PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ryan de Champlain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Strickland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Strickland has chosen Momma Said Knock you out as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

de Champlain
vs
Strickland

197 cm
22
276 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryan de Champlain!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sean Strickland!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strickland fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but de Champlain avoids it really well and circles away.

Strickland shoots in and bounces de Champlain off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Strickland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
de Champlain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
de Champlain is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
de Champlain is keen to just control but Strickland is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from de Champlain.
de Champlain sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Strickland defending well though.
de Champlain thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
de Champlain missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
de Champlain misses with a head shot. Strickland uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Champlain stops Strickland from standing up.
de Champlain with a flurry of punches that miss.
de Champlain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
de Champlain throwing strikes but missing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Horrible takedown by Strickland or perhaps it was just good defense by de Champlain which made him look bad.

de Champlain closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strickland looks gassed!
de Champlain stalling away here and it's allowed Strickland to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Champlain throwing strikes but missing.
de Champlain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
de Champlain is looking to work some ground and pound but Strickland has wrist control.
Strickland wants to stand up but de Champlain is controlling him.
de Champlain tries to free his leg and advance position but Strickland is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strickland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from de Champlain.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

de Champlain throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Strickland was covering up waiting for the punch and de Champlain finishes the takedown easily into guard.
de Champlain looking to pass the guard.
de Champlain throwing strikes from guard but Strickland blocks nicely.
de Champlain throws a strike but Strickland rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Champlain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

de Champlain pushes Strickland off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Strickland with a poor takedown
and de Champlain counters with a three punch combo that has Strickland backing up. Strickland nods at de Champlain to acknowledge the strikes.
Ryan de Champlain has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Strickland.

de Champlain scores a takedown into full mount!
de Champlain could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
de Champlain landing shots from mount.
de Champlain scores with a couple of good head shots there.
de Champlain looking to ground and pound but Strickland is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
de Champlain tries to control but Strickland wriggling away.
de Champlain lands a big shot there that rocks Strickland but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan de Champlain dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

de Champlain scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
de Champlain wants to take a breather but Strickland manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for de Champlain.
de Champlain throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
de Champlain throws a big right hand that misses.
de Champlain is looking to work some ground and pound but Strickland has wrist control.
de Champlain throws and elbow that misses. Strickland uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in de Champlain's guard. Nice move by Strickland!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
de Champlain wants to stand but Strickland is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strickland content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Strickland working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of de Champlain's head.
Strickland is looking to work some ground and pound but de Champlain has wrist control.
Strickland preventing the sweep.
Ryan de Champlain overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strickland thows a big elbow that misses.
Strickland is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Strickland accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Strickland loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

de Champlain shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than de Champlain was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
de Champlain throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Strickland is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

de Champlain is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Strickland has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Strickland!
Strickland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
de Champlain avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
de Champlain looking for a sweep. Not yet de Champlain, not yet.
de Champlain is looking to stand up but Strickland isn't so interested in that idea.
Strickland content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Strickland postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
de Champlain looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strickland is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Strickland shoots and misses

and de Champlain counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by de Champlain.
de Champlain working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
de Champlain postures up in Strickland's guard and throws a big left but Strickland blocks it.
de Champlain throwing strikes but missing.
Strickland avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Strickland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Strickland wants to stand and escape but de Champlain is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
de Champlain trying to control the position from guard on top but Strickland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de Champlain throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Strickland shoots and misses

and de Champlain counters with a shoot takedown. Strickland fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Strickland manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Strickland throws a leg kick which misses de Champlain's front leg but catches the back leg as de Champlain tries to avoid it.
de Champlain fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strickland tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so de Champlain counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan de Champlain dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Strickland misses with a combination

and de Champlain decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Strickland's guard.
de Champlain loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Strickland working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from de Champlain.
de Champlain stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strickland swivels though and keeps the full guard.
de Champlain trying to control the position from guard on top but Strickland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de Champlain thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Champlain throwing strikes from guard but Strickland blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
de Champlain throwing strikes from guard but Strickland blocks nicely.
de Champlain with a flurry of punches that miss.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

de Champlain shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
de Champlain looks to land a strike but Strickland avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Champlain throwing strikes but missing.
de Champlain wants to pass the guard but Strickland is keeping the position.
de Champlain chips away with some ground and pound.
de Champlain has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
de Champlain distracts Strickland with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
de Champlain is looking to work some ground and pound but Strickland has wrist control.
Ryan de Champlain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
de Champlain is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Champlain trying to control the position from guard on top but Strickland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
de Champlain trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
de Champlain won't allow Strickland to get back to his feet.
Sean Strickland has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Strickland stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Strickland wants it to stay on the feet.
Strickland shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and de Champlain counters with a shoot takedown. Strickland fights it but they end up in guard.
Strickland keeping moving, preventing de Champlain from controlling successfully.
Strickland preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
de Champlain pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strickland is keeping the position for now.
de Champlain looking to sit in guard and control but Strickland gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan de Champlain showed his dominance in that final round.
Well de Champlain 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan de Champlain!