PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Ryan (ranked 5330 p4p, 2088 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 271 weight class). James Smith is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ryan
vs
Smith

180 cm
20
168
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
37
164
26 - 19 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Eddie Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan throws a leg kick but Smith checks it.
Smith scores with a hook to the body. Ryan takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ryan listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Smith moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Smith defending well as Ryan loads up on a big left hand.
Ryan looks for a takedown but Smith sprawls well.
Jab from Ryan.
Smith lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Ryan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith misses with a low kick as Ryan jumps back.
A solid leg kick lands there for Smith.
Smith lands a jab to Ryan's midsection.
Ryan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith staying out of range there.
Smith pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ryan is out of range and Smith settles back down.
Ryan is looking for a counter combo.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Ryan sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith cracks Ryan with a right hand to the side of the head.
A punch combination from Ryan misses.
Ryan with a nice cross.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith lands with a shot to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Smith. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Smith.
Ryan misses with a few strikes there.

Ryan gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Ryan manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ryan looking for a sweep. Not yet Ryan, not yet.
Ryan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smith preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Ryan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.
Smith might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ryan haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Ryan is keeping the position.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith stands up over Ryan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ryan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ryan is on top in guard.

Ryan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ryan is fighting to break Smith's control of his arms but Smith is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ryan trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith pulls Ryan in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith wants to improve his position but instead Ryan has moved into half guard.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Ryan from advancing to side control.
Ryan is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ryan slips nicely into half guard.
Smith is doing well to control the position and prevent Ryan from advancing to side control.

Ryan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smith is not content to let Ryan control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Smith throws a leg kick but Ryan sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ryan tries to move into range but Smith moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Smith takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
That kick from Smith tenderised Ryan's leg. Ryan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Ryan moves out of range easily.
Ryan throws a big counter combination but Smith scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Smith connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ryan misses with a two punch combination.

Smith gets a takedown into half guard.
Ryan is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ryan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Ryan has recovered full guard.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Ryan.

Ryan looking for subs off his back but Smith has passed one foot through into half guard.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smith wants to take a breather but Ryan is having none of it.
Ryan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Ryan keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ryan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.

Ryan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ryan is trying to maintain the position but Smith is very close to passing his half guard.
Ryan taking some punishment here, with Smith in his half guard.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ryan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.
Smith working Ryan over with strikes.
Ryan regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ryan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ryan working for a triangle but Smith defends it easily.

Ryan looking for subs off his back but Smith has passed one foot through into half guard.

Smith looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smith just misses with a punch to the body.
A punch combination from Ryan misses.
Ryan throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith throws a low kick, looking for Ryan's leg but Ryan calmly moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Ryan misses the target.
Smith throws a hook but Ryan blocks it.
Ryan takes one on the button.
Ryan blocks a leg kick.
Smith lands a right hook to the body.
Smith misses with a low kick.
Smith lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ryan's sensitive parts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Smith tries a low kick but Ryan avoids it.
Smith throws a low kick but Ryan moves out of range easily.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.
Smith misses with a looping right.
Smith has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan misses with a few strikes there.
Smith closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Smith with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Smith looks to score with a jab to the body but Ryan is just out of range.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Ryan moves out of range easily.
Ryan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Eddie Ryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Smith fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
James Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith takes a swing at Ryan's ribcage but misses.
Ryan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Smith scores with a body shot.
Ryan avoids the body shot from Smith.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ryan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
Ryan throws a right hand that Smith ducks under and follows up with a left that Smith also avoids with ease.
Smith tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ryan throws a big counter combination but Smith scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Smith misses with a low kick.
Ryan checks a low kick from Smith.
A low kick from Smith misses
and Ryan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ryan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ryan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ryan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smith is aware though and is defending well.
Smith forces his way into half guard.
James Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Ryan is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Ryan is defending well.
Ryan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Ryan.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith is in close to Ryan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Eddie Ryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith passes Ryan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to pass to full mount but Ryan defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ryan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Ryan's brow.
Smith works over Ryan with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Ryan.
Smith wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.

Ryan is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ryan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Smith!