PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Downey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Sibayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Downey might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Savior. Ryan Downey has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Downey
vs
Sibayan

172 cm
20
148 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Downey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Sibayan!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Downey tries to clinch up

and Sibayan counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sibayan.
Downey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sibayan is one step ahead there.
Sibayan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sibayan wants to control from the top but Downey keeps moving.
Downey not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sibayan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Downey manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sibayan has Downey in his guard.
Downey tries to stand but Sibayan is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibayan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Downey is controlling him.
Downey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sibayan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sibayan wants to stand and escape but Downey is having none of it.

Downey drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sibayan dives on top into guard.
Downey is looking to stand up but Sibayan isn't so interested in that idea.
Sibayan trying to control but Downey is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan wants to pass the guard but Downey is keeping the position.
Sibayan passes into half guard.
Downey pushes Sibayan off looking to stand but Sibayan dives back in and keeps control.
Sibayan frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sibayan avoids the attempt from Downey to control.

Sibayan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Downey is surviving well by controlling Sibayan's body position as best he can.

Sibayan has hold of Downey's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Downey manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downey stops Sibayan from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Poor strikes thrown by Sibayan there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sibayan misses with some ground and pound and Downey recovers position to half guard.
Sibayan trying to mount his opponent but Downey defends it.
Sibayan prevents Downey from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Downey is breathing heavily.
Sibayan passes to side control.
Sibayan tries to advance to mount but Downey denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan advances nicely into full mount.
Sibayan tries to control but Downey wriggling away.

Sibayan moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Downey has worked his arm free - good work by Downey!
Downey takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sibayan tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Downey sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sibayan dominated that round.
That's time! Downey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sibayan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Downey sprawls well initially but Sibayan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sibayan works his way into full mount!

Sibayan jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Downey manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Sibayan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Downey gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Downey is squirming around, avoiding Sibayan's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downey keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Downey stops Sibayan from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Downey is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Downey prevents Sibayan from taking his back.
Sibayan wants to control the pace but Downey is squirming around nicely.
Downey is controlling an arm, preventing Sibayan from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Downey wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sibayan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sibayan with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Sibayan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Downey is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Downey and Sibayan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Sibayan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mark Sibayan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Sibayan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Downey managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Sibayan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sibayan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Downey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sibayan wants to control but Downey is keeping him busy.

Sibayan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Downey knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Downey prevents Sibayan from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan lands a decent elbow from side control.
Downey striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Sibayan swings around for an armbar but Downey sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sibayan's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Downey accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sibayan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Sibayan tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Downey missing with knees to the body.
Sibayan goes for a takedown attempt but Downey pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sibayan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Downey's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Downey wants to clinch up but Sibayan keeps it at a distance.
Ryan Downey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Downey doesn't manage to clinch there - Sibayan circles away.
Sibayan keeps the fight on the outside.
Downey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sibayan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sibayan swats away the attempt to clinch by Downey.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downey tries to close the distance and clinch but Sibayan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sibayan clinches up with Downey and pushes him back against the cage.
Sibayan wants to take the fight to the mat but Downey manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Downey manages to break the clinch.
Downey tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Downey looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sibayan drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sibayan advances to half guard.

Downey is defending against the submission attempts here by Sibayan.
Sibayan wants to advance to full mount but Downey doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan is pushing down on Downey's leg trying to pass to half guard. Downey is fighting to maintain full guard but Sibayan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sibayan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Downey knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Sibayan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sibayan is looking to advance position but Downey won't allow it.

Sibayan 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.
Downey throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sibayan is working for a kimura here but Downey manages to reverse the position and he's now in Sibayan's guard.

Sibayan scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Downey takes the fight into the clinch.
Sibayan wants a takedown but no success here.
Ryan Downey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downey can't get the takedown.
Downey lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Downey prevents the takedown attempt.
Ryan Downey has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Sibayan.
Sibayan blocks an elbow strike.
Sibayan is looking for a takedown.
Sibayan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Downey wants to take the fight to the mat but Sibayan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Downey tries to break free but Sibayan pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Downey manages to break the clinch.
Downey throws the kick towards the body but Sibayan avoids it.
Mark Sibayan is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Downey misses with a hook

and Sibayan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Sibayan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sibayan 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Sibayan!
Mark Sibayan decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.