PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Byrne (ranked 3473 p4p, 364 weight class) and Billy Hopkins (ranked 1737 p4p, 200 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Byrne
vs
Hopkins

182 cm
22
167 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
160 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Elijah Byrne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Billy Hopkins!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hopkins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Byrne looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Byrne tries to escape but Hopkins is in control.

Hopkins working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Byrne wants to control but Hopkins postures up.
Byrne wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrne takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hopkins trying to control the position but Byrne is working away.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins is trying to get back to half guard.
Byrne working away.
Hopkins sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hopkins keeping control of the position.
Hopkins tries to get to full guard but Byrne has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hopkins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hopkins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hopkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Byrne is one step ahead there.
Byrne wants to get up but he can't break Hopkins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hopkins trying to strike off his back.
Byrne would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Byrne won't allow Hopkins to sweep him here.
Byrne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Byrne trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hopkins's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Byrne stopping the sweep attempt from Hopkins.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hopkins shoots in and bounces Byrne off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hopkins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Byrne wants to stand up but Hopkins is controlling him.
Byrne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hopkins is one step ahead there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hopkins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hopkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hopkins postures up in Byrne's guard and throws a big left but Byrne blocks it.
Hopkins won't allow Byrne to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hopkins cracks Byrne with a solid left hand.

Byrne manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hopkins takes a shot to the head.
Hopkins has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Byrne avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Byrne creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Byrne shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Byrne prevents the takedown attempt.
Elijah Byrne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Hopkins.
Byrne softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Byrne lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hopkins backwards.
A short right from Byrne.
Hopkins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Byrne after a bit of a struggle.
Byrne makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
I was talking to Byrne's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hopkins is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Byrne is defending well.
Hopkins is trying to drag Byrne to the mat but Byrne just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Byrne lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Byrne lands a nice uppercut.
Good body shot from Byrne.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Byrne dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hopkins with a poor takedown
and Byrne cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Hopkins shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Byrne is looking to get back to is feet but Hopkins passes into side control.
Byrne is trying to buck Hopkins off.
Byrne is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hopkins can do to turn this around?

Hopkins wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Byrne, who protects the arm well.
Byrne is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopkins tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hopkins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hopkins working the head with strikes.
Hopkins tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hopkins prevents Byrne from escaping the position.
Hopkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Byrne keeps working.
The strikes coming from Hopkins are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hopkins in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Byrne taking punishment in the form of punches.
Byrne keeps Hopkins under control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hopkins working the ground and pound but Byrne is defending the strikes.
Byrne pushes Hopkins away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hopkins gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Byrne is not content to let Hopkins control the position.

Hopkins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Byrne is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopkins lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Byrne down.
Hopkins trying to control the action but Byrne is working from the bottom.
Hopkins is putting a hurting on Byrne here, landing some big shots from side control.
Byrne is trying to get back to his feet.
Byrne taking a bit of punishment here - Hopkins scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Byrne seems a little lost for a moment, as Hopkins dominates the positioning.
Hopkins working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hopkins prevents Byrne from escaping the position.
Byrne is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hopkins connects with a decent elbow.
Hopkins working the ground and pound but Byrne is defending the strikes.
Hopkins is chipping away with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hopkins is working Byrne over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Hopkins seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hopkins cracks Byrne with a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Hopkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hopkins tries to score a power double leg takedown but Byrne sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hopkins somewhat.
Hopkins fails with a takedown attempt.
Byrne seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hopkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Elijah Byrne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Hopkins.
Byrne throws a good cross that connects.
Hopkins misses with a takedown
and Byrne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hopkins has his takedown stuffed
and Byrne counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Byrne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hopkins.
Hopkins walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hopkins tries for a takedown but Byrne circles away easily
and Byrne counters with a right, left combo that wobbles Hopkins badly! Byrne follows up with a massive right hook, straight to the bridge of the nose that knocks Hopkins out cold! Oh wow, what a finish! Very reminiscent of Koscheck vs Yoshida as Byrne finished him against the cage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Elijah Byrne!