PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiro Nohara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hiro Nohara has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Byrd
vs
Nohara

182 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
181 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiro Nohara!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd ducks under a wild hook from Nohara.
Nohara dips to his left and cracks Byrd with an uppercut!
Nohara throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nohara cracks Byrd with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Byrd is rocked!
Byrd is looking to clinch but Nohara is avoiding it.
Byrd ducks under a wild hook from Nohara.
Byrd takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No luck for Byrd with that takedown attempt.
Nohara throws the left hand but Byrd avoids the punch easily.
Byrd shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nohara defends it nicely.
Nohara just misses with a punch to the body.
Byrd ducks right into an uppercut from Nohara.
Byrd darts in trying to clinch

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd tries to pull guard but Nohara forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Nohara turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nohara grinds an elbow into Byrd's temple.
Byrd manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Nohara preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Byrd wants to control but Nohara is keeping him busy.
Nohara keeping hold of Byrd's head, controlling as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hiro Nohara has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Nohara moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nohara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Byrd's elbow.

Nohara ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Nohara no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Byrd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nohara manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Byrd manages to get himself to full guard.
Nohara postures up.
Nohara is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byrd throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Nohara escapes and throws Byrd's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Nohara scores with punches from side control.
Byrd is trying to control Nohara's posture but Nohara avoids it.
Nohara remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Byrd takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Byrd is letting Nohara control him for a moment.
Byrd tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Byrd's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nohara in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on Byrd's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nohara is working Byrd over with some ground and pound from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byrd being controlled for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Byrd sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Nohara dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A good leg kick by Nohara.
Byrd shoots for a double leg takedown but Nohara sprawls well. He's pushed Byrd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Byrd tries for a takedown but Nohara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Nohara throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Nohara gets a clinch.
Byrd dodges an elbow strike from Nohara.
Nohara tries to land knees in the clinch but Byrd avoids the damage to the body.
Nohara slows down the pace here.

Nohara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hiro Nohara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nohara scores with a spinning back kick!
Byrd tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nohara swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An inside leg kick from Nohara misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nohara closes the distance and clinches.
Nohara taking a breather.
A left hand lands to the body for Nohara.
Nohara lands a left hand.
Nohara will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Byrd up against the cage.
Byrd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Nohara walks away with a smile on his face. Byrd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hiro Nohara seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Byrd misses with a takedown attempt - Nohara sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nohara throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Nohara.
Nohara swings for the body but Byrd moves out of range.
Nohara has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Nohara misses the target.

Nohara rushes Byrd and presses him up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice body punch from Nohara - that landed with a thud.
Byrd has Nohara pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Nohara manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A right handed body shot lands from Nohara.
Nohara throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Nohara lands with a light punch inside.

Nohara gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Well, if Nohara is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nohara passes to side control.
Byrd takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hiro Nohara has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nohara is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Byrd is trying to escape and Nohara transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Byrd is forced to tap! Nice work there by Nohara! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hiro Nohara!