PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus comes to the cage accompanied by Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn'. Ryan is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Freestyler. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McManus
vs
Ryan

177 cm
25
167 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

175 cm
39
164 lbs
29 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brad Ryan!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ryan on the side of the head.
McManus dodges the punch combination from Ryan.
Ryan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McManus leaves Ryan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McManus thuds a left hand into Ryan's body.
Connor McManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryan takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ryan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McManus throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McManus misses with a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by McManus. Beautiful body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Ryan. That snapped McManus's head back.
Nice shot lands for McManus.
McManus throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
No joy there for McManus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McManus lands a jab.
A combination from Ryan does no damage.
Ryan throws a right and a left that McManus avoids nicely.
McManus scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ryan lands a nice looking body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan misses with a jab, cross combination.
McManus throws a half hearted mid kick.
McManus looks to land a right hand but Ryan moved out of range.
McManus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ryan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by Ryan.
McManus throws a body kick that misses.
Ryan fails to land with a series of punches.
McManus lands a head kick. Ryan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
McManus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ryan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan closes the distance and clinches up with McManus, looking for a takedown. Ryan pushes McManus against the cage but McManus circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McManus thows a body shot but no joy.
Ryan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McManus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ryan moves away.
Ryan blocks a jab.

Ryan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
McManus trying to control from the bottom.
McManus wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ryan wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.
McManus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryan.
Ryan prevents McManus from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. McManus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McManus throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Ryan wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.
Ryan is in close to McManus's body, working some short punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ryan landing some decent shots from guard.

McManus 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.
McManus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ryan is one step ahead there.
Ryan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ryan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but McManus manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
McManus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McManus dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ryan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ryan avoids the head kick by McManus.
A head kick misses from Ryan.
McManus stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Brad Ryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McManus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ryan.
Ryan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
McManus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McManus throws a front kick aimed at Ryan's knee but Ryan avoids it well.
McManus throws a front kick aimed at Ryan's knee but Ryan avoids it well.
Ryan moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McManus throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ryan counters with a body kick that stops McManus in his tracks momentarily.
Ryan connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ryan checks a leg kick.
Ryan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McManus as he jumps to the side.
McManus connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ryan steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McManus.
Ryan throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ryan misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McManus circles away quickly and effectively.
That kick from McManus tenderised Ryan's leg. Ryan is trying to keep his angry face on.
An inside leg kick lands from McManus.
Connor McManus is winning the standup battle so far.
McManus lands with a cross.
Ryan misses with a hook. McManus ducked under it nicely.
Ryan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Connor McManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Ryan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McManus throws a combination that misses
and Ryan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ryan blocks a low kick nicely.
A punch combination from Ryan misses.
McManus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ryan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McManus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ryan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McManus counters with a thumping low kick.
McManus scores with a leg kick.
Ryan is breathing heavily.
Ryan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McManus to score with a decent uppercut.
McManus misses with a leg kick
and Ryan counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McManus throws a front kick aimed at Ryan's knee but Ryan avoids it well.
Ryan ducks under a wild hook from McManus.
McManus misses with an uppercut. Ryan saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryan shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ryan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McManus.
McManus throws a right and a left that Ryan avoids nicely.
McManus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
McManus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ryan.
McManus misses with a two punch combination.
Connor McManus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ryan tries for a takedown but McManus circles away easily
and McManus counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ryan thinking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McManus dodges the punch combination from Ryan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McManus 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. 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.

McManus scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ryan in his tracks.
Ryan looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice straight punches there by McManus. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of McManus.
McManus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from McManus misses

and Ryan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McManus's guard.
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!

Ryan got a little sloppy there for a moment and McManus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ryan has managed to get both his arms back between McManus's legs - danger averted.
McManus looking for a sweep. Not yet McManus, not yet.
Ryan throws a big right hand that misses.
McManus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McManus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ryan controls the pace.
Ryan wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ryan pushes down on McManus's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus trying to control here.
Ryan wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.
McManus wants to get back to full guard.
McManus taking some punishment here, with Ryan in his half guard.
Ryan throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

McManus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ryan keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Brad Ryan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus is trying to get back to full guard.
Brad Ryan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ryan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ryan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McManus defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Ryan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
McManus slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

McManus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
McManus is trying to keep Ryan in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan postures up and lands a big shot to McManus's brow.
Ryan is looking to work some ground and pound but McManus has wrist control.

McManus has his foot on Ryan's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ryan works his way back into a safe position though.

Ryan has gone for a leg lock! McManus slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ryan's guard.
McManus stands and throws Ryan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ryan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McManus's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
McManus trying to pass the guard but Ryan defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Connor McManus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McManus controlling the pace.
Ryan wants to control but McManus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McManus prevents Ryan from improving his position.
McManus sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ryan takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Connor McManus.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McManus, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

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