PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ishe Sithole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casey Ryback (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sithole's entrance music is Method Man & Redman - How Bout Dat. A fine choice. Casey Ryback has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sithole
vs
Ryback

187 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
21
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ishe Sithole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Casey Ryback!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ryback misses with a takedown attempt - Sithole sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sithole misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sithole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sithole stuffs the takedown attempt from Ryback. Ryback gets slowly back to his feet.
Ryback shoots for a takedown but Sithole saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ishe Sithole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Casey Ryback.

Sithole darts in and clinches Ryback up against the cage.
Sithole stops a takedown attempt from Ryback.

Sithole breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by Ryback or perhaps it was just good defense by Sithole which made him look bad.

Ryback scores a takedown into full mount!

Ryback looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Sithole regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryback wants to work for an arm triangle but Sithole is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ryback is looking to pass Sithole's guard but actually Sithole recovers to full guard.
Ryback looks gassed!
Ryback wants to pass the guard but Sithole is keeping the position.
Sithole might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ryback trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Sithole manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Sithole is looking to stand up but Ryback won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Ryback looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sithole passes into side control.
Sithole has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Ryback tries to reverse the position but Sithole maintains control.
Sithole controlling the pace for now.
Ryback is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sithole sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ryback really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Sithole content just to control the position here.
Ryback tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sithole controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Ryback is trying to escape the mount.
Sithole sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sithole avoids the attempt from Ryback to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishe Sithole dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sithole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sithole takes a swing at Ryback's ribcage but misses.

Ryback gets a takedown into half guard.
Ryback has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sithole working to try and regain half guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ryback looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Ryback looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sithole is trying to get back to half guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sithole prevents Ryback from moving into mount.

Ryback swings around for an armbar but Sithole sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ryback's guard.

Ryback working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sithole has passed into half guard!
Sithole prevents Ryback from improving his position.
Sithole is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryback wants to improve his position but Sithole is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sithole is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ryback is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ryback trying to get back to full guard but Sithole takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Sithole tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ishe Sithole will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sithole takes the fight into the clinch.
Ryback tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sithole just stands there and leans against the cage.
Sithole manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Sithole escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryback fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sithole tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice takedown defense from Sithole. No joy for Ryback on that attempt.
Ishe Sithole has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Casey Ryback.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryback shoots in for a takedown but Sithole shows good takedown defense.
Sithole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sithole pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sithole throws a head kick but Ryback moves out of range.
Ryback shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sithole pinned against the cage. Sithole gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryback checks the leg kick.
Ryback moves out of range as Sithole throws a body kick.
Sithole misses with a head kick.
Sithole tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ryback shoots in and drives through. Sithole sprawls well.

Ryback shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sithole's guard.
Sithole really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ryback looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryback forces his way into half guard.
Ryback is looking to advance position but Sithole won't allow it.
Sithole knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ryback on the ground.

Ryback is trying to work for a kimura but Sithole is defending well.
Sithole is trying to stand back up but Ryback is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sithole trying to hold on to Ryback's head to control him but Ryback postures up.

Ryback is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ryback prevents Sithole from improving his position.

Ryback seems to be working for a kimura but Sithole defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Ryback is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sithole doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ryback.
Ryback passes the guard and advances to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Casey Ryback comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sithole has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ishe Sithole!