PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between David Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam McGuiness (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGuiness has chosen The Boys are Back by Dropkick Murphys as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Byrne
vs
McGuiness

184 cm
38
206 lbs
27 - 14 - 0

182 cm
29
209 lbs
25 - 21 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, David Byrne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 21 - 1, fighting out of London, Liam McGuiness!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byrne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Byrne being controlled against the ropes.
Byrne blocks a body shot from McGuiness.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McGuiness stalling in the clinch but Byrne improves position.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Byrne.
I was talking to Byrne's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A hook to the body from Byrne.
McGuiness blocks an uppercut.
Byrne lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGuiness backwards.
Byrne goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Byrne using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McGuiness has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Byrne doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Byrne.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
McGuiness tries to break the clinch but Byrne is controlling the position.
Byrne misses with a punch to the body.
McGuiness blocks a body shot from Byrne.
Byrne misses with a body punch.
Byrne fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
McGuiness looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McGuiness blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McGuiness.
McGuiness misses with a punch to the body.
Byrne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Byrne - that landed with a thud.
Byrne lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Byrne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGuiness's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGuiness lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Byrne clinches.
McGuiness looking to slow down the pace here.
Byrne struggles to land a body shot inside as McGuiness controls his hands.
Byrne goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Byrne scores with a nice hook to the head.
Byrne tries to throw a body punch but McGuiness avoids it by throwing Byrne back against the ropes.
Byrne throws an elbow that misses.
Byrne misses with a shot to the kidneys.

McGuiness escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Byrne lands a right hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrne dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on McGuiness. That did some damage!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Byrne dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Byrne with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Byrne throws a leg kick that is checked
and McGuiness counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Byrne scores with a jab to the body.

McGuiness gets tackled into the ropes by Byrne. Byrne maintains the clinch.
Byrne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McGuiness blocks an uppercut.
McGuiness manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A nice right hand lands inside from Byrne.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrne throws a punch but it's blocked by McGuiness.
Byrne throws a punch but it's blocked by McGuiness.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
Byrne lands a shoulder strike.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from McGuiness, right into the meat.
Byrne is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuiness can do to turn this around?

Byrne rushes McGuiness and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Byrne can't find room to land a body shot as McGuiness controls the action.
McGuiness tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McGuiness takes a shot to the head.
Byrne working aggressively here.
Byrne scores with a nice hook to the head.
Byrne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byrne is working McGuiness over against the ropes.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGuiness misses with a hook to the ribs.
McGuiness stalling in the clinch but Byrne improves position.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGuiness's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McGuiness looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuiness is looking to control Byrne's arms but Byrne gets an underhook and turns him. Now McGuiness has his back to the ropes.
McGuiness tries to circle away but Byrne has him pinned against the ropes.
Byrne tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McGuiness blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Byrne has a couple of punches blocked by McGuiness.
McGuiness is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
McGuiness tries to throw a body punch but Byrne avoids it by throwing McGuiness back against the ropes.
McGuiness looking to stall.
McGuiness wants to stall.
McGuiness wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Byrne has him pressed against the ropes.
Byrne tries a body shot but McGuiness blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice straight punches there by Byrne. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Byrne.
The fight stays on the outside here - Byrne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Byrne wants to clinch up but McGuiness keeps it at a distance.
McGuiness tries to move into range but Byrne moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Byrne on the wrong end of a nice hook.

It looks like David Byrne has been cut.
Byrne misses with a wild body shot.
A little jabbing left from McGuiness on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Byrne tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McGuiness was well out of range. Poor timing from Byrne.
Byrne's jab looks to have found its range, popping McGuiness under the eye.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGuiness throws a looping overhand right but Byrne ducks down to avoid it.
McGuiness blocks a jab.
Byrne misses with a leg kick
and McGuiness counters with a leg kick.
Byrne misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGuiness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne misses with a hook
and McGuiness counters with a right hand to the body.
McGuiness bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McGuiness keeps the fight on the outside.
McGuiness throws a chopping leg kick but Byrne manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Byrne motions for McGuiness to come forward. Byrne throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Byrne fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Byrne throws a lazy right hand but McGuiness sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McGuiness! But no joy.
A bone on bone clash there as McGuiness blocks the leg kick.
Byrne tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And McGuiness responds with a good body kick, but Byrne manages to step out the way in time.
Byrne with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as McGuiness checks a leg kick.
McGuiness only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne throws a chopping leg kick but McGuiness manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
McGuiness throws a counter combo.
Nice shot lands for Byrne.
Byrne throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuiness flicks out a counter leg kick but Byrne steps away.
Byrne jabs at McGuiness's body.
Byrne throws a leg kick which misses McGuiness's front leg but catches the back leg as McGuiness tries to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Byrne. McGuiness does a little dance to reset his feet.
Byrne lands a right hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Byrne connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Byrne cracks a nice hook into McGuiness's ribs.
McGuiness throws a head kick but Byrne moves out of range.
Byrne lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Byrne rushes McGuiness and presses him up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Byrne clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on David Byrne's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Byrne lands a glancing blow to the side of McGuiness's head.
Byrne jabs McGuiness to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A leg kick checked by McGuiness.
Byrne misses with a wild body shot.
McGuiness has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Byrne.
McGuiness wants to slow Byrne down by chopping away at his legs.
McGuiness has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Byrne.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Byrne, right into the meat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good leg kick by Byrne there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Byrne connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice jab there from Byrne.
Byrne misses with a hook. McGuiness ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as McGuiness blocks the low kick.
Byrne looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuiness is just out of range.
McGuiness swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A head kick misses from McGuiness.
David Byrne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byrne fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Byrne gets a clinch.
Byrne digs a right hand into McGuiness's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McGuiness's gas tank.
Byrne tries a body shot but McGuiness blocks it.
McGuiness's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McGuiness trying to stall but Byrne improves his position.
Byrne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Byrne tries a body shot but McGuiness blocks it.
Byrne misses with a hook from the clinch.
Byrne misses with a punch to the body.
McGuiness tries to break the clinch but Byrne is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne misses with a short punch on the inside.
McGuiness trying to control the position but instead, Byrne has worked for underhooks and has pushed McGuiness into the ropes.

McGuiness breaks the clinch.
McGuiness throws a hook but Byrne avoids it easily.
It looked like Byrne wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
An inside leg kick from Byrne misses.
It seemed like McGuiness was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
McGuiness throws a low kick but Byrne avoids it.
Byrne is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Byrne fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
David Byrne is winning the standup battle so far.
Byrne throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McGuiness stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice body punch from Byrne.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrne thumps McGuiness with a low kick.
Byrne throws a good cross that connects.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Byrne had his way with Liam McGuiness in that round.
The cut man is working on David Byrne's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Byrne punishes McGuiness's body with a nice straight punch.
Byrne doesn't manage to clinch there - McGuiness circles away.
McGuiness tries a quick counter leg kick but Byrne is wise to it.
McGuiness tries a head kick but it misses.
Liam McGuiness has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Byrne gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Byrne lands a leg kick that knocks McGuiness off balance momentarily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Byrne, right into the meat.
Byrne takes a swing at McGuiness's ribcage but misses.
Byrne backing away here, and McGuiness unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Byrne is looking to wear down McGuiness with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
McGuiness walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrne pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Byrne takes a swing at McGuiness's ribcage but misses.
McGuiness throws a hook but Byrne blocks it.
McGuiness is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Byrne rushes McGuiness and presses him up against the ropes.

McGuiness escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Byrne fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McGuiness looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A nice inside leg kick there by McGuiness. That's going to slow Byrne down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Byrne. That's going to slow McGuiness down.
McGuiness on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A solid leg kick lands there for Byrne.
A good leg kick by Byrne.
Byrne looks to score with a jab to the body but McGuiness is just out of range.
McGuiness looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
McGuiness avoids the body shot from Byrne.
McGuiness appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Byrne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGuiness moves away.
McGuiness raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne lands with a shot to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Byrne.
Byrne stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A chopping leg kick lands by Byrne.
Byrne throws out a powerful jab.
Byrne throws a solid leg kick but McGuiness takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Byrne.
Byrne throws the left hand but McGuiness avoids the punch easily.
Good leg kick by McGuiness there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Byrne fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McGuiness, pushing him back against the ropes.
McGuiness looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
McGuiness blocks a body shot from Byrne.
Byrne lands a shoulder strike.
Byrne lands a left hand that snaps the head of McGuiness backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Byrne showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Byrne has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 50:45
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 50:45
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Byrne!
After winning the bout, David Byrne thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.