PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bye Bye (ranked 1966 p4p, 482 weight class) and Anthony Epolito (ranked 200 p4p, 59 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bye
vs
Epolito

179 cm
27
159
5 - 1 - 0

172 cm
27
154
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

MADNESS Apparel
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bye Bye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Epolito!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epolito lands a nice shot to the body.

Epolito gets caught napping as Bye dives in and scores a takedown. Epolito manages to retain guard.
Bye looking to pass the guard.
Bye trying to control the position from guard on top but Epolito is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bye content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bye has gone for a leg lock! Epolito slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bye's guard.

Bye is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bye wants to sweep here but Epolito controlling him for the moment.
Epolito seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
My spies in JAG Battle Gym inform me that Epolito has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Bye is looking for a triangle but Epolito pushes his legs off easily.
Epolito postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Epolito stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice jab there from Epolito.
Epolito connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A jab from Epolito finds it's way through Bye's defenses.
Bye ducks under a wild hook from Epolito.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Epolito scores with a four punch combination!
Epolito stuffs the takedown.
Epolito leaves Bye with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Epolito swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bye shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Epolito as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bye Bye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Epolito scores with a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Epolito throws a series of strikes that have Bye backpedaling.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Epolito!
Anthony Epolito is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Epolito scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Epolito throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bye takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Epolito throws a big shot that misses.
Epolito displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bye.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Epolito! But no joy.
Nice body punch from Epolito.
No luck for Bye with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bye fails with a takedown attempt.
Bye takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bye moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Epolito connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bye momentarily.
Epolito works the jab nicely.

Bye is rocked!
Bye takes one on the button.
Oh Bye is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A good leg kick by Epolito.
A lazy body kick from Epolito

and Bye counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bye.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Epolito wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bye wants to pass the guard but Epolito is keeping the position.
Bye seems to have got his legs back now.
Bye trying to control but Epolito is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bye drops back looking for a leg! Epolito is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Epolito manages to kick Bye off! Bye jumps back into Epolito's guard.
Bye trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bye trying to control but Epolito is working from the bottom.
Bye looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Epolito wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Epolito keeping moving, preventing Bye from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Epolito dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bye fails to land the takedown.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bye is defended easily by Epolito.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Epolito!

It looks like Bye Bye has been cut.
Epolito stuffs the takedown attempt from Bye. Bye gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bye Bye. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bye checks a low kick from Epolito.
Bye drops down looking for a counter takedown but Epolito sprawls and moves away.
Epolito has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bye gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Epolito counters with a body kick that stops Bye in his tracks momentarily.
Bye closes the distance and clinches up with Epolito, looking for a takedown. Bye pushes Epolito against the cage but Epolito circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epolito looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bye takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Epolito throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Anthony Epolito seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Epolito scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Bye Bye is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bye drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Epolito with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bye blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bye shoots in for a double leg but Epolito sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Epolito lands a right hook to the body.
Epolito pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bye appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bye dives in and grabs Epolito's left leg, looking for a takedown. Epolito pushes down on Bye's head and hops out.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bye checks a leg kick nicely.
Epolito connects with a body shot that sends Bye's belly button to the back.
Bye tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Anthony Epolito seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bye darts in looking for a takedown but Epolito gets double underhooks and turns Bye into the cage.
Epolito misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Epolito is trying to stall.
Epolito lands with a short shot to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Epolito.

Bye has hold of one of Epolito's legs. Epolito is fighting the takedown attempt but Bye gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bye is fighting to break Epolito's control of his arms but Epolito is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bye trying to control but Epolito is working from the bottom.
Epolito wants to stand up but Bye is controlling him.

Epolito wants to reverse the position here. Bye has hold of a leg though and he's dropped back looking for a kneebar! The fighters roll across the mat but Epolito is forced to tap! Epolito looks devastated but at least his leg points in the right direction.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Bye Bye!
Bye Bye was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.