PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rice Boyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sparring Partner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Boyd
vs
Partner

170 cm
29
152 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

169 cm
27
145 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rice Boyd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sparring Partner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Partner scores with a nice right hand.
Partner jabs Boyd right on the nose. Boyd blinks but takes it well.
Boyd throws a head kick but Partner moves out of range.
Boyd misses with a jab, cross combination.
Boyd misses with a body shot.
Horrible takedown by Partner or perhaps it was just good defense by Boyd which made him look bad.
Boyd throws a right and a left that Partner avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Partner throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Boyd was covering up waiting for the punch and Partner finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd looking for a sweep. Not yet Boyd, not yet.
Boyd looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Partner puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boyd wants to improve his position but Partner is controlling well.
Boyd blocking the ground and pound attempt from Partner.
Partner trying to control from half guard but Boyd is working away.
Boyd regains full guard. Nicely done.

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.
Boyd working a defensive guard here.
Boyd keeping full guard, as Partner tries to pass.
Partner lands a couple of digs.
Boyd lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Partner!
Boyd sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Boyd avoids the attempt from Partner to control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Boyd wants to control the pace but Partner is squirming around nicely.

That's four 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.
Boyd is really struggling to control Partner but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boyd throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Partner is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Boyd prevents Partner from getting the reversal.
Boyd avoids the attempt from Partner to control.
Boyd tries to control but Partner wriggling away.
Boyd thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's six 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.
Boyd wants to control the pace but Partner is squirming around nicely.
Boyd looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boyd looking to control but Partner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Partner really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Partner slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's eight 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.
Partner trying to control here.

We're going to have a standup here because Rice Boyd wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Partner shoots in and drives through. Boyd sprawls well.
Boyd fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Partner manages to avoid it.
Boyd throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Boyd throws out a loose jab but Partner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Boyd throws a nice looking combination but Partner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Boyd rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Partner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Partner tries to clinch but Boyd is having none of it.
Partner swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Boyd counters with a left and a right that stings Partner.
Boyd throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Partner avoids the head kick by Boyd.
Boyd throws a right and a left that Partner avoids nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boyd misses with the combination.
Boyd uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Partner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rice Boyd will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Boyd keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good work by Partner as he checks the leg kick.
Boyd scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Partner ducks under a wild hook from Boyd.
Partner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Boyd.
Partner throws a jab when Boyd was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Partner on the side of the head.
Partner ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Partner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Boyd swivels and escapes.
Boyd fails to land with a series of punches.
Partner moves in looking to clinch but Boyd pushes him off.
Boyd takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Boyd waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Partner.

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.
Partner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Boyd throws an overhand right that lands on Partner's shoulder, as Partner tries to avoid the shot.
Partner lands a jab to the head.
Partner jabs Boyd right on the nose. Boyd blinks but takes it well.
Rice Boyd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boyd misses with a combination
and Partner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Partner loads up on a big right hand but Boyd slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Partner scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Partner wants to free his trapped foot but Boyd is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Partner trying to control from half guard but Boyd is working away.
Partner slips a nice elbow through Boyd's hands, connecting with Boyd's forehead.
Partner prevents Boyd from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Partner wants to take a breather but Boyd is having none of it.
Boyd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Partner seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Boyd does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boyd tries to roll over but Partner keeps him under control.
Partner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Boyd moves into full guard.
Boyd working a defensive guard but Partner manages to pass into side control anyway.

Partner goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Boyd rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Partner's guard! Nice work there by Boyd!
Partner wants to sweep but no luck.

That's six 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.
Partner keeping full guard, as Boyd tries to pass.
Partner 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Partner is on top in guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Boyd tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Partner trying to control but Boyd is working from the bottom.
Boyd trying to keep a closed guard but Partner is proving a slippery customer.
Boyd tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Partner is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Partner postures up.
Partner throws a big right hand that misses.
Partner sitting in guard here, content to control.
Partner wants to pass the guard but Boyd is keeping the position.
Partner wants to control from the top but Boyd keeps moving.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sparring Partner hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A swing and a miss from Partner.
Boyd leaves Partner with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rice Boyd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sparring Partner.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Boyd's jab looks to have found its range, popping Partner under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rice Boyd.
I think Boyd 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Sparring Partner!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Rice Boyd!
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Sparring Partner!

Sparring Partner wins by split decision!