PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ziggy Rochester (ranked 2792 p4p, 1482 weight class) and Brandon Byrum (ranked 279 p4p, 164 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rochester
vs
Byrum

189 cm
20
165
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
161
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good takedowns
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ziggy Rochester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brandon Byrum!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Rochester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An inside leg kick lands from Byrum.
Rochester moves in looking to clinch but Byrum pushes him off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rochester.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rochester throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Byrum's waist but Byrum gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rochester off to one side.
Byrum appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Byrum throws a big shot that misses.
Byrum circles away from the clinch attempt.
Byrum throws out a counter right but Rochester avoids it with no problem.
Byrum misses with the combination.
Rochester changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrum defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rochester.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ziggy Rochester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrum misses with a two punch combination.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rochester checks a leg kick.
Rochester tries to close the distance and clinch but Byrum swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rochester tries to clinch there but Byrum circles away.
A nice side step and Byrum releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rochester shoots in for a takedown but Byrum shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Byrum misses with a looping right.
Byrum throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big left from Byrum misses.
Rochester feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Rochester checks a leg kick.
Rochester with a lazy takedown attempt
and Byrum counters with a right hand to the body.
Byrum just misses with a punch to the body.
Byrum throws a body punch but Rochester moves out of range.
Byrum throws a chopping leg kick but Rochester manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rochester is looking to counter the offense by Byrum and move into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rochester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rochester shoots for a double leg takedown but Byrum sprawls well. He's pushed Rochester's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Byrum rushes Rochester and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrum goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Byrum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rochester looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Byrum circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rochester is looking to clinch.
Rochester slips under a jab.
Byrum throws an off balance right hand

and Rochester moves into the clinch.
Rochester throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Byrum.

Byrum breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Byrum misses with a few strikes there.
Rochester ducks under a wild hook from Byrum.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Byrum throws an elbow but misses.
Rochester avoids the elbow strike from Byrum, against the cage.
Byrum is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Rochester blocks an uppercut.
Byrum lands an elbow inside that Rochester shrugs off.
A head punch on the inside from Byrum fails to land.
Byrum lands an elbow that stopped Rochester in his tracks for a moment.
Rochester fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Byrum throws a punch but it's blocked by Rochester.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrum struggles to land a body shot inside as Rochester controls his hands.

Byrum manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rochester is trying hard to land a takedown here. Byrum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rochester tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Byrum manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Byrum looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rochester tries to clinch there but Byrum circles away.
Rochester sets himself, and Byrum steps forward looking for the clinch! Rochester avoids it this time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Byrum dominated that round.
That's time! Rochester's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Byrum swinging wildly here.
Rochester tries to counter with a takedown but Byrum is quick to defend against it.
Rochester tries to clinch up.
Byrum tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rochester is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Byrum wants to counter with a clinch but Rochester pushes him away.
Byrum tries to bum rush Rochester with a series of wild strikes but Rochester uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rochester tries to counter by clinching up but Byrum breaks away and moves out of range.
Byrum misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrum keeps the fight on the outside.
Brandon Byrum seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Byrum throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rochester seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rochester tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Byrum paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rochester gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Byrum counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The fight stays on the outside here - Rochester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Byrum is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rochester with a body shot.

Byrum rushes Rochester and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Byrum blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rochester fails to pull guard.
Rochester misses with a short punch on the inside.
Byrum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Byrum effectively controlling the action here.
Rochester really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Byrum fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrum swings wildly with an uppercut but Rochester uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rochester tries to pull guard but Byrum forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ziggy Rochester. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Byrum manages to break the clinch.
Rochester avoids the body shot from Byrum.
Byrum throws out a loose jab but Rochester uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrum has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rochester is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Rochester tries to clinch up.
Rochester moves in looking to clinch but Byrum pushes him off.

Byrum shoots in and bounces Rochester off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Byrum trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rochester looking to hit a scissor sweep but Byrum is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byrum trying to control but Rochester is working from the bottom.
Rochester bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Byrum's guard.

Rochester trying to control the position from guard on top but Byrum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rochester wants to pass the guard but Byrum is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Byrum working for a triangle but Rochester defends it easily.
Byrum is trying to keep Rochester in close.
Rochester passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rochester passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Byrum!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Byrum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rochester's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Byrum stuffs the takedown attempt from Rochester. Rochester gets slowly back to his feet.
Rochester fails with an attempt to clinch.
Byrum scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rochester avoids the body shot from Byrum.
Rochester is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rochester misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Byrum misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rochester tries to clinch but Byrum moves out of range.
Rochester tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byrum swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Byrum throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rochester is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Byrum.
Rochester looks for a takedown but Byrum sprawls well.
Byrum throws out a counter right but Rochester avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ziggy Rochester. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rochester shoots for a takedown but Byrum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rochester staying out of range there.
Rochester is looking to clinch.
Byrum loads up on a big right hand but Rochester slips the punch.
Rochester changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rochester tries for a takedown but Byrum circles away easily
and Byrum counters with a right hand to the body.
Byrum misses the shot to the body.
Rochester tries to clinch but Byrum moves out of range.
Rochester tries to clinch up but Byrum circles away and keeps his distance.
Rochester tries to clinch but Byrum is having none of it.
Byrum looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rochester tries to clinch but Byrum is having none of it.
Byrum tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rochester tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
As Rochester backs off Byrum throws a huge counter combo but Rochester manages to avoid it all.
Byrum throws a leg kick but Rochester sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rochester tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Byrum manages to circle out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rochester tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Byrum manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Byrum instigates a clinch.

Byrum's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Byrum circles away from the clinch attempt.
Byrum missing with a left hand there. Rochester was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ziggy Rochester has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rochester tries to clinch up but Byrum circles away and keeps his distance.
Byrum keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rochester or perhaps it was just good defense by Byrum, which made it look bad.
Rochester is looking to clinch but Byrum is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Byrum feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rochester will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rochester wants to hit a sweep here but Byrum passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rochester there!
Rochester is squirming around, avoiding Byrum's attempts to control the action.
Rochester tries to reverse the position but Byrum maintains control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Byrum tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Byrum scoring with strikes but Rochester is staying in there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brandon Byrum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Byrum has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 25:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Byrum!
After winning the bout, Brandon Byrum thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.