PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 3078 p4p, 173 weight class) and Ruddo Ryokale (ranked 5840 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruddo Ryokale is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Faber
vs
Ryokale

168 cm
18
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ruddo Ryokale!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ryokale gets a clinch.

Ryokale pulls Faber into guard.
Ryokale working a defensive guard here.
Faber stopping the sweep attempt from Ryokale.
Ryokale wants to stand but Faber is controlling the position.
Ryokale is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ryokale in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryokale wants to take a breather but Faber is having none of it.
Ryokale is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Faber trying to control but Ryokale postures up.
Ryokale trying to pass the guard but Faber defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryokale trying to control from Faber's half guard. Faber has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Faber looking for a sweep. Not yet Faber, not yet.
Ryokale working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Faber's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber is adopting a defensive guard.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Ryokale from controlling successfully.
Faber has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ryokale sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Faber's guard.
Faber regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ryokale wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Ryokale working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Faber trying to control the position.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Ryokale from controlling successfully.
Ryokale scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ryokale lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ryokale must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Faber looking to control.
Ryokale content to stall in guard here.
Ryokale trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryokale postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Faber shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ryokale manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryokale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faber is breathing heavily.
Ryokale is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ryokale working a defensive guard but Faber passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ryokale defending well though.
Faber seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ryokale does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ryokale really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Faber. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ryokale tries to kick Faber off but Faber keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Faber prevents Ryokale from improving his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Faber takes the fight into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ryokale throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fabers head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruddo Ryokale dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Faber closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ryokale's guard.
Ryokale keeping full guard, as Faber tries to pass.
Faber would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ryokale wants to control the position but Faber says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Ryokale controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryokale regains full guard. Nicely done.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Ryokale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faber is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ryokale wants to stand but Faber is controlling the position.
Ryokale working a defensive guard here.

Ryokale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Faber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ryokale instigates a clinch.

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.
Ryokale comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Ryokale manages to pull guard.
Ryokale wants to sweep but no luck.
Ryokale is breathing heavily.
Faber content to stall in guard here.
Ryokale trying to keep a closed guard but Faber is proving a slippery customer.
Faber throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ryokale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ryokale 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 referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Urijah Faber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Faber scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Faber is trying to control. Ryokale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Faber sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ryokale defending well though.
Faber throwing shots but Ryokale is blocking nicely.
Ryokale is looking to control Faber's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ryokale avoid being mounted?
Faber not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber slows the pace down in half guard.

Faber is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ryokale doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Faber.
Faber wants to control but Ryokale is keeping him busy.
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 Urijah Faber 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!

Faber scores with a takedown into Ryokale's guard.
Ryokale is wriggling around but Faber manages to pass to half guard.

Ryokale is pressing down on Faber's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Urijah Faber overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ryokale 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.
Ryokale is looking to sweep but instead, Faber has passed into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ryokale can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ryokale slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ryokale working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Faber looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ryokale not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ryokale is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber wants to control from the top but Ryokale keeps moving.
Faber passes Ryokale's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Faber prevents Ryokale from improving his position.
Faber trying to control the action but Ryokale is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber uses his free foot to push down on Ryokale's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ryokale.
Ryokale wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Faber.
Ryokale is desperately trying to improve his position but Faber has a good base and remains in mount.
Faber avoids the attempt from Ryokale to control.
Faber throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ryokale is trying desperately to improve position.
Ryokale wants to control but Faber is having none of it.
Faber won't let Ryokale get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Faber looking to control and managing it successfully.
Faber throws some wild stikes that Ryokale manages to avoid easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Faber content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Urijah Faber showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Faber 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urijah Faber!