PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julius Birch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Dy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Birch
vs
Dy

180 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julius Birch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fred Dy!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Watson and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birch stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Birch throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Birch.
A cross from Birch lands.
Julius Birch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dy drives through and clinches with Birch against the cage.
Dy tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dy has Birch pushed against the cage.

Dy jumps into guard, dragging Birch to the mat.
Dy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Birch trying to control the position from guard on top but Dy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dy is thwarting Birch's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dy is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Birch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dy is taking a breather. Birch says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Birch trying to control from the bottom.
Birch on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Birch is looking for a sweep. Dy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Birch moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two 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.
Dy sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dy wants to control from the top but Birch keeps moving.
Birch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dy controlling from the top position.
It looks like Dy might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dy has managed to clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Birch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dy pulls guard effortlessly.
Birch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dy keeping moving, preventing Birch from controlling successfully.

Birch 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.
Dy striking off his back but it's not causing Birch any problems.
Dy trying to control the position.

Birch has gone for a leg lock! Dy slips out almost immediately though and dives into Birch's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birch is trying to keep Dy in close.

Dy gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Birch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Birch misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dy shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Birch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Birch controls Dy momentarily but Dy frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Dy dominated that round.
That's time! Birch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dy closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Birch wants to improve his position but Dy is controlling well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dy lands a nice short elbow.
Fred Dy has got the better of the ground game so far.

Birch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Birch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dy prevents Birch from improving his position.
Dy looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Birch with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dy is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Dy throwing shots but Birch is blocking nicely.

Birch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Birch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dy is working away from the top position though.
Dy is keen to just control but Birch is a slippery customer.
Dy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Birch trying to hold on to Dy's head to control him but Dy postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Birch stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Birch connects with a nice looking jab.

Dy darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Birch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dy is working away from the top position though.
Birch is refusing to be controlled, as Dy sits in half guard.
Birch is trying to get back to full guard.

Birch looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dy is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Birch is just riding it out for now. Dy eventually gives up the hold.
Birch trying to control here.
Dy with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

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.
Dy trying to control the action but Birch is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dy fails to land with a series of punches.
Dy takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Birch gets caught flat footed, as Dy shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Birch wants to sweep here but Dy controlling him for the moment.
Birch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Birch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dy is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Dy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Birch feints a jab promting Dy to slip. Birch then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Dy slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dy tries to pull guard but Birch won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birch trying to control the position but instead, Dy has worked for underhooks and has pushed Birch into the cage.
Birch is trying to break the clinch but Dy is controlling him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Birch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birch tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Birch is trying to maintain a safe position but Dy gets an underhook and turns Birch into the cage.
Birch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Dy pulls guard successfully.

Dy wriggles free and stands up.
Birch scores with a punch to the head.

Dy shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Birch napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Birch gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Birch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Birch manages to get to full guard.

That's two 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!

Birch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dy defends well.
Dy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Nice strikes from Dy there.
Dy controlling the action here.
Julius Birch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Birch is looking to control Dy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Birch avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birch wants to get back to full guard.
Dy tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Birch is defending against the submission attempts here by Dy.
Birch manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dy slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Birch is looking for a triangle but Dy pushes his legs off easily.
Dy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dy pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Birch is keeping the position for now.

Birch is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Birch is trying to control the position but Dy postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fred Dy.
I've got Dy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Dy!