PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jason Dukes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Rydell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dukes
vs
Rydell

174 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

164 cm
20
139 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jason Dukes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roger Rydell!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rydell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rydell is looking for a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dukes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rydell has Dukes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dukes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Rydell works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Dukes is trying to control the position but Rydell postures up.

Dukes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rydell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rydell is looking to work some ground and pound but Dukes has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rydell won't allow Dukes to sweep him here.
Dukes is working hard here to advance position.
Rydell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rydell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dukes looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dukes looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dukes!

What's Rydell going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Rydell can't do much from the bottom here.
Rydell is looking for a sweep.
Rydell is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dukes off and has taken his back!
Dukes turns into Rydell and is now in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukes tries to free his leg and advance position but Rydell is retaining full guard.
Rydell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dukes postures up.
Dukes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rydell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dukes trying to control the position from guard on top but Rydell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rydell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dukes defends it easily.
Rydell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dukes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rydell looking for a guillotine here but Dukes defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dukes trying to control the position from guard on top but Rydell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rydell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rydell trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Rydell is looking for a triangle but Dukes pushes his legs off easily.

Dukes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jason Dukes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dukes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rydell stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dukes tries for a takedown but Rydell circles away easily

and Rydell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rydell.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rydell gets underhooks to prevent Dukes's takedown attempt.
Dukes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roger Rydell will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rydell keeps the fight on the outside.
Despite the aggression on Rydell's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Dukes fails to land the takedown.
Rydell misses with a takedown attempt - Dukes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dukes fails with the takedown.
Rydell goes for a double leg but Dukes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dukes continues to drive forward.
Rydell swats away the attempt to clinch by Dukes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dukes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rydell but Rydell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jason Dukes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dukes wants to clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Rydell misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes dives in for a single leg takedown but Rydell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Rydell.

Dukes sneaks out the side door and pushes Rydell away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rydell has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Rydell stuffs the takedown attempt from Dukes. Dukes gets slowly back to his feet.
Dukes has his takedown stuffed
and Rydell counters with a series of strikes. Dukes will be more careful next time no doubt.
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!
Rydell shoots and misses
and Dukes counters with a big head kick but Rydell shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dukes shoots in for a double leg but Rydell sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dukes fails with the takedown.
Rydell has a takedown stuffed.
Rydell walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dukes.
Rydell leaves Dukes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rydell is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Dukes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rydell tries to avoid it but Dukes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rydell to the ground. Rydell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dukes gets tackled into the cage by Rydell. Rydell maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dukes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rydell is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Dukes to the mat. Dukes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Rydell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jason Dukes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rydell advances to half guard.
Dukes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rydell scores with a couple of nice shots.

Rydell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dukes defends it well.
Dukes is looking for a sweep. Rydell is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rydell is looking to take a break and control but Dukes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rydell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dukes sees it coming and defends easily.
Dukes is trying to control but can't.
Dukes is looking to improve his position.
Dukes wants to control but Rydell is keeping busy.
Dukes tries to roll over but Rydell keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Rydell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Rydell moves into the clinch.
Rydell misses with a knee strike.
Dukes throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rydell.
Dukes tries to score a body lock takedown but Rydell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Dukes manages to pull guard.
Dukes keeping moving, preventing Rydell from controlling successfully.

Rydell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rydell pushing down on Dukes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Rydell wants to work for an arm triangle but Dukes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dukes moves into full guard.
Dukes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rydell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dukes working a defensive guard here.
Dukes throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Dukes looking to control.
Rydell with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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.
Dukes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rydell in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Dukes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rydell defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rydell wants to pass the guard but Dukes is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dukes misses with a takedown attempt

and Rydell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Rydell turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Rydell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dukes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rydell is looking to take a break and control but Dukes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydell working away.
Dukes stops Rydell from passing to mount.

Rydell goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Dukes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Rydell but great work by Dukes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dukes misses with the ground and pound.
Rydell wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rydell is trying to control Dukes's posture but Dukes avoids it.
Rydell is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dukes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rydell keeps working.
Jason Dukes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
An elbow from Dukes crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Rydell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rydell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight for Roger Rydell!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Roger Rydell!
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight for Roger Rydell!

Roger Rydell wins by unanimous decision!