PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Ricky Byrd enters the cage!

Johnson
vs
Byrd

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
26
162 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

[IFC] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Byrd!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd throws a right hand that Johnson ducks under and follows up with a left that Johnson also avoids with ease.

Johnson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Johnson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Byrd has worked his arm free - good work by Byrd!
Byrd is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Johnson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Johnson working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Byrd's thigh. Byrd counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Johnson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Johnson looking to sit in guard and control but Byrd gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Johnson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Byrd postures up.
Byrd content to stall in guard here.
Johnson looking to control.
Byrd looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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 postures up.
Byrd wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Chris Johnson just wasn't active enough.
Byrd slaps away a takedown attempt from Johnson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Byrd fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Byrd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Johnson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Byrd to score with a decent uppercut.
Byrd throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Byrd lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Byrd.
Johnson tries to clinch but Byrd moves out of range.
Byrd tests Johnson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Byrd throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Byrd lands a lovely overhand right.
Byrd works Johnson's body with a nice hook.
Johnson wants to clinch.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Byrd counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Byrd pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick misses from Byrd.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Johnson.
Byrd manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is trying to control the action in half guard but Byrd is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Byrd gets back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Byrd is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Byrd is on top in guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Byrd from controlling successfully.
Johnson wants to hit a switch here but Byrd passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Johnson there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Byrd dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Byrd avoids a kick to the body.
Byrd lands with a shot to the body.
Johnson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Johnson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Johnson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Johnson wants to clinch
and Byrd counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Byrd cracks Johnson with a good jab.
Johnson misses with a shot to the body
and Byrd counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Byrd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byrd throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnson's head.
Johnson wants to clinch but Byrd slips to the side
and Byrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Byrd takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with a double jab
and Byrd counters with a series of strikes. Johnson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson throws a shot from downtown. Byrd moves away and avoids it.
Byrd throws a series of strikes that have Johnson backpedaling.
Byrd throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson has his takedown stuffed
enabling Byrd to counter with a crisp jab.
Chris Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byrd swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Johnson.

Byrd decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Byrd perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Johnson trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Byrd controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd landing punches.
Byrd can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Byrd looking to control and managing it successfully.
Johnson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd content just to control the position here.
Byrd can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Johnson is looking to escape.
Byrd sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Ricky Byrd has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Johnson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Byrd counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Johnson wants to clinch but Byrd slips to the side
and Byrd counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Johnson misses with a combination
and Byrd counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Byrd counters with a three punch combo that has Johnson backing up. Johnson nods at Byrd to acknowledge the strikes.

Byrd shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Byrd thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Byrd looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Byrd in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Byrd scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Byrd 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. And we move into the final round!

Johnson gets caught flat footed, as Byrd shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Byrd controlling him for the moment.
Byrd stands and throws Johnson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Byrd avoids the strikes from the bottom by Johnson.
Johnson is not content to let Byrd control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson wants to control but Byrd postures up.
Byrd takes a little break here. Johnson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Byrd has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Johnson!
Johnson is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Byrd tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Ricky Byrd has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two 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.
Byrd controlling the position easily from mount.
Johnson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Byrd tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Johnson wants to control but Byrd is having none of it.
Johnson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd looking to control but Johnson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Byrd controlling his opponent.
Byrd wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Byrd misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Byrd controlling the pace for now.
Byrd tries to control but Johnson wriggling away.
Byrd content just to control the position here.
Chris Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Johnson can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Byrd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Byrd 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Byrd!