PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Rydeland (ranked 3304 p4p, 375 weight class) and Alen Ohanian (ranked 2516 p4p, 293 weight class). Rydeland comes to the cage accompanied by Robbery - Not sneak attack. Ohanian has chosen The Eternals - Wrath of Zeus as his entrance music. John Rydeland has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rydeland
vs
Ohanian

185 cm
31
185 lbs
16 - 18 - 0

181 cm
26
179 lbs
9 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 16 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Rydeland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alen Ohanian!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rydeland ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rydeland scores with the left hand. Ohanian knows he should have avoided that one.
John Rydeland seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ohanian misses with a kick to the body.
Ohanian looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Ohanian tries to get set, Rydeland tries to push him back and clinch up but Ohanian manages to avoid the attempt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ohanian has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Ohanian misses with a body kick.
Rydeland tries for a takedown but Ohanian sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ohanian slips a jab from Rydeland.
Rydeland's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rydeland duly obliges.
Rydeland keeps the fight on the outside.
Rydeland checks a low kick from Ohanian.
Rydeland misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rydeland cracks Ohanian with an open hand slap.
Ohanian thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rydeland shoots in for a takedown but Ohanian shows good takedown defense.
Ohanian tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rydeland lands with an overhand left.
Rydeland looks to land a right hand but Ohanian moved out of range.

Ohanian shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rydeland looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ohanian passes into side control.

Ohanian looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ohanian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rydeland keeps working.
Rydeland tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ohanian presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rydeland sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ohanian wants to pass to mount but Rydeland is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ohanian works his way into full mount!
Ohanian trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rydeland is trying to escape the mount.
Rydeland throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Rydeland is looking to get to half guard.
Ohanian pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ohanian tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rydeland keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rydeland bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rydeland lands a couple of digs.
Ohanian keeping moving, preventing Rydeland from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rydeland passes Ohanian's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ohanian is trying to control but can't.
Rydeland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rydeland not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ohanian wants to control but Rydeland is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ohanian works his way to full guard. Good work.
Rydeland throwing strikes from guard but Ohanian blocks nicely.
Ohanian not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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 John Rydeland will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rydeland connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ohanian misses with a leg kick
and Rydeland counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ohanian thinking.
A combination from Ohanian does no damage.
Rydeland connects with a body shot.
Ohanian on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice cross by Ohanian.

Ohanian takes the fight into the clinch.
Ohanian swings wildly with an uppercut but Rydeland uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ohanian lands a shot to the body.
Ohanian softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ohanian scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ohanian makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rydeland blocking some punches.
Ohanian throws a punch but it's blocked by Rydeland.
Ohanian blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rydeland scores with a shot to the side of Ohanian's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rydeland with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Ohanian is rocked!

It looks like Alen Ohanian has been cut.
Ohanian tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rydeland's elbow.
Ohanian lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rydeland goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rydeland is looking for a takedown.
Ohanian stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Ohanian throws an elbow but misses.

Rydeland pulls guard successfully.

Ohanian is posturing up here but Rydeland has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Ohanian tries to roll out but it's too tight and Ohanian has to tap! Slick submission there by Rydeland!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Rydeland!
Our winner, John Rydeland, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.