PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eli Hill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zachary Ryley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zachary Ryley will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hill
vs
Ryley

207 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eli Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zachary Ryley!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryley has a takedown stuffed.
Ryley darts in looking for a takedown but Hill gets double underhooks and turns Ryley into the cage.
Ryley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Eli Hill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Ryley.
Ryley gets off balance looking for a body kick

so Hill counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hill wants to stand but Ryley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Hill drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ryley manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hill has Ryley in his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hill is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryley stands and steps away. Hill gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Ryley gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ryley is trying to pull guard but Hill turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hill is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ryley stops a takedown attempt from Hill.
Ryley jumps guard but Hill stands there with Ryley around his waist. Ryley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ryley has clasped his hands together around Hill's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Hill's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Ryley.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill is looking for a sweep.
Ryley is looking to take a break and control but Hill is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ryley controlling the position.
Hill tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hill wants to control but Ryley postures up.
Hill is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ryley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryley tries to move to mount but Hill blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ryley controlling the position.
Hill managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ryley.
Ryley tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hill managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Ryley.
Hill sneaks back into half guard.
Hill is looking for a sweep. Ryley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hill really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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.
Ryley trying to control the action but Hill is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hill trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hill throws a push kick but Ryley slaps the foot to one side.
Ryley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hill sprawls well. Hill wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ryley gets slowly back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hill manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ryley on his heels. He'll look to pass Ryley's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zachary Ryley dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ryley shoots in and drives through. Hill sprawls well.

Ryley instigates a clinch.
Hill has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ryley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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

Ryley gets a clinch.

Ryley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ryley throws a series of punches but Hill moves out of range.
Hill was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryley takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ryley darts in looking for a takedown but Hill gets double underhooks and turns Ryley into the cage.
Hill is looking for a counter combo.
Ryley shoots in but no luck this time.
Hill tries to counter by clinching up but Ryley breaks away and moves out of range.
Eli Hill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Ryley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ryley is breathing heavily.
Ryley looks to throw a body kick

and Hill holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ryley tries to pull guard but Hill forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Ryley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ryley throws a right hand that misses

and Hill counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ryley keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hill working over Ryley with some ground and pound. Ryley looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Hill is looking for a kimura but Ryley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hill to get the leverage.

Hill is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hill is working for a kimura but Ryley is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hill is looking for a kimura here.
Zachary Ryley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ryley is trying to control but can't.
Hill wants to control but Ryley is keeping him busy.

Hill is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ryley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ryley looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryley trying to control from the bottom.

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

Hill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ryley sees it coming and defends easily.
Hill will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ryley is refusing to be controlled, as Hill sits in half guard.
Ryley gets back to full guard.
Ryley looking to control.

Ryley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hill defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ryley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hill gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hill wants to control from the top but Ryley keeps moving.

Hill is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ryley is working an open guard so Hill takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ryley gets a clinch.

Ryley manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Hill dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hill tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ryley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ryley has managed to clinch.
Hill is trying to force a seperation but Ryley has the dominant position.

Ryley decides to pull guard.
Ryley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hill won't allow Ryley to sweep him here.

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

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ryley in side control, throwing shots but Hill defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryley working the ground and pound but Hill is defending the strikes.
Ryley wants to control for a moment but Hill uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Ryley with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hill keeping hold of Ryley's head, controlling as best he can.
Ryley is thwarting Hill's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Ryley is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hill controlling the position well.
Hill slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ryley won't allow Hill to sweep him here.
Hill is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ryley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hill swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ryley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hill moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ryley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ryley has managed to clinch.
Ryley trying to stall but Hill improves his position.
Ryley drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ryley is trying to pull guard but Hill turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ryley tries to pull guard but Hill won't allow it.
Eli Hill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zachary Ryley.
Hill is trying to break the clinch but Ryley has him pressed against the cage.
Hill stops a takedown attempt from Ryley.
Ryley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hill just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ryley gets underhooks to prevent Hill's takedown attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hill wants to take the fight to the mat but Ryley manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ryley is trying to pull guard but Hill has him pressed against the cage.
Ryley is trying to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zachary Ryley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ryley has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zachary Ryley!