PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lauro Henrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Henrique
vs
Byrne

179 cm
25
170 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

163 cm
24
174 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Determined

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lauro Henrique!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Byrne!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byrne darts in and clinches Henrique up against the cage.
Byrne prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henrique changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Byrne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henrique is defended easily by Byrne.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauro Henrique. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Byrne fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No luck for Henrique with that takedown attempt.

Byrne moves into the clinch.
Henrique takes a knee to the side of the body.
Byrne just leaning against Henrique, taking a breather.
A knee to the head by Byrne.

It looks like Lauro Henrique has been cut.
Byrne landing knees to the head.
Henrique is breathing heavily.
Henrique has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Byrne avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Byrne slowing the pace effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrne scores with a knee to the head.
Henrique is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Byrne pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Byrne misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Byrne comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Byrne scores with a knee to the head.
Byrne lands a knee to the head.
Henrique is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Byrne pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Come on Byrne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Byrne lands a knee to the body.
Henrique takes an elbow to the temple.
Byrne effectively controlling the action here.
Nice elbow from Byrne.
Henrique throws a punch but it's blocked by Byrne.
Henrique looking for a takedown.
Henrique tries for a takedown. No joy.
Byrne lands a knee to the head.
Byrne lands a damaging elbow.

Lauro Henrique's cut is getting worse.
Byrne scores with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Byrne.
Byrne unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Byrne leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Henrique's defenses.
Byrne crunches a lovely knee into Henrique's ribcage.
Byrne tries a knee to the head but Henrique blocks it.
Byrne looking to throw knees to the head but Henrique is blocking nicely.
Come on Byrne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Byrne blocks an uppercut.
Henrique drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Henrique jumps guard but Byrne stands there with Henrique around his waist. Henrique gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Byrne lands a knee to the head.

Henrique wants the takedown. Byrne is fighting it off but Henrique persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Byrne's guard against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henrique throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Byrne wants to sweep but no luck.
Byrne wants to stand up but Henrique is controlling him.
Byrne is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Byrne stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henrique is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Byrne pulls his head out easily.
Henrique has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Byrne is working away from the top position though.
Henrique 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.
Byrne stalling.
Byrne works his way into side control.
Byrne controls the position.

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.
Henrique tries to bench press Byrne off him but Byrne keeps the position.
Byrne just content to control the position.
Henrique gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Byrne is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Henrique wants to control but Byrne is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Henrique has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Byrne escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Byrne!
Byrne happy to just control the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henrique can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Byrne dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lauro Henrique's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henrique.
Henrique avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Byrne closes the distance and clinches.
Henrique tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Byrne just stands there and leans against the cage.
Byrne landing knees to the body.
Byrne leaning his opponent against the cage.
Henrique is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauro Henrique. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Byrne misses with a knee strike.
Byrne misses with a knee to the head.
Byrne is pressed up against the cage. Henrique has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Byrne down to the mat. Byrne avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Byrne doesn't manage to clinch there - Henrique circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good exchange - Byrne coming out on top.
Henrique fails with a takedown attempt.
Henrique keeps the fight on the outside.
Lauro Henrique is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Byrne lands a jab.
Byrne tries to clinch up but Henrique circles away and keeps his distance.
Byrne tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henrique paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A left lands for Byrne.

Henrique tries to keep at a distance but Byrne has taken the fight into the clinch.
Byrne tries a knee to the head but Henrique blocks it.
Henrique changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Byrne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Henrique shoots in for a double leg but Byrne sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Byrne fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Henrique.

Byrne takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne has Henrique pushed against the cage.
Byrne with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Byrne using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Byrne wants to stall.
Byrne taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Byrne stops a takedown attempt from Henrique.

Henrique is trying to trip Byrne. He has hold of a leg but Byrne is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Henrique persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Byrne manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Byrne is looking to clinch.
Byrne tries to clinch up but Henrique circles away and keeps his distance.
Henrique blocks a head kick by Byrne.
Henrique shoots in but no luck this time.

Byrne closes the distance and pushes Henrique back into the cage.
Henrique drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Byrne stalling.
Byrne landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne stalls.
Byrne connects with a nasty looking knee right to Henrique's face.
Byrne lands a nice elbow.
Byrne prevents a takedown attempt there.
Byrne avoiding damage.
Byrne lands an elbow inside that Henrique shrugs off.
Henrique tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Byrne just stands there and leans against the cage.
Henrique can't get the takedown.
Byrne slows down the pace here.
Byrne creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Henrique's defenses.
Byrne with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Byrne landing knees to the head.
Byrne stops a takedown attempt from Henrique.
Byrne connects with a knee to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Byrne takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Henrique misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrne using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Henrique has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henrique ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Henrique no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Byrne working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Byrne won't allow Henrique to sweep him here.

Henrique throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Henrique will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Byrne controlling from the top position.

Henrique is looking for a triangle but Byrne pushes his legs off easily.
Henrique being controlled here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Byrne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lauro Henrique's cut.
That's time! Henrique's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Byrne. No joy for Henrique on that attempt.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Byrne tries to clinch up but Henrique circles away and keeps his distance.
Byrne tries to clinch but Henrique moves out of range.
Henrique changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byrne tries to avoid it but Henrique manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byrne to the ground. Byrne escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Henrique takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Henrique shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Byrne pinned against the cage. Byrne gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lauro Henrique. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne wants to clinch up but Henrique keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henrique walks into a stiff left hand from Byrne.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Byrne lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henrique swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Byrne lands with a hook. Henrique tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Henrique circles away from the clinch attempt.
Byrne is looking to clinch.
Byrne tries to clinch up but Henrique circles away and keeps his distance.
David Byrne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Byrne tries to clinch up.
Byrne scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Byrne instigates a clinch.
Byrne using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Henrique has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
David Byrne seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Byrne stalling in the clinch.
Henrique tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Byrne smiles and moves away.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Byrne bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Henrique's head.
Henrique shoots in and drives through. Byrne sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Byrne stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Byrne wants it to stay on the feet.

Byrne forces Henrique back against the cage and clinches.
Byrne unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Byrne lands a damaging elbow.
Byrne looking to throw knees to the head but Henrique is blocking nicely.

Henrique ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Henrique no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Byrne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Byrne has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Henrique working for a triangle but Byrne defends it easily.
Byrne lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Henrique has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Byrne can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Byrne got a little sloppy there for a moment and Henrique has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Byrne has managed to get both his arms back between Henrique's legs - danger averted.
Byrne is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Henrique throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
David Byrne is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Byrne is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by David Byrne.

Byrne moves into range and clinches up with Henrique.
Henrique wants a takedown.
Lauro Henrique has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henrique working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Henrique takes a knee to the side of the body.
Byrne has Henrique pushed against the cage.
Byrne is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Byrne taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Henrique is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Byrne pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Byrne utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Henrique swings wildly with an uppercut but Byrne uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrne connects with a nasty looking knee right to Henrique's face.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Byrne comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Byrne 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Byrne!