PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyeson Ledbetter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Red Bird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ledbetter comes to the cage accompanied by Hero by Sevendust. The crowd seem to be enjoying Bird's choice of entrance music: Empire State of Mind. Tyeson Ledbetter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ledbetter
vs
Bird

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

168 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ares Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyeson Ledbetter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Red Bird!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bird.

Ledbetter forces Bird back against the cage and clinches.
Ledbetter wants to break free but Bird has control.
Bird jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ledbetter walks away with a smile on his face. Bird gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Ledbetter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bird tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tyeson Ledbetter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Red Bird.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Bird drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ledbetter gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bird looks gassed!

Ledbetter gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Ledbetter controlling the action here.
Ledbetter winds up and cracks Bird with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bird is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bird tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ledbetter manages to move to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ledbetter tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bird is trying to escape the mount.
Ledbetter controlling from the full mount.
Ledbetter unloading with bombs!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ledbetter raining down shots from the mount!
Ledbetter dominating with strikes here.
Bird tries to hold on but Ledbetter pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ledbetter cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns Bird that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Ledbetter landing shots from mount.
Bird tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ledbetter looking to control and managing it successfully.
Ledbetter lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bird hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledbetter trying to control but Bird is having none of it.
Bird tries to hold on but Ledbetter pushes him away.
Bird tries to reverse the position but Ledbetter maintains control.
Ledbetter looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bird wants to hold on but Ledbetter pushes him away.
Ledbetter controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bird is squirming around, avoiding Ledbetter's attempts to control the action.
Ledbetter controlling from mount.
Ledbetter trying to control but Bird is having none of it.

Bird defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ledbetter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyeson Ledbetter dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ledbetter tries for a takedown but Bird circles away easily

and Bird counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ledbetter!
Bird lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ledbetter tries to hold on but Bird pushes him away.
Ledbetter keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ledbetter flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Ledbetter tries to reverse the position but Bird maintains control.
Bird content just to control the position here.

Bird moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Ledbetter has worked his arm free - good work by Ledbetter!
Bird is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledbetter regains half guard.
Ledbetter trying to control from the bottom.
Bird has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Ledbetter works to full guard.
Bird loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ledbetter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ledbetter keeping full guard, as Bird tries to pass.
Ledbetter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Ledbetter wants to stand and escape but Bird is having none of it.
Ledbetter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Ledbetter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ledbetter looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ledbetter scores with a kick to the midsection.
Bird has his takedown stuffed

and Ledbetter counters with a takedown into side control.
Bird struggling a bit here.

Ledbetter stands up and beckons Bird to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ledbetter shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bird's guard.

Ledbetter gets to his feet. Bird looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ledbetter shoots in for a double leg but Bird sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ledbetter closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bird holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ledbetter breaks the clinch.
Ledbetter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ledbetter gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Bird counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyeson Ledbetter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ledbetter being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ledbetter wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ledbetter shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bird counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ledbetter seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ledbetter manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ledbetter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bird is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Red Bird will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bird shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Ledbetter kicks off Bird and gets to his feet.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ledbetter. Bird shrugs it off though.
Bird misses with a takedown

and Ledbetter counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ledbetter decides to stand back up.
Ledbetter connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ledbetter closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bird counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ledbetter won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledbetter manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bird's best efforts.
Bird trying to control from half guard but Ledbetter is working away.
Ledbetter is controlling Bird's trapped leg to prevent Bird from advancing to side control.

Bird is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ledbetter has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ledbetter won't allow Bird to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bird thows a huge punch but Ledbetter dodges it nicely.
Ledbetter is not content to let Bird control the position.

Bird seems to be looking for submissions.

Ledbetter has one foot on Bird's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Ledbetter drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bird wants to sweep here but Ledbetter controlling him for the moment.

Ledbetter decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bird, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ledbetter moves into the clinch.

Ledbetter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ledbetter throws a body punch but Bird moves out of range.
Ledbetter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bird is fending him off so far but Ledbetter persists. Nope, Bird circles away and we're back to standing.
Tyeson Ledbetter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bird shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bird showed some decent athleticism there.
Bird is pressing down on Ledbetter's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ledbetter is holding on for now.
Bird tries to stand but can't do so whilst Ledbetter controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bird decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ledbetter fails with the takedown

and Bird counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bird pushes down on Ledbetter's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bird controlling the pace.
Bird seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ledbetter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ledbetter trying to hold on to Bird's head to control him but Bird postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Red Bird.
I think Bird has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Red Bird!