PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Holloway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byrne has chosen I'm Shipping Up To Boston as his entrance music. Conor Byrne will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Holloway
vs
Byrne

150 cm
22
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

162 cm
19
131 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Syndicate Drugs

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin Holloway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Conor Byrne!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holloway stuffs the takedown attempt from Byrne. Byrne gets slowly back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holloway looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Byrne bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Byrne tries to move into full mount but can't pass Holloway's legs.

Byrne is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holloway knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Byrne tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Holloway can't do much from the bottom here.
Holloway tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Byrne wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Byrne is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holloway has escaped the position, nice work there.
Byrne trying to control the action but Holloway is working from the bottom.
Holloway is trying to control Byrne's posture but Byrne avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holloway is not content to let Byrne control the position.
Holloway is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two 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.

Byrne thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Holloway wants to control but Byrne postures up.
Byrne has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Byrne looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Holloway trying desperately to get to his feet.
Byrne looking to control and managing it successfully.
Holloway tries to hold on but Byrne pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Byrne looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Byrne jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Holloway is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Holloway and Byrne has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Byrne looks gassed!
Holloway is trying to get back to half guard.
Byrne wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holloway keeps working.

Byrne tries for a kimura but Holloway is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne working away.
Holloway is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Byrne's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Holloway is not content to let Byrne control the position.
Byrne looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Byrne working the head and body with strikes.
Holloway knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Byrne on the ground.
Byrne seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Holloway does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Holloway could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Byrne is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Holloway is just riding it out for now. Byrne eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conor Byrne dominated that round.
That's time! Holloway's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Holloway has his takedown stuffed

and Byrne counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Byrne is working for an americana but Holloway has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Byrne was thinking about the submission.
Byrne is pushing down on Holloway's leg trying to pass to half guard. Holloway is fighting to maintain full guard but Byrne has managed to sneak the leg through.
Byrne wants to pass the guard but Holloway is defending well.
Byrne winds up and cracks Holloway with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ground and pound from Byrne.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Byrne frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Byrne has control of Holloway's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Holloway regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Byrne fails to advance to Holloway's back.
Holloway is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Byrne has taken his back.

Byrne is cranking Holloway's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Holloway! He's tightened the choke and Holloway is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Conor Byrne!