PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Byfuglien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and The Wrestler (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.

Byfuglien
vs
Wrestler

189 cm
19
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dustin Byfuglien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, The Wrestler!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byfuglien gets caught flat footed, as Wrestler shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wrestler's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Wrestler tries to free his leg and advance position but Byfuglien is retaining full guard.
Wrestler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wrestler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Wrestler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wrestler throwing strikes but missing.
Wrestler wants to pass the guard but Byfuglien is keeping the position.
Wrestler stays in close to Byfuglien's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wrestler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wrestler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wrestler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wrestler is pushing down on Byfuglien's leg trying to pass to half guard. Byfuglien is fighting to maintain full guard but Wrestler has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two 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.
Well, if Wrestler is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Wrestler lands a nice short elbow.
Byfuglien is staying active underneath Wrestler, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wrestler stalling.
I looks like Wrestler might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, The Wrestler just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Byfuglien wants to clinch up but Wrestler keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byfuglien tries to clinch there but Wrestler circles away.

Wrestler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wrestler lands in his opponent's guard.
Wrestler trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wrestler slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Wrestler has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Wrestler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Byfuglien as he avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byfuglien wants to clinch.
Wrestler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Byfuglien fails in his attempt to clinch.

Wrestler closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wrestler lands in his opponent's guard.
Wrestler 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Wrestler dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Byfuglien doesn't manage to clinch there - Wrestler circles away.

Wrestler shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Wrestler is looking to stall here but Byfuglien recovers full guard.
Wrestler looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrestler thows a big elbow that misses.
Wrestler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Byfuglien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wrestler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Byfuglien working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Byfuglien misses with a takedown attempt

and Wrestler counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Byfuglien!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wrestler lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Wrestler controlling from mount.
Wrestler throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Wrestler controlling the pace for now.
Wrestler throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Wrestler looking to finish with strikes here!
Wrestler content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wrestler throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Wrestler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wrestler's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Wrestler punching from mount but Byfuglien doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Wrestler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Wrestler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Wrestler shoots for a takedown but Byfuglien saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Byfuglien looks to clinch

and Wrestler counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wrestler looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wrestler throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wrestler is taking a breather. Byfuglien says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Wrestler decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Byfuglien closes the distance looking to clinch

and Wrestler counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Byfuglien's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wrestler 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.
Wrestler passes Byfuglien's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wrestler is taking a breather. Byfuglien says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Despite being in the dominant position, The Wrestler just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wrestler.
Wrestler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Byfuglien's waist but Byfuglien gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wrestler off to one side.
Dustin Byfuglien has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of The Wrestler.

That's two 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.
Byfuglien shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Wrestler counters with a shoot takedown. Byfuglien fights it but they end up in guard.
Byfuglien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Byfuglien keeping moving, preventing Wrestler from controlling successfully.
Byfuglien keeping full guard, as Wrestler tries to pass.
Wrestler wants to control from the top but Byfuglien keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wrestler postures up in Byfuglien's guard and throws a big left but Byfuglien blocks it.
Wrestler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Wrestler throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Wrestler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Byfuglien keeping full guard, as Wrestler tries to pass.
Wrestler advances position into side control!
The Wrestler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Byfuglien defending against the ground and pound.
Byfuglien seems a little lost for a moment, as Wrestler dominates the positioning.

Wrestler is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Byfuglien knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dustin Byfuglien has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wrestler in side control, throwing shots but Byfuglien defends.

And that's the end of the fight!
The Wrestler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wrestler 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Wrestler!