PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phil Arcuri (ranked 862 p4p, 106 weight class) and John Rydeland (ranked 670 p4p, 84 weight class). Rydeland is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Robbery - Not sneak attack. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Arcuri
vs
Rydeland

176 cm
33
168 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

185 cm
29
185 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Combat Wombat (90% Laundry)
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Phil Arcuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Rydeland!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rydeland looks to throw the jab but Arcuri is out of range.
Rydeland ducks under a wild hook from Arcuri.
Rydeland is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Good standup being displayed there by Arcuri as he connects with a hook.
Good work by Rydeland as he checks the leg kick.
Arcuri lands with a shot to the body.
Rydeland walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Rydeland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phil Arcuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arcuri throws a combination that misses
and Arcuri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rydeland has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rydeland takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Rydeland avoids the body shot from Arcuri.
Arcuri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rydeland tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Arcuri was well out of range. Poor timing from Rydeland.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydeland keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rydeland misses with a right hand
and Arcuri counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rydeland digs a good body shot into Arcuri's ribs.
Arcuri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rydeland manages to avoid it.
Arcuri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Rydeland is out of range and Arcuri settles back down.
A little jabbing left from Rydeland on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Arcuri lands with a shot to the body.
Arcuri blocks a jab.
Arcuri misses the shot to the body.
Arcuri throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rydeland counters with a stiff right hand.
Arcuri buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
John Rydeland is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arcuri lands a jab to Rydeland's midsection.
Arcuri has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland lands a nice looking body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big left from Rydeland misses.
A little feinted left hand from Arcuri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Arcuri just misses with a punch to the body.
Rydeland swings away with a body shot that misses
and Arcuri counters with a stiff right hand.
Arcuri throws a leg kick but Rydeland sees it coming and moves out of range.
Arcuri throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Arcuri swings widly with a right hand
and Rydeland counters with a straight right hand.
Rydeland rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arcuri counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rydeland scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Arcuri is rocked!
Rydeland misses the body punch
and Arcuri counters with a nice uppercut.
Rydeland throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri throws a body shot but no joy.
Rydeland throws a counter combo.
A slow jab from Rydeland misses its intended target.
Arcuri misses with a body shot.
Rydeland is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Arcuri with a body shot.
Rydeland checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Arcuri shoots in for a takedown but Rydeland shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rydeland connects with a good right hand that stumbles Arcuri. Arcuri circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rydeland throws out a loose jab but Arcuri uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rydeland digs a good body shot into Arcuri's ribs.
Rydeland misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arcuri.
Arcuri is looking to counter punch.
Rydeland misses with a straight left.
Arcuri wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Rydeland.
Rydeland looks to score with a jab to the body but Arcuri is just out of range.
Arcuri works Rydeland's body with a nice hook.
Arcuri moves out of range of the strikes.
Arcuri is looking to counter punch.
Arcuri fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rydeland looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Arcuri lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rydeland moves out of range as Arcuri strikes.
Rydeland throws out a counter right but Arcuri avoids it with no problem.
Arcuri throws the left hand but Rydeland avoids the punch easily.
Rydeland looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Arcuri throws a quick inside leg kick.
Arcuri throws a poor cross that misses
and Rydeland counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Arcuri goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
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 Phil Arcuri 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.

The crowd cheers as Rydeland lands an impressive looking overhand right. Arcuri doesn't seem phased though.
Arcuri walks into a left hand.
Arcuri misses with a body shot.
Rydeland swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Arcuri misses with a looping right.
Arcuri is looking to wear down Rydeland with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A telegraphed right hand from Rydeland misses the target.
As Rydeland backs away, Arcuri returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Phil Arcuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Rydeland throws a jab but it's blocked by Arcuri.
The fighters circling - Rydeland throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Arcuri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rydeland was well out of range. Poor timing from Arcuri.
A little jabbing left from Rydeland on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rydeland jabs Arcuri to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Arcuri changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Arcuri gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rydeland counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydeland takes a jab right on the kisser.
Arcuri defending well as Rydeland loads up on a big left hand.
Arcuri cracks Rydeland with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rydeland listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Arcuri scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Arcuri scores with a shot to the body.
Rydeland takes a swing at Arcuri's ribcage but misses.
A leg kick checked by Rydeland.
Rydeland moves away from the strike by Arcuri.
Arcuri misses with a wild body shot.
It seemed like Rydeland was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri slips under a jab.
Rydeland thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arcuri avoids the body shot from Rydeland.
A good leg kick by Arcuri.
Rydeland stuns Arcuri with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rydeland slips a jab from Arcuri.
Rydeland looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Arcuri.
Arcuri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rydeland was well out of range. Poor timing from Arcuri.
A chopping leg kick lands by Arcuri.
Arcuri lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rydeland connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri lands a glancing blow to the side of Rydeland's head.
Rydeland fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arcuri manages to avoid it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Arcuri lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rydeland has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rydeland and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Arcuri moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Arcuri misses with a hook. Rydeland ducked under it nicely.
Arcuri lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rydeland at a distance.
Arcuri lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Arcuri misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rydeland.
Arcuri with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rydeland counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Arcuri motions for Rydeland to come forward. Arcuri throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rydeland looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Arcuri counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rydeland misses with a hook
and Arcuri counters with a straight right hand.

Arcuri feints and as Rydeland raises his hands in defense, Arcuri changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arcuri postures up in Rydeland's guard and throws a big left but Rydeland blocks it.

Rydeland is looking for a triangle but Arcuri pushes his legs off easily.

Rydeland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Arcuri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Arcuri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Arcuri keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rydeland's head.
Arcuri slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Arcuri dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rydeland works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Arcuri throws a hook but Rydeland avoids it easily.
Arcuri tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rydeland defends well and Arcuri ends up having to push Rydeland into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rydeland steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Arcuri.
Rydeland fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rydeland misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arcuri throws a body punch but Rydeland moves out of range.
Arcuri throws a lazy uppercut
and Rydeland cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Arcuri lands a head shot.
Arcuri misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydeland works Arcuri's body with a nice hook.
Rydeland scores with a jab. Arcuri acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Arcuri ducks under a wild hook from Rydeland.
Rydeland scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Arcuri misses with a straight right.
Nice jab there from Rydeland.
Rydeland loads up on a big right hand but Arcuri slips the punch.
Nice body punch from Arcuri.
Arcuri lands a slapping body shot.
Arcuri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rydeland's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri blocks a jab.
Arcuri has his takedown stuffed
and Rydeland counters with a right hand to the body.
Rydeland moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arcuri tests Rydeland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rydeland looks to throw the jab but Arcuri is out of range.
Rydeland loads up on a big right hand but Arcuri slips the punch.
A cross from Rydeland lands.
Arcuri shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arcuri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rydeland on the side of the head.
Arcuri misses with a body shot.
Rydeland misses with a body shot.
Rydeland misses with a shot to the body

and Arcuri counters with a single leg into guard. Rydeland didn't expect that.
Rydeland wants to sweep but no luck.

Rydeland is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Arcuri advances to half guard.
Arcuri is looking to advance position but Rydeland won't allow it.
Arcuri scoring with strikes to the body and head.
John Rydeland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phil Arcuri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arcuri slips a nice elbow through Rydeland's hands, connecting with Rydeland's forehead.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rydeland manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Arcuri 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.
Arcuri trying to control the position from guard on top but Rydeland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rydeland keeping full guard, as Arcuri tries to pass.
Arcuri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Rydeland tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Arcuri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arcuri throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Rydeland.
Well Arcuri has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Arcuri!
A very excited looking Phil Arcuri rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.