PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bertrand Escher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Boyd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Boyd's choice of entrance music: Family Tradition . Bertrand Escher has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Escher
vs
Boyd

168 cm
27
150 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

173 cm
21
156 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Burning Fist Apparel

Rivers Edge Nutrition (Disciples of Pain)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bertrand Escher!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Boyd!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escher attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Boyd misses the shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Boyd.
Boyd throws a hook but Escher avoids it easily.
Boyd thows a body shot but no joy.
Boyd throws the left hand but Escher avoids the punch easily.
Boyd misses with an uppercut

and Escher counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Boyd's guard now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Escher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Escher throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boyd works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Escher in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Boyd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Escher is aware though and is defending well.
Boyd keeping moving, preventing Escher from controlling successfully.
Boyd is trying to keep Escher in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escher scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Escher scoring with punches to the head and body.
Escher with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Boyd avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Escher trying to control the position from guard on top but Boyd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boyd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Escher.
Escher postures up in Boyd's guard and throws a big left but Boyd blocks it.

Boyd is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Escher defends well.
Escher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Escher is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Escher working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boyd is on top in guard.
Boyd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boyd trying to control the position from guard on top but Escher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Escher had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Boyd defends it easily.
Boyd lands a couple of elbows.
Boyd scoring with punches to the head and body.
Boyd working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Boyd with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boyd missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boyd slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Boyd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boyd tries to free his leg and advance position but Escher is retaining full guard.
Boyd postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Boyd trying to control but Escher is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Escher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boyd thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd throws and elbow that misses. Escher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Boyd's guard. Nice move by Escher!
Boyd keeping moving, preventing Escher from controlling successfully.
Escher throwing strikes from guard but Boyd blocks nicely.

Boyd had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Escher defends it easily.
Boyd trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Boyd working for a triangle but Escher defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Escher accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Boyd will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Boyd checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Boyd connects with a crisp jab.
Escher shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Boyd as he avoids it easily.
Boyd lands with a right hand.
Boyd scores with a nice head shot.
Boyd throws a wild body kick that Escher sees coming a mile off.
Boyd is looking to slow Escher down with leg kicks.
Boyd lands with an overhand left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escher uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Boyd.

Escher shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Boyd is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Escher lands a nice short elbow.

Boyd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bertrand Escher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boyd is trying to maintain the position but Escher is very close to passing his half guard.
Escher wants to take a breather but Boyd is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escher is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Boyd doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Escher.
Boyd on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Boyd wants to control but Escher is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Escher is looking for a kimura but Boyd is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Escher to get the leverage.
Escher is looking to take a break and control but Boyd is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Escher with the ground and pound but Boyd uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boyd is on top in guard.
Boyd loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd is looking to work some ground and pound but Escher has wrist control.
Escher is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Escher has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boyd is pushing down on Escher's leg trying to pass to half guard. Escher is fighting to maintain full guard but Boyd has managed to sneak the leg through.
Boyd throwing shots but Escher is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd is thwarting Escher's attempts to control the position.
Boyd missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boyd throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Boyd wants to take a breather but Escher is having none of it.
Escher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Escher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Boyd missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boyd landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Boyd has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Escher has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Boyd is working away from the top position though.
Boyd trying to control the action but Escher is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Boyd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Boyd 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.
Boyd tests Escher's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Boyd looks to land a left hand but Escher moved out of range nicely.
Boyd smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Boyd throws a series of punches but Escher avoids them all with ease.
Escher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Boyd jabs Escher right on the nose. Escher blinks but takes it well.
Boyd fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Escher looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Boyd throws a sloppy head kick and Escher moves out of range easily.
Boyd 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.
Escher walks into a jab.
Escher fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyd chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boyd connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Boyd throws a head kick that half lands.

Boyd instigates a clinch.
Come on Boyd - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Escher wants to get back to striking at distance but Boyd won't allow it.
Escher can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Boyd.
Boyd tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Boyd lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Escher or not.
Boyd misses with a body punch.
Boyd is stalling here.
Boyd tries to throw a body punch but Escher avoids it by throwing Boyd back against the cage.
Escher tries for a takedown. No joy.
Boyd lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Boyd misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Boyd breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyd shoots in and drives through. Escher sprawls well.
Boyd cracks Escher with an open hand slap.
Escher throws a sloppy head kick and Boyd moves out of range easily.
Escher slips under a jab.
Escher throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boyd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Escher stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escher slips a straight right by Boyd.
Boyd scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Boyd really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Boyd.
Escher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Boyd.
Boyd misses with a hook.
Boyd throws a leg kick that misses.
Boyd with a poor takedown

and Escher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Escher postures up in Boyd's guard and throws a big left but Boyd blocks it.
Escher working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Boyd's head.

Boyd is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boyd is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Boyd postures up and lands a big shot to Escher's brow.
Boyd wants to control from the top but Escher keeps moving.
Boyd content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Boyd trying to control the position from guard on top but Escher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Escher is trying to keep Boyd in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Escher is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Boyd postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Escher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boyd trying to control but Escher is working from the bottom.
Escher working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boyd looking to sit in guard and control but Escher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Boyd 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.
Escher postures up in Boyd's guard and throws a big left but Boyd blocks it.

Boyd working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escher doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escher manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Escher works over Boyd with some ground and pound from guard.
Escher preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escher trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Escher thows a big elbow that misses.

Boyd throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boyd is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

Boyd is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Escher defends well.
Escher landing with the ground and pound.
Boyd preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boyd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Escher.
Escher postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boyd keeping moving, preventing Escher from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Bertrand Escher 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!

A clash of legs there as Escher blocks the low kick.
Boyd thows a left - swing and a miss!
Alexander Boyd seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Escher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boyd fails with the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyd tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Escher counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyd is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Escher is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Boyd keeping moving, preventing Escher from controlling successfully.

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

Boyd working for a triangle but Escher defends it easily.
Boyd is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Escher wants to control from the top but Boyd keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boyd working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Escher doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Escher manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Escher trying to control the position from guard on top but Boyd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Escher postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Boyd is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Escher, into his guard.
Boyd postures up in Escher's guard and throws a big left but Escher blocks it.
Boyd throwing strikes from guard but Escher blocks nicely.
Boyd lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyd in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boyd trying to control the position from guard on top but Escher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boyd throwing strikes but missing.
Escher keeping moving, preventing Boyd from controlling successfully.
Escher seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Escher trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Alexander Boyd is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escher controlling Boyd's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Boyd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Escher looking for a sweep. Not yet Escher, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boyd accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bertrand Escher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boyd throwing strikes but missing.
Boyd throwing strikes from guard but Escher blocks nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boyd pushes down on Escher's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexander Boyd.
Well Boyd 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 46:49
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 45:50
Judge William Peck scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Boyd!
Alexander Boyd is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath Alexander Boyd thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.