PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jolly Leg Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donald McTavish (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Leg Byrd
vs
McTavish

172 cm
27
141 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

170 cm
32
142 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jolly Leg Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Donald McTavish!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McTavish tries to sprawl but Byrd drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Byrd is keen to just control but McTavish is a slippery customer.
McTavish tries to kick Byrd off but Byrd keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McTavish avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Byrd.
Byrd content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Byrd is working for a kimura but McTavish is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd is trying to control. McTavish wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Byrd is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Byrd in particular looking to stall.

Byrd wants to work for an arm triangle but McTavish is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McTavish is trying to stand up here but Byrd is controlling him well.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Byrd is looking for a kimura here.

McTavish kicks off Byrd and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from McTavish misses.
McTavish has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Byrd scores with a leg kick.
McTavish throws out a loose jab but Byrd uses good head movement to avoid it.
A shot to the liver by Byrd. Beautiful body shot.
Byrd lands a nice leg kick that just misses McTavish's sensitive parts.

Byrd bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Byrd goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McTavish rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Byrd's guard! Nice work there by McTavish!

Byrd is looking for a triangle but McTavish pushes his legs off easily.
McTavish wants to stand but Byrd is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McTavish gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Byrd misses with an uppercut
and McTavish counters with a stiff right hand.
Byrd throws a shot from downtown. McTavish moves away and avoids it.
McTavish avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A shot to the liver by Byrd. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circling - Byrd throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
It seemed like McTavish was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Byrd uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McTavish.
Byrd swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Byrd fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McTavish avoids it really well and circles away.
It seemed like McTavish was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd looks for the body kick but McTavish saw that one coming.
McTavish takes one to the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Byrd.
McTavish swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Byrd is defended easily by McTavish.
Byrd has been working on his balance at Beast Cartel, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by McTavish.
A jab lands there for Byrd.

Byrd closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Byrd lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
McTavish keeping full guard, as Byrd tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Byrd jabs McTavish right on the nose. McTavish blinks but takes it well.
Byrd connects with a right hand. McTavish shakes it off.
A thudding body kick lands there by Byrd!
McTavish on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Byrd shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Byrd was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jolly Leg Byrd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Byrd tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
McTavish is trying to escape the position but Byrd is controlling the position.
McTavish wants to get back to his feet.
McTavish stops Byrd from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Byrd goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, McTavish has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Byrd but great work by McTavish.

McTavish decides to stand up, so the ref orders Byrd to his feet.
McTavish defending well as Byrd loads up on a big left hand.
Byrd looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
McTavish throws out a counter right but Byrd avoids it with no problem.
Byrd misses the shot to the body.
Byrd pushes McTavish away with a front kick.
Jolly Leg Byrd is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd loads up on a big right hand but McTavish slips the punch.
Byrd thuds his shin into the meat of McTavish's side.
Byrd looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Byrd throws a front kick that sends McTavish stumbling back into the cage.
Byrd fakes the leg kick and cracks McTavish in the body.

McTavish gets caught napping as Byrd dives in and scores a takedown. McTavish manages to retain guard.
Byrd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McTavish can do to turn this around?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McTavish pushes Byrd off and scrambles back to his feet.
McTavish moves out of range of the leg kick from Byrd.
As Byrd backs off McTavish throws a huge counter combo but Byrd manages to avoid it all.
Nice body punch from Byrd.
Byrd throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
McTavish avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McTavish doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd throws a body punch but McTavish moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from McTavish on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Byrd closes the distance but McTavish moves to the side
and McTavish counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Byrd throws a leg kick but McTavish sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jolly Leg Byrd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byrd throws a hook but McTavish avoids it easily.
McTavish wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Byrd throws a half hearted mid kick.
McTavish blocks the body kick.
McTavish looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Byrd throws a body kick that misses.
McTavish stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
McTavish misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd lands a jab to the nose.
McTavish displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Byrd.
McTavish stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Byrd.
Byrd tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A countering left hand to the body from McTavish misses.
A good leg kick by Byrd.
Byrd keeps McTavish at a distance using the push kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byrd throws a nice outside leg kick.
Byrd cracks McTavish with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Byrd shoots in and drives through. McTavish sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jolly Leg Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A cross from Byrd lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jolly Leg Byrd dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Byrd.
McTavish misses with a looping right.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Byrd.
Byrd looks to throw a body kick
enabling McTavish to counter with a crisp jab.
Byrd with a poor takedown
and McTavish counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Byrd.
McTavish misses with a hook.
Byrd darts in looking for a takedown but McTavish gets double underhooks and turns Byrd into the cage.
McTavish is looking for the big counter here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd misses with a left hand
and McTavish counters with a straight right hand.
Byrd misses with a hook
and McTavish connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Byrd staying out of range there.
Byrd wants to clinch but McTavish slips to the side
and McTavish cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Byrd.
Byrd staying out of range there.
Byrd fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McTavish looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Byrd throws a leg kick
and McTavish cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A decent looking cross lands there for Byrd.
Byrd misses with a left hand
and McTavish counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Byrd throws a hook but McTavish blocks it.
McTavish has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Byrd.
Byrd throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Byrd connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McTavish momentarily.
Byrd swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McTavish.
A slapping leg kick lands for Byrd.
Donald McTavish has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jolly Leg Byrd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McTavish moves out of range of the strikes.
Byrd uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McTavish.
McTavish swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Byrd makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Byrd misses with a jab to the body
enabling McTavish to counter with a crisp jab.
Byrd has his takedown stuffed
and McTavish counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jolly Leg Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrd scoring well with a low kick there.
Byrd lands the left hand.
McTavish might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A solid body kick from Byrd.
McTavish stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McTavish wants it to stay on the feet.
Donald McTavish is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd shoots and misses
and McTavish counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Byrd slips under a jab from McTavish.
Nice body kick there by Byrd.
Byrd lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Byrd will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McTavish swats away the attempt to clinch by Byrd.
McTavish is looking for the big counter here.
McTavish displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Byrd throws out the jab.
It seemed like McTavish was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Byrd throws a nice outside leg kick.
McTavish's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Byrd misses with a right hand
and McTavish connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Byrd.
McTavish wants to break free but Byrd has control.
McTavish wants to get back to striking at distance but Byrd won't allow it.
McTavish misses with a hook to the ribs.
McTavish working hard to break the clinch.
Byrd prevents McTavish from breaking the clinch.
McTavish wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Byrd keeps control of McTavish as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Byrd prevents McTavish from breaking the clinch.

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 Jolly Leg Byrd.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Byrd, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 29:28
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jolly Leg Byrd!