PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Brown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robbie Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brown
vs
Ray

215 cm
22
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Brown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Robbie Ray!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brown pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray throws a counter combo.
Brown looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Ray clinches up against the cage.
Brown wants a takedown but no success here.
Brown drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ray has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ray content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brown is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ray sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ray swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan Brown. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ray has managed to clinch.
Ray creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray tries to land knees in the clinch but Brown avoids the damage to the body.

Ray breaks the clinch.
We've been told by Brown's head coaches at Quick Fingers BEST BANG FOR BUCK Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Ray instigates a clinch.

Ray successfully pulls guard.
Ray will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown is fighting to break Ray's control of his arms but Ray is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ray looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brown is one step ahead there.
Ray looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Brown has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Ray is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Ray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brown gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ray is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Ray jumps guard but Brown turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Ray pushes off an throws an elbow but Brown leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Ray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ray clinches.
Brown really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Ray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Brown tries to keep at a distance but Ray has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ray jumps guard and drags Brown to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Ray pushes Brown off and gets back to his feet.

Ray instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray controlling the action here for a moment.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ray clinches up against the cage.
Brown tries to break free but Ray pushes him back against the cage.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Brown rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ray moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ray tries to counter by closing the distance.
Ray throws a hook to the side of Brown's head but Brown sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Ray instigates a clinch.
Brown is pressed up against the cage. Ray has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brown down to the mat. Brown avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've been informed that Ray has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Ray drives through and clinches with Brown against the cage.
Ray working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Ray ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ray no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Brown trying to control but Ray is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown looking to sit in guard and control but Ray gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ray throws a big elbow that misses.

Ray gets to his feet - Brown follows without any prompting.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ray pushes Brown up against the cage in a clinch.
Ray wants a takedown but no success here.
Brown is trying to break the clinch but Ray is controlling him.
Ray lands a left hand.
Brown prevents the takedown attempt.
Brown is trying to break the clinch but Ray has him pressed against the cage.

Ray jumps into guard, dragging Brown to the mat.
Ray wants to control the position but Brown says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Ray wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robbie Ray dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Brown gets tackled into the cage by Ray. Ray maintains the clinch.
Ray keeps control of Brown as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Brown prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ray jumps guard but Brown turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Brown breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Brown closes the distance and pushes Ray back into the cage.
Robbie Ray seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Ray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ray stalks Brown and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Brown's face. Brown staggers backwards, shaken.

Ray fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Brown, pushing him back against the cage.
Ray leaning against his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray looking for a takedown.
Nathan Brown has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robbie Ray.
Ray tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ray has Brown pressed against the cage.
Brown looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ray rushes Brown and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ray tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Brown just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ray tries to pull guard but Brown forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ray stalling in the clinch.

Ray breaks the clinch.
Nathan Brown is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ray throws a right and a left that Brown avoids nicely.
Ray moves in looking to clinch but Brown pushes him off.
As Ray looks to move away, Brown throws a big counter combo but Ray just gets out of the way.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Ray closes the distance and clinches.

Brown manages to break the clinch.
Brown throws a series of strikes that have Ray backpedaling.
Some wild striking there from Ray.
Ray rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Brown moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Jab by Ray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ray takes the fight into the clinch.

Ray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ray fails to land the takedown.
Brown went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Brown lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ray circles away quickly and effectively.

Ray closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Brown breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ray clinches with his opponent.
Ray is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A body shot lands from Ray.

Ray's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Ray rushes Brown and presses him up against the cage.
Ray has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ray shoots in and drives through. Brown sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray avoids the head kick by Brown.
Ray looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brown is fending him off so far but Ray persists. Nope, Brown circles away and we're back to standing.
Ray misses with a two punch combination.
Brown appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A decent looking cross lands there for Brown.
Ray tries to clinch there but Brown circles away.
Ray swinging wildly here.
Ray takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Brown is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ray is defended easily by Brown.
Ray dodges the punch combination from Brown.
Robbie Ray seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ray throws a series of punches but Brown moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ray's waist but Ray gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Brown off to one side.

Ray drives through and clinches with Brown against the cage.
Ray lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Brown has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ray avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Brown is looking to break free of the clinch but Ray has double underhooks.
Ray tries for a takedown but Brown manages to get underhooks.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ray.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ray wants a takedown but no success here.
Brown is trying to break the clinch but Ray is controlling him.
Brown is pressed up against the cage. Ray has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brown down to the mat. Brown avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ray shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brown misses with a two punch combination.
Ray connects with a jab.
Brown wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robbie Ray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Brown tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ray swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ray throws a right and a left that both miss.
Brown shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ray throws a series of punches but Brown moves out of range.
Brown appears to be looking for a big counter.

Ray closes the distance and pushes Brown back into the cage.
Ray lands with a left to the head.
Ray fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short right from Ray on the inside.
Ray gets through Brown's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Ray breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ray takes the fight into the clinch.

Ray breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ray tries a low kick but Brown avoids it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brown walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brown tries to land a leg kick but Ray saw it coming and moves away.

Ray closes the distance and clinches.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Ray moves into the clinch.

Ray successfully pulls guard.

Ray pushes Brown off and gets back to his feet.
Brown walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Ray has taken the fight to the clinch.
Brown prevents the takedown attempt.
Brown is trying to break free.

Ray escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ray shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Brown pinned against the cage. Brown gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nathan Brown has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robbie Ray.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray tries to clinch up but Brown circles away and keeps his distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ray shoots in looking for a takedown. Brown tries to sprawl out of it but Ray keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Brown manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick misses from Brown.

Ray rushes Brown and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ray looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ray shoots in for a takedown but Brown shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Brown darts in and clinches Ray up against the cage.

Brown breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ray forces Brown back against the cage and clinches.

Ray pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ray duly obliges.
Brown changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ray tries to avoid it but Brown manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ray to the ground. Ray escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ray looks for a takedown but Brown sprawls well.
Ray fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ray is looking to clinch but Brown is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Brown misses.
Ray throws a nice looking combination but Brown bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Ray has managed to clinch.
Ray is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Brown pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ray wants a takedown.
Brown can't get the takedown.

Ray manages to pull guard.

Brown stands and steps away. Ray gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brown fails with a takedown attempt.
Robbie Ray is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ray throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Brown changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brown throws a right hand that Ray ducks under and follows up with a left that Ray also avoids with ease.
Brown throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brown leaves Ray with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Ray closes the distance and pushes Brown back into the cage.
Brown tries for a takedown. No joy.
Brown wants to get back to striking at distance but Ray won't allow it.
Ray tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nathan Brown has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brown throws a punch but it's blocked by Ray.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robbie Ray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ray has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robbie Ray!
Robbie Ray was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.