PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brad Ryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxwell Church (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Freestyler. Church comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Stroke by Billy Squire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Maxwell Church will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ryan
vs
Church

175 cm
24
164 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

184 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Fortitude Apparel

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Brad Ryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Maxwell Church!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Church tries to clinch up.
Church fails with a takedown attempt.
Ryan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Church looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ryan is fending him off so far but Church persists. Nope, Ryan circles away and we're back to standing.
Brad Ryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ryan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ryan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Church blocks a head kick by Ryan.

Ryan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Church to the mat! Church manages to get full guard.
Church wants to sweep but no luck.

Church throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Church is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ryan stopping the sweep attempt from Church.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Church can't keep his opponent in guard - Ryan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Ryan is looking for a kimura here.

Ryan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Church tries to roll over but Ryan keeps him under control.
Ryan wants to free his trapped foot but Church is holding on for dear life with his legs.

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.

Church makes his way to full guard, as Ryan worked for a kimura.
Ryan is breathing heavily.
Church keeping full guard, as Ryan tries to pass.
Church keeping moving, preventing Ryan from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ryan passes Church's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Ryan is trying to work for a kimura but Church is defending well.

Ryan seems to be working for a kimura but Church defends the submission attempt.
Church trying to hold on to Ryan's head to control him but Ryan postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Church is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Church actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Church!
Church misses with a takedown

and Ryan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Church's guard now.
Brad Ryan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maxwell Church.

Church is looking for a triangle but Ryan pushes his legs off easily.
Ryan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ryan preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Church had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ryan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Church Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ryan's back instead.
Church is not going to allow Ryan to sit and survive in this position.
Church lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Church.
Church controlling well, preventing Ryan from escaping the position.

Church is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ryan knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ryan for a finish.
Ryan tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Ryan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Ryan dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Church blocks a head kick by Ryan.
Nice takedown defense from Ryan. No joy for Church on that attempt.
Ryan swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Church.
Ryan misses with a combination

and Church counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ryan!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Church tries to control but Ryan wriggling away.
Ryan is trying to escape the mount.
Church sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ryan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ryan is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ryan gets back to full guard.
Church throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Church thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ryan trying to keep a closed guard but Church is proving a slippery customer.
Ryan 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 is trying to control the position but Church postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Church shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ryan counters with a nice double leg into side control. Church won't be happy with that.

Ryan goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Church rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Ryan's guard! Nice work there by Church!

Church avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is trying to keep Church in close.

Church stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ryan looks to land a body kick but Church moved away.
Ryan thows a leg kick but Church checks it

and Church counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ryan is in trouble now - Church has advanced to mount!
Church tries to control but Ryan wriggling away.
Ryan regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan is looking for a sweep. Church is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Church is keen to just control but Ryan is a slippery customer.
Ryan is looking to control Church's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ryan avoid being mounted?
Ryan is trying to get back to full guard.
Ryan is in trouble now - Church has advanced to mount!
Church dominating with strikes here.
Church is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Church controlling his opponent.
Ryan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ryan looking for submissions off his back.
Ryan trying to control from the bottom.

Church seems to be working for a kimura but Ryan defends the submission attempt.
Ryan is trying to maintain the position but Church is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Church drops an elbow to the side of Ryan's head.
Ryan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ryan won't allow Church to pass to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Church showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ryan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Church regains full guard. Nicely done.
Church wants to sweep but no luck.

Ryan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Church is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ryan, into his guard.
Church wants to control from the top but Ryan keeps moving.

Ryan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Church looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Church with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Church is one step ahead there.
Church scoring with some ground and pound.
Ryan working a defensive guard here.
Church postures up and lands a big shot to Ryan's brow.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Church misses with a takedown

and Ryan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Church's guard.
Church keeping full guard, as Ryan tries to pass.
Church controls Ryan momentarily but Ryan frees himself.
Ryan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Church swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Brad Ryan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Church is looking for a triangle but Ryan pushes his legs off easily.
Ryan looking to sit in guard and control but Church gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ryan looking for a guillotine here but Church defends easily.
Ryan keeping full guard, as Church tries to pass.
Ryan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Church's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryan throwing strikes but missing.

Church escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ryan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ryan trying to control the position from guard on top but Church is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ryan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Church looking for a guillotine here but Ryan defends easily.
Church wants to sweep here but Ryan controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ryan wants to control from the top but Church keeps moving.
Church bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ryan's guard.
Church trying to control but Ryan is working from the bottom.

Church is sitting in close to Ryan's body. Ryan has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Church is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Church is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Ryan.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Brad Ryan!