PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kelly McGrady (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Lyle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGrady comes to the cage accompanied by Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird. Lyle has chosen Sick Puppies-Youre going down as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McGrady
vs
Lyle

197 cm
24
250 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

193 cm
27
255 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Kelly McGrady!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Lyle!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGrady looks to score with a jab to the body but Lyle is just out of range.
McGrady misses the shot to the body.
McGrady throws out a loose jab but Lyle uses good head movement to avoid it.
McGrady fails to land with a series of punches.
Lyle displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McGrady throws out the jab.

McGrady tries to keep at a distance but Lyle has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lyle.
McGrady tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lyle avoids it.

McGrady manages to break the clinch.
McGrady misses with a low kick.

Lyle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McGrady sprawls well initially but Lyle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
McGrady trying to control from the bottom.
Lyle is nestled in close to McGrady, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lyle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lyle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McGrady keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lyle 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.
McGrady keeping hold of Lyle's head, controlling as best he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGrady on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Lyle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McGrady defending well though.
Lyle lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lyle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lyle seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
McGrady is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McGrady trying to control but Lyle postures up.
McGrady blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lyle.
Lyle working the head and body with strikes.
Lyle throwing shots but McGrady is blocking nicely.
McGrady gets back to full guard.
Lyle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McGrady's head.
Lyle distracts McGrady with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lyle stopping the sweep attempt from McGrady.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyle throws a big right hand that misses.
Lyle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGrady works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McGrady looking to control.
McGrady pulls Lyle in close to prevent any damage.
McGrady trying to keep a closed guard but Lyle is proving a slippery customer.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
McGrady preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lyle thows a big elbow that misses.
Lyle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lyle is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McGrady is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McGrady has escaped and now he's on top!
McGrady pushes down on Lyle's leg and manages to get into half guard.
McGrady thows a huge punch but Lyle dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lyle manages to escape and get back to his feet!
McGrady throws a hook but Lyle avoids it easily.
McGrady misses with a two punch combination.
McGrady throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as Lyle blocks the low kick.
McGrady lands with a shot to the body.
Lyle lands with a kick to the temple. McGrady shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
McGrady misses with an attempted mid kick.
McGrady misses with a straight right.
McGrady misses the jab.
Lyle defending well as McGrady loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrady fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lyle manages to avoid it.
Lyle fails with a takedown attempt.
McGrady waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lyle.
McGrady misses with a straight left.
Lyle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Lyle darts in and clinches McGrady up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGrady throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lyle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lyle misses with a short punch on the inside.

Lyle manages to break the clinch.

Lyle closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Lyle dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lyle defending well as McGrady loads up on a big left hand.
Lyle sizes up McGrady with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McGrady throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lyle misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McGrady swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Lyle darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
McGrady trying to hold on to Lyle's head to control him but Lyle postures up.
McGrady is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McGrady moves into full guard.
Lyle preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lyle drops back looking for a leg! McGrady is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McGrady manages to kick Lyle off! Lyle jumps back into McGrady's guard.
Lyle throwing strikes from guard but McGrady blocks nicely.
Lyle distracts McGrady with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lyle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Lyle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGrady works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lyle preventing the sweep.
Lyle is looking to work some ground and pound but McGrady has wrist control.
Lyle landing with the ground and pound.
McGrady wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Lyle postures up in McGrady's guard and throws a big left but McGrady blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGrady not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lyle postures up in McGrady's guard and throws a big left but McGrady blocks it.
McGrady trying to keep a closed guard but Lyle is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kelly McGrady.
McGrady misses with a straight right.
McGrady throws a head kick that misses

and Lyle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lyle missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lyle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lyle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lyle scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McGrady is looking for a sweep. Lyle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lyle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Lyle is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and McGrady defends it well.
McGrady is pressing down on Lyle's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGrady bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lyle's guard.
McGrady won't allow Lyle to get back to his feet.
McGrady works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McGrady not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McGrady works his way into side control.

Lyle throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Lyle uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McGrady.
McGrady looks to throw the jab but Lyle is out of range.
McGrady throws a hook but Lyle blocks it.
Lyle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McGrady.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrady fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from McGrady misses.

Lyle scores a takedown into full mount!
Lyle looking to finish McGrady with some ground and pound. This is bad for McGrady!
Lyle unloading with bombs!
McGrady in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGrady regains half guard.
McGrady on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
McGrady is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lyle looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McGrady with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
McGrady wants to get back to full guard.
Lyle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McGrady defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Lyle 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!

McGrady throws a looping overhand right but Lyle ducks down to avoid it.
Lyle slips under a jab from McGrady.
Kelly McGrady is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lyle fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick by McGrady misses

and Lyle decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McGrady's guard.
Lyle chips away with some ground and pound.
Lyle missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McGrady bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lyle's guard.
Lyle keeping full guard, as McGrady tries to pass.
McGrady wants to control from the top but Lyle keeps moving.
Lyle keeping full guard, as McGrady tries to pass.
McGrady passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Lyle defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyle wants to get back to his feet.
McGrady trying to control the action but Lyle is working from the bottom.

Lyle sneaks out the side door and pushes McGrady away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
McGrady throws a leg kick

and Lyle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ground and pound from Lyle.
Lyle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McGrady's head.
Lyle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McGrady gets full guard.
McGrady working a defensive guard here.
Lyle throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McGrady works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McGrady not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kyle Lyle has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGrady working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lyle.
Kelly McGrady has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGrady has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lyle lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lyle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lyle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McGrady manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lyle manages to get himself to full guard.
Lyle is looking to stand up but McGrady isn't so interested in that idea.

McGrady is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lyle wants to stand up but McGrady is controlling him.
McGrady trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McGrady wants to control from the top but Lyle keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyle wants to stand up but McGrady is controlling him.
Lyle keeping moving, preventing McGrady from controlling successfully.

Lyle has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes McGrady off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
A jab from Lyle does it's job there.
McGrady connects with a solid leg kick.
McGrady needs to keep his hands up - Lyle had a free shot at his head there.
McGrady falls off balance throwing a combination

and Lyle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lyle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGrady wants to improve his position but Lyle is controlling well.
McGrady wants to control but Lyle is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Lyle thows a huge punch but McGrady dodges it nicely.

Lyle is working for a kimura but McGrady is defending it quite comfortably.

Lyle is looking for a kimura but McGrady is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lyle to get the leverage.
McGrady works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lyle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lyle throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGrady manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lyle manages to get himself to full guard.

Lyle scrambles and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Lyle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lyle winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Lyle!