eloy Ryan!