PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jolly Leg Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Hopkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopkins has chosen Manny Pacquiao - Lalaban Ako as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Leg Byrd
vs
Hopkins

172 cm
30
142 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

180 cm
33
148 lbs
30 - 18 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)
Bullet Proof System

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 20 - 8 - 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 30 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vinny Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopkins connects with the punch.
Byrd throws a leg kick but Hopkins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Byrd chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hopkins throws a leg kick that misses.
Byrd shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Byrd has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hopkins scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Byrd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hopkins stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hopkins throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hopkins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Byrd.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
Byrd misses with a body shot.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Byrd.
Byrd moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Byrd. Byrd obviously looking to wear him down.
Byrd takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hopkins has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Byrd misses with a low kick.
Byrd thumps Hopkins with a low kick.
Hopkins misses with a hook. Byrd ducked under it nicely.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Byrd drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hopkins is controlling Byrd's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd looking to pass the guard.
Byrd won't allow Hopkins to get back to his feet.
Byrd wants to control from the top but Hopkins keeps moving.
Byrd stops Hopkins from standing up.
Hopkins is trying to keep Byrd in close.
Hopkins pulls Byrd in close to prevent any damage.
Byrd trying to control but Hopkins is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
Hopkins keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Byrd saw that one coming.
Hopkins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Byrd in his tracks.
Byrd lands a nice shot to the body.
Byrd throws a push kick but Hopkins slaps the foot to one side.
Hopkins throws a lazy right hand but Byrd sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A slow jab from Hopkins misses its intended target.
Hopkins throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Byrd stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Byrd defending well as Hopkins loads up on a big left hand.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Byrd saw that one coming.
Byrd moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hopkins closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Byrd connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hopkins ducks under a wild hook from Byrd.
Byrd takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hopkins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Byrd.
Byrd goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Byrd closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd tries to work over Hopkins's front leg with a kick but Hopkins checks it.
Byrd is looking to clinch.
Hopkins moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Byrd throws a hook but Hopkins avoids it easily.
Byrd tries to score with a low kick but Hopkins moves his leg out of the way.
Hopkins works the jab nicely.
Byrd shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hopkins.
Hopkins tests Byrd's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hopkins has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Byrd with a hook.
Hopkins is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Byrd saw that one coming.
Byrd throws a lazy head kick
and Hopkins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hopkins throws a predictable looking body shot
and Byrd counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins connects with a body shot that sends Byrd's belly button to the back.
Nice defenses there by Byrd.
A quick step to the side and Byrd tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lunges at Byrd with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Byrd's hand.
Hopkins misses with a hook.
Byrd fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hopkins.
Byrd throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Byrd takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Byrd throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hopkins on the side of the head.
Good work by Byrd as he checks the leg kick.
Hopkins takes a swing at Byrd's ribcage but misses.
Vinny Hopkins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hopkins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A slow jab from Hopkins misses its intended target.
Hopkins chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Byrd can pounce on him.
Hopkins connects with a body shot that sends Byrd's belly button to the back.
Hopkins misses with a looping left.
Hopkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrd.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Byrd saw that one coming.
Byrd swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Byrd throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.

Byrd gets a clinch.
Byrd lands with a light punch inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vinny Hopkins will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Byrd tries to work over Hopkins's front leg with a kick but Hopkins checks it.
Hopkins misses with a body shot.
Hopkins checks a leg kick.
Hopkins uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Byrd.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A big left from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins tests Byrd's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Byrd throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins blocks a leg kick.
Byrd pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Byrd staying out of range there.
Byrd half committed to a counter leg kick.
Byrd tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hopkins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Byrd is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins checks a low kick from Byrd.
Byrd lands a leg kick that knocks Hopkins off balance momentarily.
Hopkins lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hopkins checks a leg kick.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the body.
That kick from Byrd tenderised Hopkins's leg. Hopkins is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hopkins lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Byrd at a distance.
Hopkins cracks Byrd with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
A big right from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Hopkins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hopkins throws a hook to the side of Byrd's head but Byrd sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hopkins connects with a body shot.
Byrd throws a body shot but no joy.
A clash of legs there as Hopkins blocks the low kick.
Byrd misses the shot to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Byrd throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Byrd lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hopkins takes a step back to recover.
Hopkins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Byrd looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Hopkins lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd misses with a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopkins scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Byrd tries to clinch
and Byrd takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hopkins swings for the body but Byrd moves out of range.
Hopkins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hopkins wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Byrd slips under a jab from Hopkins.
Byrd bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheers as Hopkins lands an impressive looking overhand right. Byrd doesn't seem phased though.
Hopkins staying out of range there.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hopkins checks the leg kick nicely there.
A little jabbing left from Hopkins on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hopkins throws a body shot but no joy.
Hopkins scores with a body shot.
Byrd lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Byrd ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
A big right from Hopkins misses.
Byrd gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Byrd misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Byrd does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hopkins avoids a kick to the body.
Byrd ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
A counter left hand to the body from Byrd misses its target.
Hopkins gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Byrd ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
Byrd connects with a solid leg kick.
Hopkins darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hopkins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A shot to the body from Hopkins misses

and Byrd counters with a takedown into side control.
Hopkins is looking to reverse the position.
Byrd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hopkins keeps working.

Byrd goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hopkins rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Byrd's guard! Nice work there by Hopkins!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Byrd is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hopkins is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins got a little sloppy there for a moment and Byrd has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hopkins has managed to get both his arms back between Byrd's legs - danger averted.
Hopkins stays in close to Byrd's body and controls the position.
Hopkins wants to pass the guard but Byrd is keeping the position.

Hopkins decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Byrd uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hopkins.
Hopkins cracks Byrd with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A swing and a miss from Byrd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinny Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Byrd's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Byrd scoring well with a low kick there.
Hopkins avoids the body shot from Byrd.
Hopkins's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Byrd takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Byrd staying out of range there.
Byrd swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Hopkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Hopkins backs away, Byrd returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Byrd ducks under a wild hook from Hopkins.
Byrd lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hopkins takes a step back to recover.
Hopkins throws a lazy right hand but Byrd sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Byrd looks to score with a jab to the body but Hopkins is just out of range.
Byrd throws a nice head kick!
Hopkins lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hopkins throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hopkins has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Byrd explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
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!
Byrd takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Byrd moves away from the strike by Hopkins.

Hopkins clinches.
Hopkins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byrd misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Hopkins scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hopkins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hopkins scores with a shot to the side of Byrd's head.
Byrd lands with a left to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hopkins tries a body shot but Byrd blocks it.
Hopkins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hopkins misses with the head strike.
Hopkins throws a punch but it's blocked by Byrd.
A right hand to the body from Byrd.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrd lands a shoulder strike.
Hopkins can't find room to land a body shot as Byrd controls the action.
Hopkins swings wildly with an uppercut but Byrd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short body shot lands from Hopkins as the two fighters clinch.
Byrd tries to throw a body punch but Hopkins avoids it by throwing Byrd back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Byrd has a couple of punches blocked by Hopkins.
Byrd struggles to land a body shot inside as Hopkins controls his hands.
Hopkins has a couple of punches blocked by Byrd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hopkins.
Hopkins tries to break the clinch but Byrd is controlling the position.
Hopkins lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Byrd.
Hopkins lands a hook to the side of the head.
Byrd blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vinny Hopkins seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Nice body punch from Byrd - that landed with a thud.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hopkins.
Hopkins takes a shot to the head.
Byrd lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Hopkins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hopkins scores with a nice hook to the head.
Byrd blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hopkins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Byrd.
Byrd lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd tries a body shot but Hopkins blocks it.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Hopkins has a couple of punches blocked by Byrd.
Hopkins misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrd misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins lands a body shot.
Byrd lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
Hopkins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrd lands with a left to the head.
Byrd lands with a short shot to the head.
Byrd misses with some punches.
Byrd lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Byrd lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hopkins blocks a body shot from Byrd.
Hopkins throws a head punch that misses.
Byrd swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Byrd escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That kick from Hopkins tenderised Byrd's leg. Byrd is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrd uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd connects with a single shot there.
Jab from Byrd.
Hopkins throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrd.

Hopkins clinches up against the cage.
Hopkins lands a body shot in the clinch.
Byrd lands with a short shot to the head.
Hopkins lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hopkins misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Byrd.
Byrd misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Byrd fails to land.
Byrd tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hopkins's elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hopkins misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Byrd.
Byrd lands with a light punch inside.
Byrd scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Jolly Leg Byrd did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A shot to the liver by Byrd. Beautiful body shot.
Hopkins scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Byrd doesn't seem bothered though.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hopkins. Byrd does a little dance to reset his feet.
Byrd throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Byrd takes a swing at Hopkins's ribcage but misses.
A swing and a miss from Byrd.
Hopkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hopkins misses with a lunging right hand
and Byrd counters with a nice uppercut.
Byrd throws a chopping leg kick but Hopkins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hopkins slips a jab from Byrd.
Byrd throws a looping overhand right but Hopkins ducks down to avoid it.
Hopkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Byrd tries to land a front kick but Hopkins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins lands with a cross.
Hopkins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Byrd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hopkins slips a straight right by Byrd.
Hopkins misses with a hook. Byrd ducked under it nicely.
Hopkins misses with a hook
and Byrd counters with a nice uppercut.
Byrd looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hopkins. That did some damage!
Byrd throws a jab but it's blocked by Hopkins.
Byrd takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Byrd misses with an uppercut.
Nice uppercut lands for Hopkins. That snapped Byrd's head back.
Byrd misses with a kick to the body.
Hopkins misses with an uppercut. Byrd saw that one coming.
Byrd tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.
Byrd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hopkins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hopkins connects with a right hand. Byrd shakes it off.
Byrd lands with an uppercut that bounces Hopkins off the cage and back into range.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Byrd tries to clinch there but Hopkins circles away.
Byrd takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hopkins blocks a jab.
Byrd dives in for a single leg takedown but Hopkins sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Hopkins scores with a crisp jab that stopped Byrd in his tracks.
Byrd moves out of range of the strikes.
A low kick from Hopkins is predictable there
and Byrd counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Byrd throws out a powerful jab.
Byrd waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hopkins.
Hopkins throws a jab when Byrd was well out of range.
A jab from Hopkins misses.
Byrd throws a shot to the body.
Hopkins connects with a crisp jab.
Hopkins misses the jab.
Byrd looks to throw the jab but Hopkins is out of range.
Hopkins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hopkins connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Byrd dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hopkins. That did some damage!
Byrd wants to land a leg kick but Hopkins is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd staying out of range there.
Byrd displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hopkins throws out the jab.
Byrd waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hopkins.
Byrd scores with a body shot.
Hopkins staying out of range there.
A lazy left from Hopkins finds it's target.
Byrd takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Byrd wants to slow Hopkins down by chopping away at his legs.
Byrd connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Byrd throws a big shot that misses.
Byrd attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hopkins throws out a loose jab but Byrd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd connects with the punch.
Hopkins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Byrd.
Byrd throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd takes one to the side of the head.
Byrd with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Byrd manages to avoid it.
Hopkins takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hopkins throws a poor cross that misses
and Hopkins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Byrd misses with a low kick.
Hopkins thows a leg kick but Byrd checks it
and Byrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Byrd on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hopkins shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hopkins cracks Byrd with an open hand slap.
Byrd throws the left hand but Hopkins avoids the punch easily.
Byrd takes one on the button.
Hopkins checks a leg kick nicely.
Byrd just misses with a punch to the body.
A big right from Hopkins misses.
Byrd appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Byrd walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hopkins checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
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 fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Byrd wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Byrd has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hopkins finds it's way round the side to connect with Byrd's head.
Byrd throws a leg kick that misses.
Byrd gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Byrd slips a jab from Hopkins.
Hopkins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Byrd counters with a nice uppercut.
Hopkins 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.
Hopkins misses with a straight right.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Byrd lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hopkins has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hopkins and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Byrd turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Byrd will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hopkins throws out a counter right but Byrd avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrd just misses with a punch to the body.
Hopkins lands with a right hand.
Hopkins 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 swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Byrd takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hopkins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
Byrd pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hopkins is out of range and Byrd settles back down.
Byrd displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hopkins throws out the jab.
Byrd throws a leg kick but Hopkins checks it.
A big right from Byrd misses.
Byrd slips under a jab.
Byrd lands with a straight right. Hopkins didn't see that one coming.
A big left from Hopkins misses.
Byrd bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
Byrd walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Byrd tries to work over Hopkins's front leg with a kick but Hopkins checks it.
Byrd throws a body kick that misses.
Hopkins changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hopkins checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byrd closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half 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!

Hopkins is defending against the submission attempts here by Byrd.
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.
Hopkins is looking to escape.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Byrd has control of the leg.
Byrd content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd is trying to control. Hopkins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hopkins is trying to stand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Byrd with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A big right from Hopkins misses.
Hopkins throws a hook to the side of Byrd's head but Byrd sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Byrd half committed to a counter leg kick.
Byrd fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hopkins is out of range.
Byrd throws a shot from downtown. Hopkins moves away and avoids it.
Hopkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A swing and a miss from Hopkins.
It looked like Byrd wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hopkins throws a shot from downtown. Byrd moves away and avoids it.
Byrd scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hopkins in his tracks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hopkins.
Byrd uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hopkins.
Hopkins looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Byrd lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hopkins scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Byrd throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hopkins takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Byrd throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hopkins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Byrd moves away.
Hopkins takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
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!
A left lands for Hopkins.
Hopkins blocks a jab.
Hopkins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Byrd throws a predictable looking body shot
and Byrd takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Byrd ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hopkins moves away.
Byrd avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Byrd turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jolly Leg Byrd showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Byrd has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jolly Leg Byrd!
Jolly Leg Byrd is the new featherweight champion!
Jolly Leg Byrd decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.
The defeated Vinny Hopkins had this to say: 'As always I can do everything through Christ my lord and savior who strengthens me. Without him I wouldn't be here tonight. Don't worry I'll be back.'.