PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Hanley (ranked 3777 p4p, 4672 weight class) and Sonny Bill Williams (ranked 458 p4p, 513 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hanley
vs
Williams

191 cm
23
204
3 - 2 - 0

192 cm
19
205
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Experienced

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Hanley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sonny Bill Williams!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
It looked like Hanley wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hanley fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Williams looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Williams throws a combination. Hanley tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Ryan Hanley has been cut.

Hanley closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hanley lands in his opponent's guard.

Williams pushes Hanley off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Williams misses with a hook. Hanley ducked under it nicely.
Williams takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Hanley closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Hanley working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hanley wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Williams, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanley content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Hanley wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Williams wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Williams sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams is looking to control Hanley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Williams avoid being mounted?
Williams tries to get to full guard but Hanley has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Williams desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Williams is staying active underneath Hanley, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Williams is looking to control Hanley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Williams avoid being mounted?

Hanley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Williams doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hanley.
Williams has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Hanley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Williams doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hanley.

Hanley is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Williams defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to roll over but Hanley keeps him under control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hanley in particular looking to stall.
Williams tries to get to full guard but Hanley has control of the leg.
Williams is trying to maintain the position but Hanley is very close to passing his half guard.
Hanley trying to control the action but Williams is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hanley looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hanley tries for a takedown but Williams circles away easily
and Williams counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hanley wants to clinch up but Williams keeps it at a distance.
Hanley avoids the body shot from Williams.
Hanley shoots in and drives through. Williams sprawls well.
Williams misses with a two punch combination.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanley moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Williams successfully pulls guard.

Williams looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hanley passes into half guard.

Hanley is working for a submission of some sort.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sonny Bill Williams dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ryan Hanley's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hanley is defended easily by Williams.

Hanley shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hanley trying to control the pace.
Hanley's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Williams actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Williams looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hanley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Williams keeps working.

Hanley wants to work for an arm triangle but Williams is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hanley trying to control the action but Williams is working from the bottom.
Williams is looking for a sweep. Hanley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Williams looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Williams moves into full guard.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Hanley from controlling successfully.
Hanley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hanley wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.

Williams has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hanley can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Williams lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Williams postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams wants to control from the top but Hanley keeps moving.
Hanley has a closed guard, preventing Williams from standing up.
Hanley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Williams wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Hanley's closed guard. He's half up but Hanley has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Hanley pivots and extends the arm, Williams falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Hanley! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ryan Hanley!
Ryan Hanley seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.