PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Quinn Raymond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhys Duch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Raymond
vs
Duch

198 cm
22
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

192 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Quinn Raymond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rhys Duch!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duch tries a head kick but it misses.

Raymond closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

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

Duch scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Raymond trying to control here.

Duch is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Duch stands up from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duch moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Quinn Raymond has been cut.

Raymond has taken the fight to the clinch.
Duch wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duch is trying to pull guard but Raymond has him pressed against the cage.

Raymond breaks from the clinch.
Duch misses with a two punch combination.
Duch looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Quinn Raymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhys Duch.
Duch misses with a takedown
and Raymond counters with a head kick.

Duch rushes Raymond and presses him up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Raymond is looking to break free of the clinch but Duch has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Raymond's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Duch shoots in for a takedown but Raymond shows good takedown defense.
Raymond appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Nice body kick from Duch.
Duch throws a push kick but Raymond slaps the foot to one side.
Raymond throws a big counter combination but Duch scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Duch has a takedown stuffed.

Raymond darts in and clinches Duch up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raymond tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Duch avoids it.

Duch has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Raymond clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Raymond breaks Duch's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Duch lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Raymond escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Duch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Duch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raymond has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Duch has managed to get both his arms back between Raymond's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duch is looking to work some ground and pound but Raymond has wrist control.
Duch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Raymond swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raymond is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raymond working a defensive guard but Duch manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Duch has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Rhys Duch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Raymond gets a clinch.
Duch lands a body punch.
Raymond prevents Duch from breaking the clinch.
Raymond pressing his opponent against the cage.
Duch using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Raymond has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rhys Duch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Quinn Raymond's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Duch fails with the takedown.
Duch shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Raymond sprawls well. Raymond wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Duch gets slowly back to his feet.
Duch fails with the takedown.
Quinn Raymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhys Duch.
Nice takedown defense from Duch. No joy for Raymond on that attempt.
Duch tries to counter with a clinch but Raymond shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raymond closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Duch lands a body punch.

Duch has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Raymond uses from the top position.
Duch working a defensive guard but Raymond manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rhys Duch has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Duch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Raymond is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Duch will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
I wouldn't like to be where Duch is right now.
Duch is looking to reverse the position.

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.

Duch sneaks out the side door and pushes Raymond away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Duch.
Raymond throws a counter high kick but Duch was just alert enough to avoid it.
Raymond shoots in for a takedown but Duch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Duch tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Raymond defends well and Duch ends up having to push Raymond into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Duch is breathing heavily.

Raymond gets tackled into the cage by Duch. Duch maintains the clinch.
Raymond tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Duch tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raymond tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duch breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Duch throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Raymond was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Duch.

Raymond has closed the distance and engaged Duch in a clinch.
Raymond trying to land knees to the body.

Duch breaks from the clinch.

Raymond moves into range and clinches up with Duch.
Duch tries to stall but Raymond uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Raymond drags the fight down to the ground.
Duch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Raymond is on top in guard.

Raymond gets to his feet - Duch follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raymond closes the distance and clinches.
Raymond content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Duch jumps guard but Raymond stands there with Duch around his waist. Duch gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Duch tries to pull guard but Raymond forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Raymond is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Duch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raymond is trying hard to land a takedown here. Duch sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Quinn Raymond dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Quinn Raymond's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Raymond clinches up against the cage.

Raymond manages to break the clinch.
Rhys Duch seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Duch closes the distance and clinches.

Raymond drags the fight down to the ground.

Duch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Raymond has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Duch has managed to get both his arms back between Raymond's legs - danger averted.
Raymond not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Duch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Duch has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Raymond is proving hard to escape from.
Raymond looking for a sweep. Not yet Raymond, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raymond is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Duch slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duch wants to stand but Raymond has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Raymond keeping moving, preventing Duch from controlling successfully.
Raymond is looking to stand up but Duch isn't so interested in that idea.
Duch trying to control but Raymond is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rhys Duch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown attempt by Duch or perhaps it was just good defense by Raymond, which made it look bad.
Raymond throws a counter high kick but Duch was just alert enough to avoid it.

Duch clinches.

That's two 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.
Duch tries to stall but Raymond uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Raymond breaks from the clinch.
Duch chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Duch dives in and grabs Raymond's left leg, looking for a takedown. Raymond pushes down on Duch's head and hops out.
Duch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Raymond gets tackled into the cage by Duch. Duch maintains the clinch.

Duch breaks the clinch.

Raymond rushes Duch and presses him up against the cage.
Duch tries a body shot but Raymond blocks it.

Duch manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raymond looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raymond darts in and clinches Duch up against the cage.
Duch wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Duch jumps guard but Raymond turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Quinn Raymond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhys Duch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Raymond pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Raymond shoots in and drives through. Duch sprawls well.
Duch throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Duch shoots for a double leg takedown but Raymond sprawls well. He's pushed Duch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Duch with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duch throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Raymond.

Duch pushes Raymond up against the cage in a clinch.

Duch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Raymond tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Duch shoots and misses
and Raymond counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Duch fails with a takedown attempt.

Raymond drives through and clinches with Duch against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Raymond breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Raymond clinches with his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Quinn Raymond.
I think Raymond has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Quinn Raymond!