PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Conor Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Conde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byrne comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Shipping Up To Boston. Conde has chosen Tic Tic Tac 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.

Byrne
vs
Conde

162 cm
25
131 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

180 cm
21
145 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conor Byrne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Conde!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrne takes one to the side of the head.
Conde fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Conde scores with a jab to the head.
Thiago Conde seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conde misses with a body shot.
Byrne takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Conde tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Byrne was well out of range. Poor timing from Conde.
Conde misses with a straight left.
Conde connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jab by Conde.
Byrne fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Byrne closes the distance and clinches up with Conde, looking for a takedown. Byrne pushes Conde against the cage but Conde circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Byrne is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Conde jabs Byrne right on the nose. Byrne blinks but takes it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrne slips a jab and a cross from Conde.
Conde connects with a body shot.
Conde has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Byrne tries to score a power double leg takedown but Conde sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Byrne somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conde scores with a hook.
Conde throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Conde throws a hook to the side of Byrne's head but Byrne sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Conde lands a nice shot that snaps Byrne's head back.
Conde is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Byrne shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Conde napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Byrne looks up at the clock and then as Conde takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Byrne smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Byrne wants to control but Conde is keeping him busy.
Conde is looking to reverse the position.
Conde is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Byrne has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Byrne trying to control the action but Conde is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byrne decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Conde misses with a looping left.
Conde will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thiago Conde is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Byrne fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Conde as he connects with a hook.
Conde misses with a looping right.
Conde throws a right and a left that Byrne avoids nicely.
Conde throws the left hand but Byrne avoids the punch easily.
Conde waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Byrne.
Conde scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Conde thows a left - swing and a miss!
Byrne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Conde.
Byrne ducks under a wild hook from Conde.
Conde is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Byrne had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Conde throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Conde cracks Byrne with a right hand to the side of the head.
Byrne slips a jab and a cross from Conde.
Conde fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Byrne looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Conde throws a hook but Byrne avoids it easily.

Byrne scores a takedown into full mount!
Conde really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Byrne. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Conde looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Conde can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Byrne can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Conde is looking to escape.
Byrne is really struggling to control Conde but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Byrne scoring with strikes but Conde is staying in there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Byrne is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Conde has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Conde in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Conde dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Byrne throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Conde was covering up waiting for the punch and Byrne finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Conde seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Byrne would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Conde keeping moving, preventing Byrne from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byrne won't allow Conde to get back to his feet.
Byrne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Byrne stands up from Conde's guard - Byrne perhaps looking for a knockout.
Conde looks to throw the jab but Byrne is out of range.
Conor Byrne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Conde punishes Byrne's body with a nice straight punch.
No joy there for Conde, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Byrne shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Byrne is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Conde defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byrne wants to control but Conde is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne is pressing down on Conde's thigh, looking to free his foot. Conde is holding on for now.
Byrne uses his free foot to push down on Conde's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Conde.
Byrne lands a heavy elbow.

Byrne swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Conde is now in Byrne's guard. A big mistake from Byrne there, giving up the dominant position!
Byrne looking for a sweep. Not yet Byrne, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Conde is looking to improve his position but Byrne isn't that keen on the idea.
Conde is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Byrne wants to take Conde's back but he can't do it this time.

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.
Conde tries to hold on but Byrne pushes him away.
Byrne wants to control the pace but Conde is squirming around nicely.

Byrne goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Conde turns into him and now he's in Byrne's guard.
Byrne has Conde pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor Byrne dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A big right from Conde misses.
Conde throws a combination. Byrne tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Byrne clinches up against the cage.
Byrne fails to pull guard.
Conde doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Byrne goes for a takedown in the clinch but Conde prevents it.
Byrne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Conde has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Conde tries to break free but Byrne pushes him back against the cage.
Conde prevents a takedown attempt there.

Byrne ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Byrne no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Byrne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Byrne is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conde won't allow Byrne to sweep him here.

Conde gets to his feet - Byrne follows without any prompting.
Byrne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Conde.
Byrne tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Conde swivels and escapes.

Byrne shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Byrne is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Conde defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Conde.
Conor Byrne overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Byrne is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Conde manages to get to full guard.
Conde wants to stand but Byrne is controlling the position.
Byrne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byrne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Conde looking for a sweep. Not yet Conde, not yet.
Byrne passes Conde's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Byrne is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Byrne is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four 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.

Byrne is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Conde doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Byrne.
Byrne trying to pass the guard but Conde defending well.
Byrne works his way into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Conor Byrne showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Byrne has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Conor Byrne!