PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rich Blue Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Tantay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rich Blue Steel had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.4lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blue Steel
vs
Tantay

188 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
26
161 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Boondock Fightwear

Apocalypse Clothing

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rich Blue Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Tantay!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tantay looks for a takedown but Blue Steel sprawls well.
Blue Steel fails with the takedown

and Tantay counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tantay throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Blue Steel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blue Steel is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Blue Steel trying to control from half guard but Tantay is working away.
Tantay makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tantay.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Blue Steel's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Blue Steel is looking to work some ground and pound but Tantay has wrist control.
Tantay looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tantay controls Blue Steel momentarily but Blue Steel frees himself.
Blue Steel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Blue Steel stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blue Steel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Tantay gets a takedown into half guard.
Blue Steel is breathing heavily.

Tantay is trying to work for a kimura but Blue Steel is defending well.

Tantay is working for a kimura but Blue Steel is defending it quite comfortably.
Blue Steel wants to improve his position but Tantay is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Tantay there.
Blue Steel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tantay is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tantay goes for an armbar but Blue Steel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Blue Steel.
Tantay tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tantay lands an upkick as Blue Steel stands over him.

Tantay has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blue Steel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tantay is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tantay is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Tantay has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Blue Steel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tantay is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tantay working for a triangle but Blue Steel defends it easily.
Blue Steel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tantay will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Blue Steel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Blue Steel sitting in guard here, content to control.
Blue Steel postures up in Tantay's guard and throws a big left but Tantay blocks it.
Blue Steel wants to stand but Tantay has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Blue Steel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Blue Steel trying to control but Tantay is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantay can't keep his opponent in guard - Blue Steel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Blue Steel content to control rather than advance.

Blue Steel stands up from half guard.
Blue Steel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tantay decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Blue Steel's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Tantay being controlled here momentarily.
Blue Steel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blue Steel tries to get out of the position.

Tantay has gone for a leg lock! Blue Steel slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tantay's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tantay looking for a guillotine here but Blue Steel defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Tantay dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tantay shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Blue Steel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tantay!

Blue Steel goes for an armbar but Tantay turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Tantay.
Tantay passes Blue Steel's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tantay winds up and cracks Blue Steel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Tantay is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blue Steel controlling the position well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Blue Steel is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blue Steel is refusing to be controlled, as Tantay sits in half guard.
Tantay is breathing heavily.
Tantay thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blue Steel's head.
Blue Steel moves into full guard.
Blue Steel wants to sweep here but Tantay controlling him for the moment.

Tantay thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Blue Steel pulls Tantay in close to prevent any damage.
Blue Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Blue Steel lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tantay!

That's two 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.
Tantay is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tantay is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tantay tries to lock up and control but Blue Steel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tantay is desperately trying to improve his position but Blue Steel has a good base and remains in mount.
Tantay avoids a series of strikes thrown by Blue Steel.
Tantay can't escape the position.
Tantay is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Tantay slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tantay regains full guard. Nicely done.
Blue Steel postures up and lands a big shot to Tantay's brow.

Tantay is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ryan Tantay has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantay wants to sweep here but Blue Steel controlling him for the moment.

Blue Steel decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tantay scores with a kick to the midsection.
Tantay with a poor takedown

and Blue Steel counters with a takedown into side control.
Blue Steel trying to control the position but Tantay is working away.
Tantay tries to bench press Blue Steel off him but Blue Steel keeps the position.
Tantay manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tantay working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tantay trying to control from half guard but Blue Steel is working away.
Tantay winds up and cracks Blue Steel with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Tantay is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Blue Steel defends it well.
Tantay wants to pass to mount but Blue Steel is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blue Steel is in trouble now - Tantay has advanced to mount!

Tantay is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Blue Steel has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Blue Steel!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Tantay keeping moving, preventing Blue Steel from controlling successfully.

Tantay throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Blue Steel escapes and throws Tantay's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Blue Steel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tantay has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tantay gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Tantay will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Blue Steel.
Tantay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blue Steel is fending him off so far but Tantay persists. Nope, Blue Steel circles away and we're back to standing.
Tantay looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Blue Steel is fending him off so far but Tantay persists. Nope, Blue Steel circles away and we're back to standing.
Tantay moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tantay with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tantay throws a head kick that Blue Steel semi-blocks.

Blue Steel is rocked!
Tantay moves out of range of the leg kick from Blue Steel.

Tantay closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Oh Blue Steel is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tantay seems to be looking for submissions.
Blue Steel seems to have got his legs back now.
Tantay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blue Steel keeps working.

Tantay is trying to work for a kimura but Blue Steel is defending well.
Tantay content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantay scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tantay is trying to control the action in half guard but Blue Steel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tantay lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Tantay there.
Blue Steel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tantay.
Blue Steel throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Tantay trying to mount his opponent but Blue Steel defends it.
Blue Steel really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Blue Steel is looking to escape.

Tantay is working for a kimura but Blue Steel is defending it quite comfortably.

Tantay is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blue Steel makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Blue Steel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantay throwing strikes from guard but Blue Steel blocks nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tantay closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tantay lands in his opponent's guard.
Tantay postures up.
Tantay keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Blue Steel's head.

Tantay thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tantay postures up.
Tantay looking to pass the guard.
Tantay throws a strike but Blue Steel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Blue Steel wants to control from the top but Tantay keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blue Steel looking to pass the guard.
Tantay trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Blue Steel thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tantay scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
An elbow from Tantay crashes against the mat.
Tantay looks up at the clock and then as Blue Steel takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tantay smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
You can see the frustration on Blue Steel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Blue Steel takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tantay tries for a kimura but Blue Steel is defending well.
Blue Steel holds on to Tantay's head and controls the position momentarily.
Tantay working the head with strikes.

Tantay tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tantay has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tantay tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Tantay comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tantay 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

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