PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jolly Leg Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathew Ridgeway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ridgeway has chosen The Forgotten War as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Leg Byrd
vs
Ridgeway

172 cm
28
142 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

174 cm
28
164 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250
Hellbent

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 12 - 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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mathew Ridgeway!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd lands a nice looking body shot.
Byrd looks to score with a jab to the body but Ridgeway is just out of range.
Ridgeway checks a low kick from Byrd.
Byrd attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ridgeway tries a quick counter leg kick but Byrd is wise to it.
Byrd wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ridgeway looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Byrd lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've been hearing reports that Byrd has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Byrd throws a big shot that misses.
Byrd moves out of range as Ridgeway strikes.
Byrd throws a body shot but no joy.
Byrd attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ridgeway misses with a body shot.
Byrd avoids the body shot from Ridgeway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd punishes Ridgeway's body with a nice straight punch.
Byrd misses the shot to the body.
Byrd pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ridgeway is out of range and Byrd settles back down.
Ridgeway scores with a head kick.
Byrd takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A chopping leg kick lands by Ridgeway.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeway misses the jab.
Byrd wants to slow Ridgeway down by chopping away at his legs.
Byrd looks to score with a jab to the body but Ridgeway is just out of range.
Ridgeway misses the shot to the body.
Byrd stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ridgeway.
Byrd avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ridgeway scores with a nice body kick.
Byrd lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ridgeway takes a step back to recover.
Ridgeway lands an overhand right.
Byrd throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ridgeway swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ridgeway throws a body punch but Byrd moves out of range.
Byrd half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ridgeway misses with a low kick.
Byrd throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway scoring well with a low kick there.
Ridgeway on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway throws a wild body kick that Byrd sees coming a mile off.
Ridgeway checks the leg kick.
Byrd attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Byrd lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ridgeway misses the shot to the body.
Byrd tried to counter with a leg kick but Ridgeway avoided it.
Nice shot by Byrd.
Byrd swings for the body but Ridgeway moves out of range.
Ridgeway throws a sloppy head kick and Byrd moves out of range easily.
Byrd throws a low kick but Ridgeway avoids it.
Byrd misses with a hook
and Ridgeway counters with a thumping low kick.
Ridgeway steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Byrd. That one must have hurt.
Ridgeway tries a head kick but it misses.
Ridgeway throws a low kick but Byrd avoids it.
Byrd throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ridgeway on the side of the head.
Byrd throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Crunch! Byrd slams his shin into Ridgeway's torso.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Ridgeway blocks the low kick.
Byrd is looking to wear down Ridgeway with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Byrd looks to score with a jab to the body but Ridgeway is just out of range.
Byrd cracks Ridgeway with a right hand to the side of the head.
Byrd scores with a jab to the body.
Ridgeway looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Byrd sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Byrd lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ridgeway looks for the body kick but Byrd saw that one coming.
Byrd tries a low kick but Ridgeway avoids it.
Byrd swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Byrd misses with a body shot.
Ridgeway misses with a straight right.

Byrd dives in and scores a takedown into Ridgeway's guard.
Byrd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ridgeway keeping full guard, as Byrd tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd trying to control the position from guard on top but Ridgeway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Byrd looking to pass the guard.
Byrd is fighting to break Ridgeway's control of his arms but Ridgeway is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Byrd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ridgeway swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ridgeway avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ridgeway can't keep his opponent in guard - Byrd advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jolly Leg Byrd dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Byrd lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jolly Leg Byrd is winning the standup battle so far.
Ridgeway throws a chopping leg kick but Byrd manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
An attempted straight right counter from Byrd misses the target.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Byrd here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Byrd keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Byrd was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Byrd stuns Ridgeway with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ridgeway tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Byrd was well out of range. Poor timing from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Byrd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ridgeway moves away.
Ridgeway throws out a counter right but Byrd avoids it with no problem.
Ridgeway throws a body punch but Byrd moves out of range.
Ridgeway throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Ridgeway backs away, Byrd returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Byrd avoids the body shot from Ridgeway.
Byrd quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Byrd tries a low kick but Ridgeway avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Ridgeway on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Byrd throws a wild body kick that Ridgeway sees coming a mile off.
Byrd lands with a straight right. Ridgeway didn't see that one coming.
Ridgeway showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Byrd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Byrd throws a wild body kick that Ridgeway sees coming a mile off.
Ridgeway only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Byrd tries to land a front kick but Ridgeway steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ridgeway tries to move into range but Byrd moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Byrd looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ridgeway keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A left lands for Ridgeway.
Ridgeway explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ridgeway looks to land a right hand but Byrd moved out of range.
Ridgeway scores with a jab. Byrd acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Byrd is looking to slow Ridgeway down with leg kicks.
Ridgeway is looking to score with low kicks.
Ridgeway blocks the body kick.
Byrd pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
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!
Ridgeway tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Byrd was well out of range. Poor timing from Ridgeway.
Byrd takes one on the button.
A solid leg kick lands there for Byrd.
A bone on bone clash there as Ridgeway blocks the leg kick.
Byrd thuds a left hand into Ridgeway's body.
Byrd jabs Ridgeway to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Ridgeway throws a body shot but no joy.
Ridgeway looks to land a body kick but Byrd moved away.
Ridgeway lands with a hook. Byrd tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Byrd misses with a body shot.
Byrd backing away here, and Ridgeway unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Byrd swings for the body but Ridgeway moves out of range.
Byrd goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ridgeway looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Byrd scores with a push kick.
Jolly Leg Byrd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ridgeway throws a right hand that misses
and Ridgeway takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Byrd misses with a low kick.
Ridgeway throws the left hand but Byrd avoids the punch easily.
Byrd lands with a cross.
Ridgeway has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Byrd.
Byrd throws a body punch but Ridgeway moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ridgeway. That's going to slow Byrd down.
Byrd scores with a punch to the head.
Ridgeway looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Byrd just misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway connects with a body shot that sends Byrd's belly button to the back.
Byrd throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ridgeway is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Byrd with a body shot.
Ridgeway chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Byrd explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Byrd connects with a right hand. Ridgeway shakes it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrd blocks the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ridgeway uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Byrd.
Byrd moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ridgeway loads up on a big right hand but Byrd slips the punch.
Ridgeway will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ridgeway pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And Byrd counters with a quick kick to the body but Ridgeway blocks it.
Byrd misses with a body punch
and Ridgeway counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Byrd takes one to the chin there.
Byrd connects with a jab.
Ridgeway throws a sloppy head kick and Byrd moves out of range easily.
A shot to the liver by Byrd. Beautiful body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Byrd. That's going to slow Ridgeway down.
Ridgeway throws a wild body kick that Byrd sees coming a mile off.
Byrd slips under a jab from Ridgeway.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jolly Leg Byrd dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Byrd bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ridgeway's head backwards.
Ridgeway's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ridgeway misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Byrd.
Byrd throws a chopping leg kick but Ridgeway manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Byrd ducks right into an uppercut from Ridgeway.
Decent striking displayed by Byrd there.
Ridgeway misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ridgeway blocks a low kick nicely.
Ridgeway throws a leg kick that is checked
and Byrd counters with a thumping low kick.
A cross from Byrd lands.
Byrd's corner calls for a 1-2. Byrd obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Byrd uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ridgeway.
Byrd was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ridgeway misses with a leg kick.
Byrd jabs Ridgeway to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Byrd throws a body punch but Ridgeway moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ridgeway. That's going to slow Byrd down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrd connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ridgeway throws a shot from downtown. Byrd moves away and avoids it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Ridgeway. Byrd shrugs it off though.
Byrd throws a hook but Ridgeway avoids it easily.
Byrd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Byrd throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice defenses there by Byrd.
Byrd's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ridgeway under the eye.
Byrd pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ridgeway is out of range and Byrd settles back down.
Ridgeway misses the jab.
Byrd fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ridgeway has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Byrd misses with a low kick.
Ridgeway fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Nice defenses there by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands an overhand right.
Mathew Ridgeway 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.
Ridgeway takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ridgeway is looking to chop away at Byrd's legs.
Byrd misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Byrd throws a looping overhand right but Ridgeway ducks down to avoid it.
Byrd connects with the punch.
Byrd scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Byrd tries to score with a low kick but Ridgeway moves his leg out of the way.
Byrd throws a nice outside leg kick.
Byrd will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Byrd uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Byrd throwing a counter right hand but Ridgeway manages to avoid it.
Byrd misses with a straight left.
A big left from Ridgeway misses.
Ridgeway tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd lands with a straight right. Ridgeway didn't see that one coming.
Ridgeway works over Byrd's head and body with a nice combination.
Ridgeway takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Byrd slips a jab from Ridgeway.
A good leg kick by Byrd.
Byrd throws a leg kick which misses Ridgeway's front leg but catches the back leg as Ridgeway tries to avoid it.
Byrd blocks a low kick nicely.
Byrd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ridgeway can do to turn this around?
Byrd scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ridgeway misses with an attempted mid kick.
A slow jab from Ridgeway misses its intended target.
Ridgeway walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Byrd checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A lazy left from Byrd finds it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ridgeway misses with a low kick.
Good leg kick by Byrd there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ridgeway throws out a loose jab but Byrd uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ridgeway pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A quick step to the side and Byrd tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Byrd comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ridgeway connects with the punch.
Byrd moves out of range of the strikes.
A solid body kick from Byrd.
Ridgeway shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Byrd just misses with a punch to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Byrd.
Ridgeway misses with a low kick.
Ridgeway throws a solid leg kick but Byrd takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ridgeway.
Byrd looks to score with a jab to the body but Ridgeway is just out of range.
Ridgeway takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ridgeway moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ridgeway loads up on a big right hand but Byrd slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jolly Leg Byrd showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Byrd 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

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