PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jai McCracken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan has chosen Freestyler as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McCracken
vs
Ryan

171 cm
26
153 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

175 cm
41
164 lbs
29 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jai McCracken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brad Ryan!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by McCracken or perhaps it was just good defense by Ryan which made him look bad.
Ryan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McCracken misses with a takedown attempt

and Ryan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McCracken's guard now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McCracken 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.
Ryan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ryan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ryan trying to control but McCracken is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ryan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ryan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan is looking to work some ground and pound but McCracken has wrist control.
Ryan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ryan lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ryan trying to control but McCracken is working from the bottom.
Ryan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ryan throws an elbow that misses. McCracken uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ryan's guard. Nice move by McCracken!

Ryan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McCracken throwing strikes from guard but Ryan blocks nicely.
McCracken wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ryan is looking for a triangle here but McCracken uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
McCracken in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McCracken sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ryan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Ryan taking a bit of punishment here - McCracken scoring with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCracken wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ryan keeps working.
McCracken sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Ryan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McCracken misses with the ground and pound.
McCracken lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ryan down.
McCracken misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
You can see the frustration on Ryan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ryan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken scoring with punches from side control.
McCracken working away.
McCracken wants to control but Ryan is keeping him busy.
Ryan can't do much from the bottom here.
McCracken trying to control the position but Ryan is working away.
Ryan is trying to control McCracken's posture but McCracken avoids it.
Ryan defending against the ground and pound.
McCracken in side control, throwing shots but Ryan defends.
McCracken controlling the position from side mount.
Ryan prevents McCracken from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken is trying to ground and pound but Ryan uses the momentary lack of control by McCracken to regain half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ryan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McCracken is looking to pass into half guard but Ryan pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ryan is in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ryan throws an elbow that misses. McCracken uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ryan's guard. Nice move by McCracken!
Ryan keeping moving, preventing McCracken from controlling successfully.
Ryan wants to sweep here but McCracken controlling him for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McCracken pushes down on Ryan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ryan trying to control but McCracken postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Brad Ryan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ryan moves away from the strike by McCracken.
McCracken throws a nice inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from McCracken.
Ryan checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ryan has a takedown stuffed.
McCracken throws a leg kick but Ryan sees it coming and moves out of range.
McCracken scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McCracken avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brad Ryan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McCracken finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McCracken takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McCracken fails to land with a series of punches.
McCracken keeps the fight on the outside.
McCracken lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ryan misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCracken looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McCracken wants to land a leg kick but Ryan is out of range.
Ryan jabs McCracken right on the nose. McCracken blinks but takes it well.
A head kick by Ryan misses
and McCracken counters with an inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from McCracken misses.
McCracken misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ryan shoots for a takedown but McCracken saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A good leg kick by McCracken.
Brad Ryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryan tries to clinch up.
McCracken throws a leg kick

and Ryan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ryan.

Ryan has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed McCracken clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

McCracken is having to fend off submission attempts from Ryan, who is looking to sink in the choke. Ryan doesn't have the hooks in though and McCracken manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McCracken chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan trying to keep a closed guard but McCracken is proving a slippery customer.
McCracken lands a couple of digs.
McCracken postures up in Ryan's guard and throws a big left but Ryan blocks it.
Ryan controlling McCracken's posture.
McCracken postures up and lands a big shot to Ryan's brow.
Ryan looking to control.
McCracken throws a strike but Ryan rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ryan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McCracken works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McCracken looking to control.
Ryan scoring with some ground and pound.
Ryan postures up.
Ryan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ryan trying to control the position from guard on top but McCracken is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ryan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCracken pulls Ryan in close to prevent any damage.
Ryan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken pulls Ryan in close to his closed guard and prevents Ryan from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ryan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ryan looking to pass the guard.
Brad Ryan has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCracken is trying to keep Ryan in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jai McCracken just wasn't active enough.
McCracken takes one on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryan darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ryan doesn't manage to clinch there - McCracken circles away.
McCracken keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jai McCracken 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!
Ryan is looking to clinch.
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 Jai McCracken 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 shoots in for a takedown but McCracken shows good takedown defense.
Ryan shoots in but no luck this time.
McCracken scores with a leg kick.
McCracken throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
McCracken throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Ryan dives in and scores a takedown into McCracken's guard.
McCracken trying to control the position here.
Ryan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ryan drops back, looking for a kneebar! McCracken looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McCracken looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McCracken!
McCracken trying to control the position but Ryan is working away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCracken scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan is not content to let McCracken control the position.
Ryan is looking for a sweep.
McCracken is working Ryan over with some ground and pound from side control.
Ryan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ryan is looking to improve his position.
McCracken throws a strike but Ryan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
McCracken trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.
McCracken throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ryan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ryan holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCracken is looking to work some ground and pound but Ryan has wrist control.
McCracken won't allow Ryan to sweep him here.
Ryan trying to keep a closed guard but McCracken is proving a slippery customer.
Ryan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McCracken's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCracken wants to sweep but no luck.
McCracken is working hard here to advance position.
Ryan wants to control from the top but McCracken keeps moving.
Ryan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McCracken is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCracken trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.
Ryan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
McCracken wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.
McCracken postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ryan pushes McCracken off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ryan moves into range and connects with a jab.
McCracken throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ryan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ryan throws a right and a left that McCracken avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCracken throws a solid leg kick but Ryan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at McCracken.
Ryan tries to score a power double leg takedown but McCracken sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ryan somewhat.
Jai McCracken has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Ryan.
McCracken avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jai McCracken is winning the standup battle so far.
McCracken scores with a body shot.

Ryan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McCracken manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McCracken wants to sweep but no luck.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ryan throws a big right hand that misses.
Ryan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ryan stopping the sweep attempt from McCracken.

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 Jai McCracken.
I think McCracken 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jai McCracken!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Jai McCracken waved his t-shirt featuring Milwaukee's Best 160 's logo in front of the cameras.