PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Casey Ryback (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Phoenix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Simon Phoenix told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ryback
vs
Phoenix

195 cm
29
280 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

200 cm
24
288 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Casey Ryback!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Phoenix !
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Phoenix throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ryback ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ryback keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Phoenix .
Phoenix throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Phoenix connects with a crisp jab.
Ryback keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Phoenix .
Phoenix throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Phoenix swings for the body but Ryback moves out of range.
Ryback on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Phoenix scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ryback.

Ryback changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Phoenix looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ryback scoring with punches and elbows.

It looks like Simon Phoenix has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ryback in side control, throwing shots but Phoenix defends.
Ryback trying to control the position but Phoenix is working away.

Ryback looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Phoenix manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ryback's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryback is looking to take a break and control but Phoenix is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Phoenix trying to control but Ryback postures up.
Ryback trying to control from half guard but Phoenix is working away.
Phoenix tries to roll over but Ryback keeps him under control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ryback blocks a jab.
Ryback takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Phoenix lands with an overhand left.
Phoenix throws a jab but it's blocked by Ryback.
Phoenix scores with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses with a straight left.
Ryback staying out of range there.
Ryback looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ryback fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Phoenix .
Ryback tries to score a power double leg takedown but Phoenix sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ryback somewhat.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Ryback moved out of range.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Ryback ducked under it nicely.
Phoenix misses with a hook. Ryback ducked under it nicely.
Phoenix throws a right and a left that Ryback avoids nicely.
Ryback works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Simon Phoenix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phoenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Phoenix lands a jab to Ryback's midsection.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix misses the shot to the body.
Phoenix lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ryback at a distance.
Phoenix thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ryback slips under a jab from Phoenix .
Phoenix misses with a few strikes there.
Ryback shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Phoenix as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Casey Ryback. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Phoenix keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ryback uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Phoenix .
Ryback swinging wildly here.
Ryback scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ryback tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ryback slips a jab from Phoenix .
Some wild striking there from Phoenix .
A telegraphed right hand from Phoenix misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ryback in his tracks.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Ryback moved out of range.

Ryback shoots in and gets a takedown into Phoenix 's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Ryback is proving a slippery customer.
Ryback trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Phoenix really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ryback. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Phoenix 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Phoenix is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Simon Phoenix will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Simon Phoenix 's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ryback takes one to the chin there.
Phoenix cracks Ryback with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ryback keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Phoenix misses the target.
Phoenix looks to land a combination but Ryback avoids it well.
A jab from Phoenix misses.
Phoenix looks to score with a jab to the body but Ryback is just out of range.
Ryback ducks right into an uppercut from Phoenix .
Phoenix throws a leg kick

and Ryback counters with a shoot takedown. Phoenix fights it but they end up in guard.
Ryback scoring with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ryback loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ryback throwing strikes from guard but Phoenix blocks nicely.
Ryback controls from within his opponent's guard.
Phoenix avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix trying to keep a closed guard but Ryback is proving a slippery customer.
Ryback postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ryback trying to control but Phoenix is working from the bottom.
Ryback lands a couple of elbows.
Ryback trying to control the position from guard on top but Phoenix is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ryback is pushing down on Phoenix 's leg trying to pass to half guard. Phoenix is fighting to maintain full guard but Ryback has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ryback prevents Phoenix from standing back up.
Phoenix blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ryback.
Ryback seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Phoenix does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ryback winds up and cracks Phoenix with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Phoenix is trying to get back to full guard.
Ryback is keen to just control but Phoenix is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Phoenix is trying to get back to full guard.
Ryback throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ryback has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ryback with the ground and pound from mount.

That has opened up Simon Phoenix 's cut even more.
Phoenix tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ryback tries to control but Phoenix wriggling away.
Ryback lands a heavy elbow.

The cut above Simon Phoenix 's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Ryback connects with a bit shot that sees Phoenix covering up! More strikes from Ryback and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Ryback is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Casey Ryback!
Casey Ryback decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.