PBP Commentary

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

De Gaul
vs
Byrne

193 cm
20
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

203 cm
20
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Obelix De Gaul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Byrne!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrne throws a head kick but De Gaul moves out of range.
De Gaul just misses with a punch to the body.
De Gaul blocks the body kick.
Byrne tries a head kick but it misses.
Byrne tries a head kick but it misses.
De Gaul throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrne.

Byrne rushes De Gaul and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by De Gaul.
Byrne lands a nice shot to the body.
Byrne has a couple of punches blocked by De Gaul.
De Gaul can't find room to land a body shot as Byrne controls the action.
Byrne can't find room to land a body shot as De Gaul controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Gaul misses with some punches.
I was talking to De Gaul's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
De Gaul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Byrne's elbow.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with De Gaul's elbow.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for De Gaul.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Gaul tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Byrne's elbow.
De Gaul doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Gaul struggles to land a body shot inside as Byrne controls his hands.
Byrne has De Gaul pushed against the cage.
De Gaul digs a right hand into Byrne's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Byrne's gas tank.
De Gaul blocks a punch to the side of the head.
De Gaul scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Byrne misses with some punches.
Byrne dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Byrne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byrne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with De Gaul's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Gaul misses with the head strike.
Byrne blocking some punches.
De Gaul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from De Gaul fails to land.
De Gaul swings away with an uppercut that misses.
De Gaul swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Byrne blocks a body shot from De Gaul.
Byrne misses with a shot to the kidneys.
De Gaul blocks an uppercut.
De Gaul misses with some punches.
De Gaul blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
De Gaul throws a head punch that misses.
De Gaul wants to break the clinch but can't.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for De Gaul.
De Gaul lands a left hand.
De Gaul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne throws a punch but it's blocked by De Gaul.
Byrne looking to stall.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
De Gaul blocking some punches.
Byrne lands a shoulder strike.
Byrne is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but De Gaul is keeping busy.
De Gaul lands with a left to the head.
Byrne blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A body shot lands from De Gaul.
De Gaul lands a nice shot to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from De Gaul.
Byrne blocks a body shot from De Gaul.
Byrne takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne wants to stall.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from De Gaul.
De Gaul gets through Byrne's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, De Gaul creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
De Gaul tries to circle away but Byrne has him pinned against the cage.
De Gaul throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Byrne looks winded!
De Gaul is working Byrne over against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Byrne lands an elbow inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Byrne throws an elbow but misses.
Byrne lands with a short head shot on the inside.
De Gaul has had enough of the clinch but Byrne keeps him there for the moment.
De Gaul lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Byrne or not.
De Gaul lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Byrne or not.
A short right hand to the side of the head by De Gaul.
Byrne misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Obelix De Gaul dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

De Gaul misses with a body shot.
De Gaul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Byrne manages to avoid it.
Byrne is looking to score with low kicks.
Matt Byrne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Gaul digs a good hook to Byrne's body.
De Gaul throws a shot to the body.
Byrne slips under a jab.
Byrne tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and De Gaul is able to avoid easily.
De Gaul works Byrne's body with a nice hook.
Byrne lands a high kick!
De Gaul scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
De Gaul avoids the body shot from Byrne.
De Gaul on the wrong end of a nice hook.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Byrne in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Byrne looks to throw the jab but De Gaul is out of range.
De Gaul shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
De Gaul showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Byrne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Gaul jabbing away but nothing is landing.
De Gaul moves out of range as Byrne strikes.
De Gaul fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Byrne on the side of the head.
De Gaul throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Byrne counter with a right hand.
Byrne throws a head kick but De Gaul moves out of range.
De Gaul lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
De Gaul throws a body shot but no joy.
De Gaul is looking to wear down Byrne with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
De Gaul misses with an uppercut.
De Gaul lands a head shot.
De Gaul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Byrne manages to avoid it.
De Gaul blocks a head kick by Byrne.

De Gaul cracks Byrne with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Byrne looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can De Gaul finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
De Gaul throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Gaul moves out of range of the body kick from Byrne.
A slow jab from De Gaul misses its intended target.
Byrne scores with a nice body kick.
De Gaul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Byrne manages to avoid it.
De Gaul moves out of range of the body kick.
De Gaul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrne moves away.
De Gaul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Gaul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Byrne can do to turn this around?
De Gaul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrne moves away.
Obelix De Gaul is winning the standup battle so far.
Byrne scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Byrne lands a nice looking body kick.
De Gaul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Byrne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Gaul misses with a wild body shot.
Byrne throws a series of punches but De Gaul moves out of range.
De Gaul throws a right and a left that Byrne avoids nicely.
Byrne avoids the body shot from De Gaul.
Byrne throws a half hearted mid kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from De Gaul. Byrne does a little dance to reset his feet.
De Gaul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Byrne scores with a nice right hand.
Byrne throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Byrne looks for the body kick but De Gaul saw that one coming.
De Gaul moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
De Gaul misses with a body shot

and Byrne counters by clinching up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Byrne.
A left hand lands to the body for De Gaul.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne trying to stall but De Gaul improves his position.
De Gaul blocking some punches.
Byrne has De Gaul pressed against the cage, preventing De Gaul from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Byrne misses with the head strike.
Byrne is looking to control De Gaul's arms but De Gaul gets an underhook and turns him. Now Byrne has his back to the cage.
De Gaul misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrne working aggressively here.
De Gaul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Byrne.
Byrne tries to throw a body punch but De Gaul avoids it by throwing Byrne back against the cage.
De Gaul has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Byrne working some nice short punches in the clinch.
De Gaul displaying some good clinch control by pressing Byrne up against the cage.
De Gaul scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Obelix De Gaul dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Nice body punch from De Gaul.
De Gaul scores with a decent looking hook.
Byrne displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as De Gaul throws out the jab.
De Gaul with a hook.
Byrne cracks De Gaul with an open hand slap.
That kick from Byrne tenderised De Gaul's leg. De Gaul is trying to keep his angry face on.
De Gaul lands a jab-cross combination.
De Gaul connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Byrne's hands.
Byrne fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
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!
Byrne throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
De Gaul misses with a hook. Byrne ducked under it nicely.
Byrne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from De Gaul.
De Gaul throws a body punch but Byrne moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for De Gaul.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Gaul walks into a straight right hand from Byrne.
A big right from Byrne misses.
De Gaul moves out of range of the strikes.
De Gaul misses with a wild body shot.
Byrne ducks under a wild hook from De Gaul.
De Gaul misses with a wild body shot.
Byrne takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Byrne defending well as De Gaul loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the liver by Byrne. Beautiful body shot.
Byrne throws a hook but De Gaul avoids it easily.
De Gaul lands a nice shot to the body.
De Gaul with a nice cross.
De Gaul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrne moves away.
De Gaul swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Gaul takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A slow jab from De Gaul misses its intended target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Gaul rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Byrne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Byrne connects with an inside leg kick.
Byrne blocks a jab.
De Gaul misses with a body shot

and Byrne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Byrne blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Byrne scores with an uppercut up the middle.

It looks like Obelix De Gaul has been cut.
De Gaul's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
De Gaul on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The referee calls for Byrne to work.
De Gaul works on Byrne's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Gaul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Obelix De Gaul has scored more points in the clinch so far.
De Gaul struggles to land a body shot inside as Byrne controls his hands.
De Gaul is trying to push Byrne away but Byrne has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Byrne lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of De Gaul backwards.
De Gaul tries a body shot but Byrne blocks it.
Byrne blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
De Gaul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byrne lands a nice uppercut.
De Gaul misses with a hook to the ribs.
Byrne keeps the fight in the clinch, despite De Gaul's efforts to push away.
De Gaul's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
De Gaul scores with a hook to the body.
Byrne lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne misses with a punch to the body.
Byrne is trying to maintain a safe position but De Gaul gets an underhook and turns Byrne into the cage.
De Gaul lands with a right to the head.
De Gaul lands a right hand that snaps the head of Byrne backwards.
De Gaul makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Byrne lands with a light punch inside.
Byrne lands an elbow just above De Gaul 's eye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
De Gaul misses with a punch to the body.
De Gaul lands with a short shot to the head.
Obelix De Gaul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Byrne content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Byrne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with De Gaul's elbow.
Byrne slows down the pace here.
Matt Byrne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

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 Obelix De Gaul.
Well De Gaul has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Obelix De Gaul!
During a confident post fight interview, Obelix De Gaul thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.