PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Demco Ryans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ryans
vs
Clark

195 cm
19
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Demco Ryans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor Clark!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clark on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ryans. Ryans obviously looking to wear him down.
Clark throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Clark throws a sloppy head kick and Ryans moves out of range easily.
Clark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Clark has Ryans up against the cage in a clinch.

Clark pulls guard effortlessly.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Ryans from controlling successfully.
Clark trying to keep a closed guard but Ryans is proving a slippery customer.
Clark looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryans is one step ahead there.

Clark uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Clark has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryans fails with the takedown.
Ryans throws a nice looking combination but Clark bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ryans shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head kick misses from Clark.
Clark tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Clark moves into the clinch successfully.
Clark drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ryans gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Clark looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ryans obliges.
Clark looks gassed!
Ryans tries to pull guard but Clark won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demco Ryans. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clark tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ryans.
Ryans has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Clark is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ryans changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Clark fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Clark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ryans gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Clark prevents Ryans from getting back to his feet.
Clark landing with the ground and pound.
Ryans trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ryans trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Ryans isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Clark stacks Ryans on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Clark!
Ryans stops Clark from passing to mount.

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

Clark wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ryans, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor Clark 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.

Ryans gets a takedown into half guard.
Ryans seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Clark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Clark pushes Ryans off and gets back to his feet.

Ryans shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Clark napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Clark is looking to reverse the position.
Clark wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Clark can do anything to dispel that myth.
Clark regains half guard.
Clark is breathing heavily.

Clark is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ryans pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark is refusing to be controlled, as Ryans sits in half guard.
Clark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ryans is working away from the top position though.
Ryans wants to control but Clark is keeping him busy.
Ryans is looking to advance position but Clark won't allow it.

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

and Clark counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Clark accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ryans keeping moving, preventing Clark from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryans is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ryans is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Clark is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Clark thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Clark pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ryans is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clark throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark trying to control but Ryans is working from the bottom.

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

Ryans changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Clark looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Clark is trying to improve his position.

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

Ryans is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Clark is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clark manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Ryans looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Clark controlling the action here.
Clark works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Connor Clark will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Clark drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ryans knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Clark on the ground.

Clark stands up and waves to Ryans to follow him.
Clark shoots in for a takedown but Ryans shows good takedown defense.
Ryans looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Clark is fending him off so far but Ryans persists. Nope, Clark circles away and we're back to standing.
Clark just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ryans tries to clinch there but Clark circles away.
Ryans fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ryans tries for a takedown but Clark circles away easily

and Clark counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark works his foot free and advances to mount.
Clark tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Clark can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ryans is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ryans wants to control but Clark is having none of it.
Clark breaks from Ryans's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Clark dominating with strikes here.
Clark trying to control but Ryans is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryans is trying to escape the mount.

Clark working for a guillotine from mount but Ryans is in no mood to give up.
Clark avoids the attempt from Ryans to control.
Ryans is desperately trying to improve his position but Clark has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Clark is trying to take his opponent's back.

Clark has control of Ryans's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ryans regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Ryans looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Demco Ryans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connor Clark is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ryans controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor Clark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Clark winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor Clark!