PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alfredo Lucas (ranked 0 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.

Byrne
vs
Lucas

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gavin Byrne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alfredo Lucas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lucas throws a right and a left that Byrne avoids nicely.
Byrne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lucas pinned against the cage. Lucas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Byrne fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lucas avoids it really well and circles away.
Lucas throws a series of punches but Byrne moves out of range.
Lucas slaps away a takedown attempt from Byrne, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lucas.
Byrne bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alfredo Lucas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Byrne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Byrne clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne throws a knee to the head but misses.
Byrne lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lucas backwards.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Byrne takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Byrne tries a body shot but Lucas blocks it.

Byrne breaks from the clinch.
Lucas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Byrne tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lucas defends well and Byrne ends up having to push Lucas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Byrne.
Byrne jumps guard but Lucas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Byrne keeps control of Lucas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Byrne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lucas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Byrne gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lucas.
No joy there for Lucas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lucas connects with a jab.
Byrne takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lucas shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Byrne eats them both and turns towards Lucas to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lucas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Byrne changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lucas tries to avoid it but Byrne manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lucas to the ground. Lucas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Byrne slips under a jab.
Lucas misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucas goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lucas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lucas misses with a few strikes there.
Byrne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Byrne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lucas.
Lucas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Byrne.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Byrne.
Lucas misses with an uppercut
and Byrne counters with a straight right hand.
A nice combination there by Lucas.
Byrne looks for a takedown but Lucas sprawls well.
Good shot there by Lucas.
Lucas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Byrne.
The crowd cheers as Lucas lands an impressive looking overhand right. Byrne doesn't seem phased though.
Alfredo Lucas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Lucas, as that shot connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas throws a big shot that misses.
Lucas scores with a nice strike.
Lucas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Byrne.
Lucas misses with a double jab.

Byrne looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lucas!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lucas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lucas can do anything to dispel that myth.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Byrne decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Some wild striking there from Lucas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfredo Lucas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lucas with a jab.

Byrne closes the distance and clinches.
Lucas looking to slow down the pace here.
Byrne dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Byrne breaks the clinch.
Byrne slips a jab from Lucas.
Lucas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lucas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lucas blocks a head kick by Byrne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Byrne under the eye.
Lucas looks to land a combination but Byrne avoids it well.
Byrne slips under a jab from Lucas.
Byrne ducks under a wild hook from Lucas.
A cross from Lucas lands.
Lucas misses with a few strikes there.
Lucas lands with a shot to the body.
Byrne takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lucas throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Byrne on the side of the head.
Byrne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lucas pinned against the cage. Lucas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lucas misses with a combination
and Byrne counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas swinging wildly here.
Nice defenses there by Byrne.
Byrne steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lucas.
Lucas connects with a nice looking jab.
Byrne shoots in but Lucas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lucas misses with a double jab.
Lucas throws a hook to the side of Byrne's head but Byrne sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lucas scores with a jab. Byrne acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lucas lands a nice hook to Byrne's body. Byrne takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne darts in looking for a takedown but Lucas gets double underhooks and turns Byrne into the cage.
Byrne lands a nice knee to the body.
Lucas is trying to push Byrne away but Byrne has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Byrne wants a takedown but no success here.
Byrne lands a body shot in the clinch.

Byrne has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lucas uses from the top position.
Lucas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lucas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Byrne is looking for a triangle but Lucas pushes his legs off easily.
Lucas prevents Byrne from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Lucas stands up and waves to Byrne to follow him.

Byrne clinches with his opponent.
Lucas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Byrne leaning his opponent against the cage.
Byrne jumps guard but Lucas stands there with Byrne around his waist. Byrne gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alfredo Lucas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Byrne's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lucas falls off balance throwing a combination

and Byrne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Byrne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lucas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lucas wants to break free but Byrne has control.

Byrne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Lucas misses the target.
Alfredo Lucas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Byrne is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lucas.
Lucas misses with a two punch combination.
Lucas lands with a nice body punch.
Byrne throws a series of strikes that have Lucas backpedaling.
Byrne looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucas misses with a wild combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Byrne.
Lucas punishes Byrne's body with a nice straight punch.
Byrne looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lucas scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lucas throws the left hand but Byrne avoids the punch easily.
Gavin Byrne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Lucas as Byrne shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lucas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Byrne in his tracks.
Lucas misses with an uppercut

and Byrne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Byrne.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Byrne is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lucas wants to break free but Byrne has control.
Byrne lands a body punch in the clinch.
Byrne is looking to take this one to the mat.
Byrne fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Byrne misses with a punch on the inside.
Byrne digs a right hand underneath Lucas's ribcage. Lucas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Byrne has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lucas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lucas is trying to break the clinch but Byrne is controlling him.

Byrne breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucas misses with an uppercut.
Lucas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lucas lands a really nice looking cross but Byrne seems unphased.
Lucas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Byrne under the eye.
Lucas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lucas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lucas connects with the punch.
Lucas stuffs the takedown.
Byrne throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lucas's waist but Lucas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Byrne off to one side.
Lucas works over Byrne's head and body with a nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucas bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Byrne's head.
Byrne takes one to the chin there.
Lucas looks to land a combination. Byrne sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice straight punches there by Lucas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lucas.
Lucas scores with a jab. Byrne acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lucas looks to land a left hand but Byrne moved out of range nicely.
Lucas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Byrne.
Lucas throws an overhand right that lands on Byrne's shoulder, as Byrne tries to avoid the shot.
Lucas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Byrne stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Byrne looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Byrne on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice shot lands for Lucas.
Byrne moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alfredo Lucas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lucas 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Alfredo Lucas!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Alfredo Lucas!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Alfredo Lucas!

Alfredo Lucas wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Alfredo Lucas, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.