PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Giorgio Lollo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Byler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giorgio Lollo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lollo
vs
Byler

195 cm
18
276 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
24
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Giorgio Lollo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Byler!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byler clinches with his opponent.
Byler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lollo walks away with a smile on his face. Byler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Byler scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Byler trying to mount his opponent but Lollo defends it.
Byler tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Lollo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Byler.
Lollo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lollo controlling the position well.

Byler is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lollo sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byler trying to pass the guard but Lollo defending well.
Lollo is doing well to control the position and prevent Byler from advancing to side control.
Lollo is pressing down on Byler's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Lollo scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Byler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Byler moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lollo is trying to stand but he's just given Byler his back.
A lull in the action here.

Byler is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
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!
Lollo tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lollo trying to control the position but Byler manages to sink in the hooks.
Lollo has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Byler.
Byler lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lollo preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Byler.
Byler looks winded!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Byler is persistently looking for the submission but Lollo is defending it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byler controlling well, preventing Lollo from escaping the position.
Byler is punishing Lollo with strikes - can he finish him?!
Byler keeps control of the position as Lollo tries to break free.
Byler is looking to control Lollo but Lollo is wriggling around and keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Byler dominated that round.
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.

Lollo throws a series of punches but Byler avoids them all with ease.
Lollo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Byler moves into the clinch.
Lollo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Byler is trying to pull guard but Lollo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Byler stalling in the clinch.
Byler lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lollo backwards.
Lollo looking to slow down the pace here.

Byler pulls guard.
Byler trying to control the position.
Lollo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lollo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lollo trying to control but Byler is working from the bottom.
Lollo lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Byler. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Byler has his foot on Lollo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lollo works his way back into a safe position though.
Byler is breathing heavily.
Lollo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lollo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Byler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lollo defends it easily.
Lollo trying to control but Byler is working from the bottom.
Lollo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Byler really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lollo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lollo is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lollo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lollo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Byler's head.
John Byler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Byler is trying to hold Lollo in close to prevent damage but Lollo has managed to pass into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lollo prevents Byler from improving his position.
Byler is staying active underneath Lollo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lollo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lollo is trying to control the action in half guard but Byler is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lollo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lollo thows a huge punch but Byler dodges it nicely.
Lollo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lollo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lollo drops an elbow to the side of Byler's head.
Lollo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lollo scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lollo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lollo connects with a nice short shot to Byler's temple.
Lollo winds up and cracks Byler with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Lollo lands strikes from half guard.

Lollo decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byler takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lollo thows a body shot but no joy.
Lollo tries to bum rush Byler with a series of wild strikes but Byler uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lollo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lollo there as he acknowledges the shot.
Byler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lollo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Byler avoids a punch combination nicely.
Byler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lollo but Lollo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Giorgio Lollo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Byler.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sloppy strikes from Lollo. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giorgio Lollo dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lollo misses with a lunging right hand
and Byler counters with a series of strikes. Lollo will be more careful next time no doubt.

Byler closes the distance and pushes Lollo back into the cage.

Byler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lollo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Byler counters with a one-two to the body.

Byler clinches.
Lollo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Byler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Lollo doesn't manage to clinch there - Byler circles away.
Byler looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Byler has Lollo up against the cage in a clinch.

Byler pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lollo slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Byler.

Lollo decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Lollo throws a lazy uppercut

and Byler moves into the clinch.
Lollo tries to stall but Byler uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Byler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lollo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lollo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lollo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Byler throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lollo takes one to the side of the head.
Byler lands a slapping body shot.

Byler takes the fight into the clinch.

Byler breaks the clinch.

Byler drives through and clinches with Lollo against the cage.
Lollo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lollo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byler is struggling to control the position.
Byler keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lollo's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byler fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lollo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byler comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Byler drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Giorgio Lollo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Byler.
Byler throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lollo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Byler prevents Lollo from breaking the clinch.
Lollo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lollo throws a punch but it's blocked by Byler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Byler moves into range and clinches up with Lollo.
Byler has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lollo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Lollo breaks from the clinch.

Lollo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ground and pound from Lollo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Byler is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lollo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lollo slips a nice elbow through Byler's hands, connecting with Byler's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Byler.
I think Byler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Byler!