PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pyrrhus Epirus (ranked 3088 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Irvin (ranked 2911 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Epirus might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Devil and The Huntsman. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Epirus
vs
Irvin

178 cm
31
171 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

184 cm
33
177 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Pyrrhus Epirus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Irvin!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Donatello Bradman and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Epirus moves into range and clinches up with Irvin.
Epirus throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Irvin.

Irvin pulls Epirus into guard.
Epirus has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Irvin is proving hard to escape from.

Irvin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Epirus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Irvin looking for a guillotine here but Epirus defends easily.

Irvin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Epirus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Irvin is working an open guard so Epirus takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epirus darts in trying to clinch

and Irvin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Irvin.
Irvin won't allow Epirus to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irvin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Irvin won't allow Epirus to get back to his feet.
Irvin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Epirus swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Epirus uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Epirus tries to clinch but Irvin moves out of range.

Epirus moves into the clinch successfully.
Epirus comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Irvin avoids a wild elbow strike from Epirus.
I was talking to Epirus's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Epirus throws a head punch that misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Irvin has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Irvin is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Epirus is keeping busy.
Irvin blocking some punches.
Irvin blocking some punches.
Epirus lands an elbow inside that Irvin shrugs off.
Epirus misses with a short punch on the inside.
Irvin scores with a shoulder strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Epirus just misses with a elbow thrown towards Irvin's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irvin jumps guard but Epirus stands there with Irvin around his waist. Irvin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Irvin manages to pull guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Irvin is looking for a triangle but Epirus pushes his legs off easily.
Epirus wanted to stand there but Irvin had control of the position.

Irvin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Epirus is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Epirus stands up from Irvin's guard - Epirus perhaps looking for a knockout.

Epirus moves into the clinch successfully.
Irvin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Epirus smiles and moves away.

Epirus has closed the distance and engaged Irvin in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irvin tries to pull guard but Epirus forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pyrrhus Epirus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.

Irvin pulls Epirus into guard.
Epirus tries to stand but Irvin is controlling from the bottom.

Epirus gets to his feet. Irvin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Epirus darts in trying to clinch

and Irvin counters with a single leg into guard. Epirus didn't expect that.

Epirus kicks Irvin off and gets to his feet.
Epirus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch but Irvin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Irvin feints the counter takedown.
Irvin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Epirus drops down looking for a counter takedown but Irvin sprawls and moves away.
Epirus avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Irvin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Irvin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Irvin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Epirus moves into the clinch.
Epirus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Epirus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Irvin blocks an uppercut.
Epirus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Irvin tries to pull guard but Epirus forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Irvin can't get the takedown.
A short right from Epirus.
Epirus working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Epirus scores with a knee to the head.
Epirus working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Irvin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Epirus gets to his feet - Irvin follows without any prompting.
Irvin misses with a two punch combination.

Epirus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Epirus misses with the head strike.
Irvin avoids the elbow strike from Epirus, against the cage.
Epirus lands a right hand that snaps the head of Irvin backwards.
A nice right hand lands inside from Epirus.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pyrrhus Epirus 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.

The fight stays on the outside here - Epirus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Irvin tries to bum rush Epirus with a series of wild strikes but Epirus uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Epirus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Irvin can do to turn this around?
Epirus tries to clinch up.

Epirus has closed the distance and engaged Irvin in a clinch.
Irvin is trying to pull guard but Epirus turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Epirus scores with a nice hook to the head.
Epirus has a couple of punches blocked by Irvin.
Irvin blocks the elbow strike.
Irvin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Epirus to keep the fight standing.
Epirus working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Irvin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irvin dodges an elbow strike from Epirus.
Irvin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Epirus pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pyrrhus Epirus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.
Epirus is looking to clinch but Irvin is avoiding it.
Irvin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Epirus fails with an attempt to clinch.

Epirus gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irvin fails to pull guard.
Pyrrhus Epirus has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Irvin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Irvin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Epirus gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Epirus rushes Irvin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Irvin has a couple of punches blocked by Epirus.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Irvin.
Epirus softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Epirus.
Epirus lands with a light punch inside.
Irvin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Epirus lands with a short shot to the head.
Irvin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Epirus smiles and moves away.
Pyrrhus Epirus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Epirus moves in looking to clinch but Irvin pushes him off.
Epirus wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epirus tries to clinch there but Irvin circles away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Epirus doesn't manage to clinch there - Irvin circles away.
Epirus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Epirus moves to clinch but Irvin breaks away

and Irvin counters with a single leg into guard. Epirus didn't expect that.
Irvin wants to stand but Epirus has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Irvin stops Epirus from standing up.

Epirus manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Irvin tries to pull guard but Epirus won't allow it.
Irvin fails to pull guard.
Irvin is trying to pull guard but Epirus turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Epirus tries a knee to the head but Irvin blocks it.
Epirus lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epirus tries to land a knee to the head but Irvin blocks with his arms.
Irvin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Epirus lands an elbow inside.
Irvin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Irvin jumps guard but Epirus turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Epirus lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Irvin backwards.
Epirus softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Epirus misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Irvin fails to land.
Epirus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Epirus misses with an elbow strike.
Irvin blocks the elbow strike.
Epirus lands with a light punch inside.

Irvin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Irvin manages to end up in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Epirus is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Irvin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Epirus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Irvin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Epirus knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Irvin is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epirus wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Epirus prevents Irvin from moving into mount.
Irvin prevents Epirus from escaping the position.

Irvin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Irvin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Epirus wants to get back to his feet.
Irvin wants to control but Epirus is keeping him busy.

Irvin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Epirus has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pyrrhus Epirus dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Irvin swats away the attempt to clinch by Epirus.
A nice combination there by Irvin.
Epirus tries to clinch but Irvin moves out of range.
Irvin keeps the fight on the outside.
Irvin swats away the attempt to clinch by Epirus.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Irvin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epirus is looking to clinch but Irvin is avoiding it.
Irvin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Epirus doesn't manage to clinch there - Irvin circles away.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
Epirus tries to clinch up

and Irvin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Epirus won't be happy with that.

Epirus explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epirus wants to clinch up but Irvin keeps it at a distance.

Epirus has Irvin up against the cage in a clinch.
Irvin blocks an elbow strike.
Irvin is trying to break free.
Irvin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Irvin tries to pull guard but Epirus won't allow it.
Epirus throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Epirus working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Epirus with a knee to the head.
Irvin misses with a knee strike.

Irvin manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Irvin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Epirus gets to his feet. Irvin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Irvin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Irvin with the counter takedown but Epirus avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irvin keeps the fight on the outside.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Epirus clinches with his opponent.
Epirus lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Epirus lands a nice uppercut.
Epirus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Epirus avoiding damage as Irvin throws knees to the body.

Irvin pulls guard successfully.
Epirus has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Irvin is proving hard to escape from.

Epirus gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Epirus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Epirus tries to clinch but Irvin moves out of range.
Epirus is looking to clinch.
Irvin swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Epirus tries to close the distance and clinch but Irvin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Epirus wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epirus looks to clinch

and Irvin counters with a takedown into side control.

Epirus throws Irvin to one side and escapes!

Epirus clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Epirus fails to land.
Epirus scores with a nice hook to the head.
Irvin tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Epirus working aggressively here.
Epirus misses with a knee to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Epirus misses with some punches.
Irvin working hard to break the clinch.
Epirus softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Epirus gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Epirus throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Irvins head.
Irvin fails to pull guard.
Pyrrhus Epirus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Irvin.
Irvin fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Epirus.
Irvin avoids a wild elbow strike from Epirus.
Irvin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Epirus lands with a light punch inside.
Epirus throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Irvin is trying to pull guard but Epirus has him pressed against the cage.
Epirus lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Irvin backwards.
Epirus misses with a punch on the inside.
Epirus throws a punch but it's blocked by Irvin.
Irvin tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Epirus smiles and moves away.

Epirus clinches up against the cage.
Irvin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Epirus just stands there and leans against the cage.
Epirus lands a nice elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Epirus throws an elbow but misses.
Paul Irvin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pyrrhus Epirus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Irvin goes for a takedown attempt but Epirus pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pyrrhus Epirus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Epirus, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pyrrhus Epirus!
Pyrrhus Epirus spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.