PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jolly Leg Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neymar Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leg Byrd
vs
Junior

172 cm
23
140 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

182 cm
21
154 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jolly Leg Byrd!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neymar Junior!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Anthony Taglia and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd misses with a leg kick
and Junior counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Byrd digs a good body shot into Junior's ribs.
Junior digs a good hook to Byrd's body.
Junior will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Junior is looking to land body kicks.
Byrd slips under a jab.
Junior looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Byrd is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Junior misses with the combination.
Byrd was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Junior closes the distance and clinches.
Byrd swings wildly with an uppercut but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Byrd misses with some punches.
Come on Byrd - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Junior lands with a left to the head.
Junior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Junior lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Junior misses with a short punch on the inside.
Junior lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Junior blocks an uppercut.
Byrd misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrd is trying to pull guard but Junior turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Junior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Byrd.
Junior lands an elbow inside.
Byrd fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Junior lands with a right to the head.
Byrd definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrd throws a punch but it's blocked by Junior.
Good body shot from Junior.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Byrd misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrd can't find room to land a body shot as Junior controls the action.
Junior tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Byrd's elbow.
Byrd struggles to land a body shot inside as Junior controls his hands.
Junior lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Junior.
Byrd tries to pull guard but Junior won't allow it.
Junior doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Byrd takes a knee to the side of the body.
Byrd digs a right hand underneath Junior's ribcage. Junior let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Junior is struggling to control the position.
Byrd tries to pull guard but Junior forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jolly Leg Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Byrd.
Junior misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrd takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Jolly Leg Byrd has been cut.
Byrd wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Junior has him pressed against the cage.
Junior creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd can't find room to land a body shot as Junior controls the action.
Junior misses with a knee strike.
Junior lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Junior misses with a knee strike.
Byrd has a couple of punches blocked by Junior.
Junior is working Byrd over against the cage.
Junior misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Junior gets through Byrd's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Junior.
Byrd blocks a body shot from Junior.
Junior lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Byrd blocks an elbow strike from Junior.
Byrd takes an elbow to the temple.
Byrd doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Byrd blocks the elbow strike.
Byrd blocks an elbow strike from Junior.

Byrd pulls guard effortlessly.
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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrd working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior wants to control from the top but Byrd keeps moving.

Byrd is looking for a triangle but Junior pushes his legs off easily.
Junior is fighting to break Byrd's control of his arms but Byrd is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Junior is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Byrd looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Junior dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jolly Leg Byrd's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Junior throws a body kick that misses.
Junior misses with a hook.
Byrd is looking to counter the offense by Junior and move into the clinch.
Junior has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big right from Byrd misses.

Junior fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Byrd, pushing him back against the cage.
Junior throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Byrd stalling against the cage.
Byrd throws a head punch that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Byrd.
Stalling in the clinch from Junior.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Junior pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Byrd jumps guard and drags Junior to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Byrd is pulling down on Junior's head to control his posture.

Byrd working for a triangle but Junior defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd working a defensive guard but Junior passes into half guard.

Byrd actively working from the bottom here.
Junior seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Byrd does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Junior performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Byrd gets back to full guard.
Junior sitting in guard here, content to control.
Junior preventing the sweep.
Junior must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Junior engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Byrd working for a triangle but Junior defends it easily.
Junior is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Junior got a little sloppy there for a moment and Byrd has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Junior has managed to get both his arms back between Byrd's legs - danger averted.
Byrd keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Byrd thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Junior throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Byrd closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Junior is looking to control Byrd's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Junior avoid being mounted?
Junior is pressing down on Byrd's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Junior being controlled here, momentarily.
Junior looking to hit a scissor sweep but Byrd is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Byrd looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Neymar Junior will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jolly Leg Byrd's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Byrd scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Junior avoids the body shot from Byrd.
Nice uppercut lands for Byrd. That snapped Junior's head back.
Junior lands with a thumping leg kick.

Junior clinches.
Byrd gets through Junior's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Byrd misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Junior throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Junior trying to stall but Byrd improves his position.
Byrd swings wildly with an uppercut but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Byrd avoids it.
Byrd fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Junior lands with a short shot to the head.
Junior fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Byrd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Byrd swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Junior.
Neymar Junior seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Junior fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Byrd manages to avoid it.
Byrd throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Junior moves into range and clinches up with Byrd.
With the fighters up against the cage, Junior throws an elbow but misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Junior.
Byrd swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Junior working aggressively here.
Junior swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Byrd letting Junior take a breather here.
Junior misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Byrd.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice right hand lands inside from Byrd.
Byrd takes an elbow to the temple.
Junior throws a knee to the head but misses.
Junior has Byrd pushed against the cage.

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

Byrd gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Byrd jumps guard but Junior stands there with Byrd around his waist. Byrd gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Byrd as Junior tries to tie him up.
Byrd misses with a punch to the body.
Junior tries a knee to the head but Byrd blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Byrd as Junior tries to tie him up.
Byrd blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Junior.
Junior misses with some punches.
Byrd struggles to land a body shot inside as Junior controls his hands.
Byrd lands with a right to the head.
Byrd swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Junior lands a damaging elbow.
Junior scores with a shoulder strike.
Byrd tries to work over Junior's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Junior.
A shot in the inside from Byrd.
Junior blocks a body shot from Byrd.
Junior lands with a short shot to the head.
Neymar Junior seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Byrd works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Byrd pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab lands there for Byrd.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Junior throws a head punch that misses.
Byrd goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Junior lands an elbow just above Byrd 's eye.
Byrd tries a body shot but Junior blocks it.
Byrd misses with a punch to the body.
Junior is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Byrd is keeping busy.
Junior lands an elbow just above Byrd 's eye.
Junior working aggressively here.
Byrd misses with the head strike.
A short right from Junior.
Byrd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Junior throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Junior tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Junior blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neymar Junior really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jolly Leg Byrd's cut.
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.

Byrd connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Byrd throws the left hand but Junior avoids the punch easily.
Byrd throws out a loose jab but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Junior throws a leg kick that misses.
Byrd was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A chopping leg kick lands by Byrd.
Junior looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Byrd lunges at Junior with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Junior's hand.
Jab, jab by Junior - just one landing.
Junior takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Junior slips under a jab.
Junior let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Byrd stuns Junior with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Junior takes the fight into the clinch.
Byrd looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd tries to work over Junior's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Junior misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrd lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Junior is stalling here.
Junior scores with a shot to the side of Byrd's head.
Byrd avoids a wild elbow strike from Junior.
Byrd tries a body shot but Junior blocks it.
Byrd swings wildly with an uppercut but Junior uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd jumps guard but Junior stands there with Byrd around his waist. Byrd gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Junior takes a shot to the head.
Junior can't find room to land a body shot as Byrd controls the action.
Junior lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Byrd misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junior can't find room to land a body shot as Byrd controls the action.
Junior stalling.
Junior misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrd lands with a right to the head.

Byrd gets control of Junior's arms and successfully pulls guard. Byrd will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Byrd controls Junior momentarily but Junior frees himself.
Junior is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Byrd is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Junior defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior controlling from the top position.
Byrd trying to control the position here.
Byrd is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Byrd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Byrd keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Junior gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Junior blocks an uppercut.
Junior doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Byrd.
Still in the clinch, Junior scores with a nice short uppercut.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Byrd prevents a body shot from Junior.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Byrd trying to control the position but instead, Junior has worked for underhooks and has pushed Byrd into the cage.

Byrd gets control of Junior's arms and successfully pulls guard. Byrd will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
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 Jolly Leg Byrd will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jolly Leg Byrd's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A telegraphed right hand from Byrd misses the target.
Junior was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Junior tries to score with a low kick but Byrd moves his leg out of the way.
Junior checks the leg kick.
Byrd moves out of range as Junior strikes.
Junior throws a leg kick
and Byrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Junior ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Junior connects with a body shot that sends Byrd's belly button to the back.
Jolly Leg Byrd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byrd takes a swing at Junior's ribcage but misses.
Junior flicks out a counter leg kick but Byrd steps away.
Byrd throws a body punch but Junior moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd misses with a jab to the body
and Junior connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Junior misses with a wild combination.
Byrd throws an off balance right hand
and Junior counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior lands a high kick!
Byrd misses with an uppercut. Junior saw that one coming.
Junior has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Byrd scores with a jab.
Byrd fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Junior on the side of the head.

Junior moves into the clinch.
Junior stalling in the clinch but Byrd improves position.
Byrd misses with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Byrd.
Junior lands a nice shot to the body.
Byrd misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Junior softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Byrd takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Junior.
Junior misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jolly Leg Byrd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Byrd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Junior's elbow.
Byrd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Byrd tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Junior smiles and moves away.
Junior throws the kick towards the body but Byrd avoids it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byrd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Junior moves away.
Junior takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Byrd drops his hands momentarily and Junior takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Byrd throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A slow jab from Junior misses its intended target.
A nice leg kick lands there from Junior.
Byrd throws a big shot that misses.

Junior rushes Byrd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Junior sprawls well. Junior wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Byrd gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice cross by Junior.
Byrd tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Junior defends well and Byrd ends up having to push Junior into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jolly Leg Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Junior fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Byrd checks it well.
A low kick from Byrd is predictable there
and Junior counters with a nice body kick.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Junior uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Byrd.
Byrd takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Byrd swings widly with a right hand
and Junior counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd throws a jab when Junior was well out of range.
Junior has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Byrd misses with a left hand
and Junior counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Byrd is rocked!
A slow jab from Byrd misses its intended target.
Junior throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A shot to the liver by Junior. Beautiful body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrd misses with a looping left.
Neymar Junior is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Junior stuffs the takedown.
Junior flicks out a counter leg kick but Byrd steps away.
Byrd misses the shot to the body.
Junior fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Byrd. Junior does a little dance to reset his feet.
Junior throws a quick inside leg kick.
Junior lands with a straight right. Byrd didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neymar Junior comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Junior 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 46:49
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 46:49
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neymar Junior! Neymar Junior retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Neymar Junior thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.