PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Lytle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Todd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lytle kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Light's Out. Christopher Lytle has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Lytle
vs
Todd

185 cm
21
176 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

FNF Energy - (Sale!)
FNF Energy - (Sale!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Christopher Lytle!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Todd!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, John Roberts and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lytle fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Lytle drives through and clinches with Todd against the cage.
Lytle tries for a takedown but Todd manages to get underhooks.

Lytle breaks from the clinch.
Todd avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Todd swats away the attempt to clinch by Lytle.
Todd defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lytle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christopher Lytle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd misses with a takedown

and Lytle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Todd is pressed up against the cage. Lytle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Todd down to the mat. Todd avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Todd shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Lytle counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Todd!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd is in all sorts of trouble here.
Todd regains half guard.
Todd is looking to improve his position.
Todd is trying to control but can't.
Lytle wants to free his trapped foot but Todd is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lytle prevents Todd from improving his position.

Lytle is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Lytle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Todd moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Todd wants to sweep but no luck.

Lytle postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Todd is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Lytle, into his guard.

Todd is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lytle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lytle is on top in guard.
Lytle looking to sit in guard and control but Todd gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lytle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lytle pushes Todd off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Lytle connects with a looping right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lytle tries for a takedown but Todd circles away easily

and Todd decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lytle's guard.
Todd must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Todd 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.

Lytle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lytle is breathing heavily.
Lytle keeping full guard, as Todd tries to pass.
Todd won't allow Lytle to sweep him here.

Todd defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Lytle's arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Christopher Lytle will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Todd throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lytle was covering up waiting for the punch and Todd finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Todd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Todd wants to control from the top but Lytle keeps moving.
Lytle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Todd thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Todd trying to control the position from guard on top but Lytle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lytle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Todd looking to sit in guard and control but Lytle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lytle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lytle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Todd counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lytle's guard now.
Lytle throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Lytle working for a triangle but Todd defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Todd trying to control the position from guard on top but Lytle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Todd drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Todd jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Todd drops back looking for a leg! Lytle is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lytle manages to kick Todd off! Todd jumps back into Lytle's guard.
Lytle is trying to control the position but Todd postures up.

Lytle is looking for a triangle but Todd pushes his legs off easily.

Lytle had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Todd is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lytle Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Todd's back instead.
Todd is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Lytle off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Todd manages to reverse the position and now he's in Lytle's guard. Nice work there by Todd.

Lytle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd sitting in guard here, content to control.
Todd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lytle is keeping the position for now.
Todd trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Todd passes Lytle's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Todd is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Todd is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lytle defends it well.

Lytle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Lytle looking for submissions off his back.

Todd is looking for a kimura but Lytle is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Todd to get the leverage.

Lytle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Todd is controlling the pace.

Lytle looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Todd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Todd drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Todd postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lytle is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Todd, into his guard.

Lytle drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Todd manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lytle has Todd in his guard.

Todd thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Todd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lytle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Todd throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Lytle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lytle keeping moving, preventing Todd from controlling successfully.
Todd looking to sit in guard and control but Lytle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lytle looking for a guillotine here but Todd defends easily.

Todd drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Todd jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Todd is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Todd stopping the sweep attempt from Lytle.

Lytle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd trying to control but Lytle is working from the bottom.
Todd content to stall in guard here.
Todd landing with the ground and pound.
Lytle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Todd's guard.
Lytle stands and throws Todd's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Todd is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lytle trying to control the action but Todd is working from the bottom.

Lytle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Todd knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Todd prevents Lytle from moving into mount.
Todd tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Lytle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lytle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Lytle clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Todd with a poor takedown

and Lytle counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Todd is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lytle's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lytle's back!
Todd trying to control momentarily.
Todd controlling well, preventing Lytle from escaping the position.
Lytle turns into Todd and is now in his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Todd is on top in guard.
Todd lands a couple of elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todd wants to control from the top but Lytle keeps moving.

Lytle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Todd doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Todd manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd trying to control but Lytle is working from the bottom.

Todd thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Todd is sitting in close to Lytle's body. Lytle has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Todd is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Todd is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Lytle.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:41 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Christopher Lytle!
Christopher Lytle retains his welterweight title!