PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Byant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Swift (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Byant
vs
Swift

180 cm
19
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
19
142 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Byant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eric Swift!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byant tries to clinch there but Swift circles away.

Swift looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Byant!
Byant is trying to escape the mount.
Swift trying to control but Byant is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byant is wriggling around trying to escape.
Swift trying to control but Byant is having none of it.
Byant in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byant is wriggling around trying to escape.
Byant taking shots to the head.
Byant is desperately trying to improve his position but Swift has a good base and remains in mount.
Byant is working hard here to advance position.
Swift wants to control the pace but Byant is squirming around nicely.
Byant really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Swift tries to control but Byant wriggling away.

That's two 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.
Byant tries to reverse the position but Swift maintains control.
Byant is squirming around, avoiding Swift's attempts to control the action.
Byant is trying desperately to improve position.
Swift looking to control but Byant is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Swift controlling the pace for now.
Byant regains half guard.
Byant wants to improve his position but Swift is controlling well.

Byant looking for submissions off his back.
Byant is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swift is nestled in close to Byant, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swift wants to pass to mount but Byant is defending the position.
Swift performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Byant actively working from the bottom here.
Swift content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Swift trying to control from half guard but Byant is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Swift throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

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.
Byant tries a low kick but Swift avoids it.
Swift attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Byant looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Swift gets the takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Swift tries to land a front kick but Byant steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Byant misses with a low kick.
Byant misses with a straight right.
Byant tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swift swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swift tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Byant swivels and escapes.
Byant shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Swift as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byant misses with a straight left.
Swift throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Byant fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Swift tries for a takedown but Byant circles away easily

and Byant counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swift trying to control from the bottom.

Byant is working for a kimura but Swift is defending it quite comfortably.

Byant is working for a kimura but Swift is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Byant is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Swift defends it well.
Swift is pressing down on Byant's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Byant would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Swift looking for a sweep. Not yet Swift, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Swift is keeping the position for now.
Swift trying to keep a closed guard but Byant is proving a slippery customer.
Byant tries to free his leg and advance position but Swift is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Byant stuffs the takedown attempt from Swift. Swift gets slowly back to his feet.
James Byant has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Swift.
Swift thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four 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.
Byant shoots and misses

and Swift decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Byant's guard.
Swift sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Byant throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Byant throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Byant 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!

Swift tries to work over Byant's front leg with a kick but Byant checks it.
Eric Swift seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byant doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Swift counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Byant thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swift takes a swing at Byant's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swift changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byant tries to avoid it but Swift manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byant to the ground. Byant escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Byant feints and as Swift raises his hands in defense, Byant changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Byant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Byant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swift tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Swift is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Byant really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swift can't keep his opponent in guard - Byant advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Byant is looking for a kimura here.
Swift tries to get to full guard but Byant has control of the leg.
Swift throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Byant is working for a kimura but Swift is defending it quite comfortably.

Byant looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byant is looking for a kimura but Swift is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Byant to get the leverage.
Swift keeping hold of Byant's head, controlling as best he can.

Byant seems to be working for a kimura but Swift defends the submission attempt.

Byant is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Swift wants to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.

Byant is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Swift doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Byant.
Swift wants to control but Byant is keeping busy.

Byant is working for a submission of some sort.
Swift regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Byant stands up and waves to Swift to follow him.
Swift pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Byant showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Byant 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Byant!