PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brad Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Zebub (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan comes to the cage accompanied by Freestyler. Zebub has chosen Death March as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be fireworks!

Ryan
vs
Zebub

175 cm
36
164 lbs
25 - 19 - 0

178 cm
31
162 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brad Ryan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bill Zebub!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, John Mangel and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryan looks to land a body kick but Zebub moved away.
Zebub doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ryan counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No luck for Zebub with that takedown attempt.
Zebub avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ryan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zebub tries for a takedown but Ryan circles away easily
and Ryan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brad Ryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zebub was well out of range. Poor timing from Ryan.
Zebub takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ryan moves into range and connects with a jab.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Zebub drives through with a takedown into Ryan's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ryan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zebub manages to get himself to full guard.

Zebub working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ryan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ryan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ryan is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan wants to control from the top but Zebub keeps moving.
Zebub keeping full guard, as Ryan tries to pass.
Ryan wants to get up but he can't break Zebub's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brad Ryan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ryan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zebub manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ryan tries to clinch there but Zebub circles away.
Ryan closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Zebub counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zebub with a poor takedown

and Ryan counters by moving into the clinch.
Ryan wants to stall.
Ryan taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zebub wants a takedown.
Ryan lands a left hand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ryan.
Ryan just leaning against Zebub, taking a breather.
Ryan missing with knees to the body.
Zebub is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zebub drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ryan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ryan stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Zebub jumps guard but Ryan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Zebub is trying to drag Ryan to the mat but Ryan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zebub looks winded!
Ryan missing with knees to the body.
Zebub wants a takedown.
A hook to the body from Ryan.
Ryan works on Zebub's body with a couple of short punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ryan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryan working Zebub over with knees to the body.
Ryan connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zebub's face.
Ryan working Zebub over with knees to the body.
Ryan using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zebub has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Ryan dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ryan scores with a push kick.
Ryan throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zebub looks to land a combination but Ryan avoids it well.
Ryan dips to his left and cracks Zebub with an uppercut!
Zebub rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ryan counters with a solid body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ryan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ryan tries to clinch but Zebub is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ryan.
Ryan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Brad Ryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryan tries to clinch up.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ryan.
Ryan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ryan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zebub scores with a shot to the body.
Ryan doesn't manage to clinch there - Zebub circles away.

Ryan gets a double leg takedown into Zebub's guard.

Zebub is looking for a triangle but Ryan pushes his legs off easily.
Ryan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zebub is keeping the position for now.
Zebub looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryan is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Zebub is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zebub is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ryan defends well.
Ryan passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zebub is looking to reverse the position.
Ryan in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zebub sneaks back into half guard.
Ryan stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brad Ryan wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Ryan throws a half hearted mid kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ryan misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Ryan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ryan lands a two punch combo.
Zebub walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ryan.
Ryan scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zebub, as that shot connected.
Ryan lands with a shot to the body.
Ryan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zebub swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zebub misses with a takedown attempt
and Ryan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ryan lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zebub wants to land a leg kick but Ryan is out of range.
Zebub uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ryan.
Ryan is looking to wear down Zebub with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ryan throws a body punch but Zebub moves out of range.
Ryan wants to clinch up but Zebub keeps it at a distance.
Ryan works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zebub shoots and misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Zebub takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zebub misses with a looping right.
Zebub with a poor takedown
and Ryan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Brad Ryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.
Ryan doesn't manage to clinch there - Zebub circles away.
Ryan looks to clinch

and Zebub counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ryan is trying to get back to full guard.

Zebub is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ryan sees it coming and defends easily.
Ryan works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is trying to keep Zebub in close.
Ryan pulls Zebub in close to his closed guard and prevents Zebub from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zebub's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Zebub is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ryan seems keen to control Zebub's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zebub looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zebub throws a strike but Ryan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zebub has an active guard here but Ryan has managed to pass into half guard.
Well, if Ryan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ryan uses his free foot to push down on Zebub's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Zebub.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryan tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Ryan clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zebub throws a leg kick but Ryan sees it coming and moves out of range.
Zebub moves out of range of the body kick from Ryan.
Ryan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryan wants to clinch.
Zebub fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ryan manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ryan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zebub.
Zebub shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ryan pinned against the cage. Ryan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ryan closes the distance but Zebub moves to the side

and Zebub counters with a takedown into side control.
Bill Zebub has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zebub is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Zebub is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ryan sees it coming and defends easily.

Zebub seems to be working for a kimura but Ryan defends the submission attempt.
Ryan works his way to full guard. Good work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ryan seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Ryan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ryan moves in looking to clinch but Zebub pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zebub fails with the takedown.
Zebub's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ryan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Zebub scrambles back to his feet.
Zebub swats away the attempt to clinch by Ryan.
Brad Ryan is winning the standup battle so far.
Zebub waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ryan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan tries to clinch but Zebub is having none of it.
Ryan tries to clinch but Zebub moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Ryan. No joy for Zebub on that attempt.
Brad Ryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.
Ryan tries to clinch but Zebub moves out of range.
Ryan misses with a leg kick.
Zebub doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ryan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Brad Ryan will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ryan rushes Zebub and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ryan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ryan throws an elbow that misses.
Ryan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ryan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ryan is trying to stall.
Ryan looking to throw knees to the head but Zebub is blocking nicely.
Ryan utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Zebub works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Ryan looking for a guillotine here but Zebub defends easily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Ryan trying to keep a closed guard but Zebub is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zebub has gone for a leg lock! Ryan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zebub's guard.
Ryan wants to control from the top but Zebub keeps moving.

Zebub throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ryan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ryan trying to control but Zebub is working from the bottom.
Bill Zebub has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zebub has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ryan has managed to get both his arms back between Zebub's legs - danger averted.
Zebub tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Zebub has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ryan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ryan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Zebub looking for subs off his back but Ryan has passed one foot through into half guard.
Ryan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Brad Ryan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is pressing down on Zebub's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zebub is holding on for now.

Zebub looking for submissions off his back.

Ryan decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Zebub tries to move into range but Ryan moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Ryan as Zebub shoots in.
Zebub with a poor takedown
and Ryan counters with a straight right hand.
Ryan works Zebub's body with a nice hook.

Ryan darts in and clinches Zebub up against the cage.
Zebub fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Brad Ryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Zebub.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zebub tries to pull guard but Ryan won't allow it.
Zebub is trying to pull guard but Ryan has him pressed against the cage.
Zebub tries for a takedown. No joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Ryan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ryan 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 50:45
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Ryan!
Brad Ryan retains his welterweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Brad Ryan thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.