PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Daren Byrd (ranked 6052 p4p, 0 weight class) and BIll Bates (ranked 6051 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Byrd
vs
Bates

215 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Daren Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, BIll Bates!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Dean Styles and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bates takes a shot right to the bread basket.
BIll Bates seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bates tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Byrd swivels and escapes.
Byrd swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Bates moves into range and clinches up with Byrd.
Byrd wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Byrd pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Bates breaks from the clinch.
Byrd misses with a wild body shot.

Bates gets caught flat footed, as Byrd shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bates is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Byrd has gone for a leg lock! Bates slips out almost immediately though and dives into Byrd's guard.

Byrd really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Byrd has a closed guard, preventing Bates from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bates gets to his feet. Byrd looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Bates gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bates escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bates as he jumps to the side.
Bates fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bates takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates misses with a takedown attempt - Byrd sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Daren Byrd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BIll Bates.
Bates shoots and misses
and Byrd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bates thinking.

Bates gets a clinch.

Bates manages to break the clinch.
Bates darts in looking for a takedown but Byrd gets double underhooks and turns Bates into the cage.
Bates just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromByrd.
Byrd shoots for a takedown but Bates saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Byrd closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bates quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bates looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd controlling the action here.

Byrd is working for a submission of some sort.
Byrd content to control rather than advance.
Bates wants to get back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Byrd is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bates is just riding it out for now. Byrd eventually gives up the hold.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Byrd shoots and misses
and Bates counters with a big head kick but Byrd shrugs it off.
Byrd displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bates.

Bates drives through and clinches with Byrd against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bates lands a nice knee to the body.
Byrd looking to slow down the pace here.
Bates managing to block the knees to the body from Byrd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but BIll Bates will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bates throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Byrd's waist but Byrd gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bates off to one side.

Bates closes the distance and pushes Byrd back into the cage.
Byrd is looking for a takedown.
Byrd on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Bates breaks from the clinch.

Byrd tries to keep at a distance but Bates has taken the fight into the clinch.
Byrd slows down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bates lands with a light punch inside.

Bates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd shoots for a double leg takedown but Bates sprawls well. He's pushed Byrd's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Byrd thuds a left hand into Bates's body.
Byrd throws a body punch but Bates moves out of range.
Byrd stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Byrd wants it to stay on the feet.
Bates misses with a jab to the body
and Byrd makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Byrd displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bates.
Daren Byrd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BIll Bates.
Bates scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Daren Byrd has been cut.
Bates goes for a double leg but Byrd avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Byrd continues to drive forward.
A quick step to the side and Byrd tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Byrd lands a leg kick that knocks Bates off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bates stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bates throws a leg kick but Byrd checks it.
Byrd misses the shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Byrd.
Bates looks to land a combination. Byrd sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A clash of legs there as Bates blocks the low kick.

Byrd gets a double leg takedown into Bates's guard.

Bates scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bates is breathing heavily.
Bates looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Byrd is fending him off so far but Bates persists. Nope, Byrd circles away and we're back to standing.

Bates clinches.
Byrd lands an elbow inside that Bates shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byrd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bates sprawls well. Bates wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Byrd gets slowly back to his feet.
Byrd shoots in but Bates avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Byrd tries to land a front kick but Bates steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Bates clinches up with Byrd and pushes him back against the cage.

Bates manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bates dodges an elbow strike from Byrd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Byrd just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bates's brow.

Bates drags the fight down to the ground.
Byrd trying to control the position from guard on top but Bates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Byrd postures up and lands a big shot to Bates's brow.
Bates wants to stand up but Byrd is controlling him.

Bates has his feet on Byrd's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Byrd throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bates stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BIll Bates showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Daren Byrd's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bates clinches up with Byrd and pushes him back against the cage.
Bates tries to pull guard but Byrd won't allow it.

Bates breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Byrd. Bates does a little dance to reset his feet.
Byrd dives in for a single leg takedown but Bates sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bates shoots in but no luck this time.
Bates misses with a head kick.

Bates moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Byrd pulls Bates into guard.

Bates stands and steps away. Byrd gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bates or perhaps it was just good defense by Byrd, which made it look bad.
Daren Byrd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BIll Bates.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crunch! Byrd slams his shin into Bates's torso.
Byrd throws a series of punches but Bates avoids them all with ease.
Bates tries a head kick but it misses.
Byrd half committed to a counter leg kick.
Byrd digs a good hook to Bates's body.
Nice body punch from Byrd.

Bates rushes Byrd and presses him up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Byrd.
Bates cracks Byrd with a nice body shot.
Bates tries a knee to the head but Byrd blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bates slows down the pace here.
Bates is trying to pull guard but Byrd turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Bates takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bates pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Byrd throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bates counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Byrd fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Byrd or perhaps it was just good defense by Bates, which made it look bad.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bates throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Byrd is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bates misses with a jab, cross combination.
Oh Byrd is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Bates clobbers Byrd with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bates looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Byrd is fending him off so far but Bates persists. Nope, Byrd circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Bates. No joy for Byrd on that attempt.
BIll Bates is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bates misses with a wild combination.
Bates fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Byrd fails to land the takedown.
Despite the aggression on Bates's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bates leaves Byrd with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Byrd shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bates appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Byrd is looking to wear down Bates with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bates looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Byrd is fending him off so far but Bates persists. Nope, Byrd circles away and we're back to standing.
Bates tries to work over Byrd's front leg with a kick but Byrd checks it.
Byrd shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bates pinned against the cage. Bates gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bates throws a nice looking combination but Byrd bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Byrd seems to have got his legs back now.
Bates stuffs the takedown attempt from Byrd. Byrd gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bates avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
BIll Bates seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Bates moves into the clinch successfully.
Byrd is trying to stall.
Stalling in the clinch from Byrd.
Bates prevents Byrd from breaking the clinch.

Bates's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bates shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Daren Byrd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BIll Bates is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bates moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
BIll Bates comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bates 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... BIll Bates!