PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Epolito (ranked 797 p4p, 1262 weight class) and Bye Bye (ranked 93 p4p, 136 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Epolito
vs
Bye

172 cm
28
154
9 - 4 - 0

179 cm
28
159
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

MADNESS Apparel

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Epolito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bye Bye!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bye fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Epolito avoids it really well and circles away.
Bye changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Epolito tries to avoid it but Bye manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Epolito to the ground. Epolito escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Epolito scoring well with a low kick there.
Bye takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Bye Bye has been cut.
Epolito is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bye.
Epolito throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Bye gets a takedown into half guard.
Epolito definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Bye is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Epolito is just riding it out for now. Bye eventually gives up the hold.
Bye is keen to just control but Epolito is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epolito wants to get back to his feet.
Bye seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Epolito does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bye is looking for a kimura but Epolito is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bye to get the leverage.
Epolito tries to kick Bye off but Bye keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Bye is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Epolito sees it coming and defends easily.
Epolito tries to kick Bye off but Bye keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bye trying to mount his opponent but Epolito defends it.
Bye seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bye is trying to control the action in half guard but Epolito is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Bye works his foot free and advances to mount.
Bye tries to control but Epolito wriggling away.

Bye goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Epolito is on top in guard.
Epolito trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bye's guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bye is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bye has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Epolito is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bye.
Bye tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Epolito wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Epolito decides to stand up, so the ref orders Bye to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Epolito.
Bye fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Anthony Epolito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bye Bye.
Bye moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bye misses with a takedown attempt - Epolito sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bye bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bye slows the pace down.
Bye wants to control but Epolito is keeping him busy.

Bye goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Epolito has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bye but great work by Epolito.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bye tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Epolito easily slips into full mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Epolito dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bye Bye's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bye looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bye blocks a head kick by Epolito.
Bye drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Epolito defends it well.
Bye looks for a takedown but Epolito sprawls well.
Bye looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anthony Epolito has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bye Bye.
Bye slips a jab and a cross from Epolito.
Epolito misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bye.

Bye shoots in and gets a takedown into Epolito's guard.
Bye trying to control the position from guard on top but Epolito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Epolito is looking to stand up but Bye isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epolito keeping moving, preventing Bye from controlling successfully.
Bye stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Epolito swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bye trying to control but Epolito is working from the bottom.
Bye trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Epolito is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bye can do to turn this around?
Bye is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bye wants to pass the guard but Epolito is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Epolito tests Bye's chin there with a solid looking shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Epolito.
Good work by Bye as he checks the leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bye fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epolito scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice shot by Epolito.
Bye walks into a left hand.

Epolito gets caught napping as Bye dives in and scores a takedown. Epolito manages to retain guard.
Epolito wants to stand up but Bye is controlling him.
Bye wants to control from the top but Epolito keeps moving.
Epolito is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bye is controlling him.
Bye slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bye trying to control the position from guard on top but Epolito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bye controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jab from Epolito.
Epolito cracks Bye with an open hand slap.

Bye is rocked!
Both fighters step back and shake their arms out. Epolito engages and cracks Bye with a massive lead left hook - Bye tumbles to the floor, out cold! What a shot! Epolito is delighted - all that hard work in training paid off!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Anthony Epolito!
A determined Anthony Epolito didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!