PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bj Alves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Ricky Byrd has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Byrd
vs
Alves

179 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
22
158 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bj Alves!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd throws a right and a left that both miss.
Byrd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byrd misses with a two punch combination.
Alves throws a looping overhand right but Byrd ducks down to avoid it.
Alves uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Byrd.
Byrd tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Alves swivels and escapes.
Byrd changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Alves tries to avoid it but Byrd manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Alves to the ground. Alves escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Byrd throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Byrd.
Alves moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Alves misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alves with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Byrd to score with a decent uppercut.
Byrd lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Alves at a distance.
Alves misses with a straight right.
Byrd throws a head kick that misses.
Alves moves out of range of the body kick.
Byrd throws a right and a left that Alves avoids nicely.
Byrd throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The crowd cheers as Byrd lands an impressive looking overhand right. Alves doesn't seem phased though.
Byrd throws a head kick that misses.
Byrd throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Byrd misses the jab.
Byrd tries a head kick but it misses.
Byrd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Alves avoids the head kick by Byrd.
Byrd shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrd.
Byrd swings for the body but Alves moves out of range.
Byrd throws a jab but it's blocked by Alves.
Byrd misses with a straight right.
Ricky Byrd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Byrd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Alves was well out of range. Poor timing from Byrd.
Byrd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byrd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Alves throws a looping overhand right but Byrd ducks down to avoid it.
Alves misses with a wild body shot.
Alves blocks a jab.
Alves avoids the head kick by Byrd.
Byrd throws a body punch but Alves moves out of range.
Byrd closes the distance and clinches up with Alves, looking for a takedown. Byrd pushes Alves against the cage but Alves circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A swing and a miss from Byrd.
Alves slaps away a takedown attempt from Byrd, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alves avoids the head kick by Byrd.
Alves stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alves wants it to stay on the feet.
Byrd moves out of range as Alves strikes.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown but Alves shows good takedown defense.
Nice uppercut there from Byrd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Byrd missing with a left hand there. Alves was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Byrd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ricky Byrd will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Byrd jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Byrd misses with a jab to the body
and Alves counters with a stiff right hand.
Byrd misses with a takedown attempt
and Alves counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Alves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Alves misses the target.
Byrd has his takedown stuffed
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Alves misses.
Alves throws a hook but Byrd blocks it.
Byrd throws a left and a right that both miss
and Alves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd misses with a low kick.
Byrd moves out of range of the strikes.
Alves might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A telegraphed right hand from Byrd misses the target.
Byrd misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Alves to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrd looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Byrd staying out of range there.
Byrd fails with the takedown
and Alves counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Alves displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Byrd throws out the jab.
An inside leg kick from Byrd misses.

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.
Byrd throws a lazy head kick
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Byrd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alves misses the jab.
Alves throws a hook but Byrd avoids it easily.
Bj Alves is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Byrd tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily
and Alves counters with a nice uppercut.
Alves misses the shot to the body.
Byrd throws a head kick that misses
and Alves counters with a nice uppercut.
Byrd misses with a takedown
and Alves counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Byrd throws a sloppy head kick
and Alves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A big left from Alves misses.
Byrd tries for a takedown but Alves circles away easily
and Alves counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Byrd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Byrd misses with the combination.
Byrd throws a head kick that misses.
A low kick from Byrd misses
and Alves counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four 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.
Byrd looks to land a combination but Alves avoids it well.
Alves looks to throw the jab but Byrd is out of range.
Byrd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ricky Byrd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Byrd throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Alves counter with a right hand.
Byrd slips a jab from Alves.
Byrd throws a combination that misses
and Alves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Alves blocks a head kick by Byrd.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Byrd uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alves.
Alves throws a body punch but Byrd moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bj Alves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Byrd throws a series of punches but Alves avoids them all with ease.
Alves moves out of range as Byrd strikes.
Alves works the jab nicely.
Byrd connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A head kick by Byrd misses
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Byrd gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Alves counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alves moves into range and connects with a jab.
Byrd moves out of range of the strikes.
Byrd misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd throws a head kick that misses.
Alves ducks under a wild hook from Byrd.
Alves looks to land a left hand but Byrd moved out of range nicely.
Alves dodges the punch combination from Byrd.
Byrd with a poor takedown
and Alves counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Byrd misses with a takedown
and Alves counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Byrd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alves throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrd.
Alves misses with an uppercut. Byrd saw that one coming.
Byrd fails to land with a series of punches.

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.
Byrd throws a head kick but Alves moves out of range.
Byrd defending well as Alves loads up on a big left hand.
Alves is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Byrd.
Byrd swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Alves counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Byrd fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alves manages to avoid it.
Byrd misses with a shot to the body
and Alves counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Alves keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Byrd.
Byrd misses with a combination
and Alves counters with a stiff right hand.
A low kick from Byrd misses
and Alves counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Byrd misses with a leg kick
and Alves counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Alves throws a shot from downtown. Byrd moves away and avoids it.
Byrd has his takedown stuffed
and Alves counters with a straight right hand.
Byrd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Alves counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Byrd thinking.
Byrd misses with a takedown
and Alves cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Byrd looks to land a right hand but Alves moved out of range.
Byrd keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Alves.
The fighters circling - Alves throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Byrd's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Byrd duly obliges.
Byrd shoots and misses
and Alves counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Byrd thinking.
Alves jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alves takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Byrd misses with a series of wild punches.
Byrd uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Alves.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bj Alves comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Alves 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bj Alves!