PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Billy Irish (ranked 3218 p4p, 3328 weight class) and Rico HC (ranked 397 p4p, 409 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Irish
vs
HC

169 cm
22
155
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
21
157
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Billy Irish!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rico HC!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irish scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Irish sizes up HC with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that HC has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Irish digs a good hook to HC's body.
Irish fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. HC looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Irish lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
HC displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Irish throws out the jab.
HC is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
HC closes this distance looking for a takedown but Irish circles away.
HC shoots for a takedown but Irish saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Irish swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Irish misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from HC.
Irish moves into range and connects with a jab.
HC uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Irish.
Irish lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irish throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Irish uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
HC avoids the body shot from Irish.
HC uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Irish.
Irish misses with a wild combination.
HC feints the counter takedown.
HC misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Billy Irish has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico HC.
Irish stuffs the takedown attempt from HC. HC gets slowly back to his feet.
Irish cracks HC with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HC moves away from the strike by Irish.
A slow jab from HC misses its intended target.
Irish thuds his right hand into HC's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Irish throws a lazy right hand but HC sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
HC keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And HC tries to counter it with a takedown but Irish pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Irish scores with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Irish.
Irish is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
HC throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Irish to counter with a crisp jab.
Billy Irish seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
HC takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Irish changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Irish lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A jab lands there for Irish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irish shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. HC is trying to defend but Irish finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
HC desperately trying to maintain half guard.
HC trying to control but Irish postures up.
HC wants to improve his position but Irish is controlling well.

Irish is working for a submission of some sort.

Irish is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HC is controlling Irish's trapped leg to prevent Irish from advancing to side control.
HC trying to control from the bottom.
HC is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Irish's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Irish's back!
HC throwing damaging strikes from the back! Irish could be in trouble here!
Irish rolls, trying to escape but HC keeps control of the position.
HC looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
HC throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Irish!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Irish dominated that 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.

HC shoots in and drives through. Irish sprawls well.
Nice cross by Irish.
Irish fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Irish cracks HC with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Irish fails to land with a series of punches.
HC is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Irish scores with a punch to the head.
HC has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Irish finds it's way round the side to connect with HC's head.
HC uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Irish.
HC tries to counter with a clinch but Irish shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irish scores with the left hand. HC knows he should have avoided that one.
Irish misses with a wild body shot.
HC shoots and misses
and Irish counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Irish shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with HC but HC pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And HC tries to counter it with a takedown but Irish pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
HC misses with a lunging right hand
and Irish counters with a straight right hand.
Irish lands with a hook. HC tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Irish misses the shot to the body.
HC is trying hard to land a takedown here. Irish sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Irish was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Billy Irish has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico HC.
Irish slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Billy Irish is winning the standup battle so far.
HC darts in looking for a takedown but Irish gets double underhooks and turns HC into the cage.
The fighters circling - Irish throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
HC changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Irish lands a glancing blow to the side of HC's head.
HC defending well as Irish loads up on a big left hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Irish as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Irish gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
HC gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Irish stalling away here and it's allowed HC to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
HC is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Irish is looking for a sweep. HC is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Irish is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that HC can do to turn this around?
Irish is looking to control HC's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Irish avoid being mounted?
HC wants to take a breather but Irish is having none of it.
HC working the head and body with strikes.
Irish wants to control but HC is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irish is not content to let HC control the position.
Irish taking some punishment here, with HC in his half guard.
HC winds up and cracks Irish with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Irish might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Irish has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. HC is working away from the top position though.
Irish gets back to full guard.
Irish tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Irish has momentary wrist control but HC slips an elbow through the middle.
Irish tries to land a sweep but no joy.
HC trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
HC is still trying to improve position.
HC scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irish not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
HC passes into half guard.
Irish tries to get to full guard but HC has control of the leg.
Irish trying to control here.
HC seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
HC trying to control the action but Irish is working from the bottom.
Irish blocking the ground and pound attempt from HC.
Irish tries to get to full guard but HC has control of the leg.
Irish is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Irish dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Irish scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Irish on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Jab from Irish.
Nice body punch from Irish.
HC takes a shot to the body in his stride.
It looks like Irish has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Irish throws a jab when HC was well out of range.
Irish lands a head shot.
HC has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Irish. No joy for HC on that attempt.
A cross from Irish lands.
A big right from Irish misses.
Irish missing with a left hand there. HC was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irish throws a looping overhand right but HC ducks down to avoid it.
HC looks for a takedown but Irish sprawls well.
Irish attempts a counter takedown but HC avoids it well and moves away.
Irish throws a hook but HC avoids it easily.
HC drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Irish defends it well.
Irish misses with an uppercut.
HC is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
The fighters circling - Irish throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
HC is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Irish thuds his right hand into HC's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
HC tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Irish defends well and HC ends up having to push Irish into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Billy Irish has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rico HC.
Irish throws a body punch but HC moves out of range.
HC wants to counter the offense by Irish and move into the clinch position.
HC changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Irish tries to avoid it but HC manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Irish to the ground. Irish escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Irish throws a body punch but HC moves out of range.
HC tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irish rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so HC counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
HC trying to control but Irish is working from the bottom.
HC has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
HC passes Irish's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Irish taking some punishment here, with HC in his half guard.
HC wants to control but Irish is keeping him busy.
HC winds up and cracks Irish with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
HC throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
HC working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Irish controlling the position for now.
Irish has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
HC is looking to take a break and control but Irish is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
HC trying to mount his opponent but Irish defends it.
HC perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
HC looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Irish with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
HC is nestled in close to Irish, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
HC landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
HC landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
HC scoring with strikes to the body and head.
HC wants to advance to full mount but Irish doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HC loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
HC content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
HC trying to control but Irish is working from the bottom.
HC postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rico HC has got the better of the ground game so far.
Irish is pulling down on HC's head to control his posture.
Irish keeping moving, preventing HC from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
HC won't allow Irish to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Irish keeping moving, preventing HC from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rico HC has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Billy Irish is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A lazy left from Irish finds it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Irish showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Irish, 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Irish!