PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Byron Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Polo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Long's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Ai Se Eu Te Pego. Byron Long has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Long
vs
Polo

183 cm
21
188 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Byron Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marco Polo!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polo throws out a loose jab but Long uses good head movement to avoid it.
Long slips under a jab.
A nice leg kick lands there from Long.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Polo is defended easily by Long.
Polo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Long circles away.
Long swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Polo loads up on a big right hand but Long slips the punch.
Long slips under a jab.
Polo slips a straight right by Long.
Polo tries for a takedown but Long sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Byron Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Polo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Long gets a clinch.
Long scores with a knee to the head.
Long fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Long just leaning against Polo, taking a breather.
Long taking a breather.
Long drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Long misses with a hook to the ribs.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long prevents a takedown attempt there.
Long taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Byron Long.
Polo shoots in for a takedown but Long shows good takedown defense.
Polo avoids the body shot from Long.
Polo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Long's hands.
Long throws a leg kick but Polo checks it.
Polo cracks Long with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Polo lands with a good body shot.
Polo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Polo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Long circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from Polo is predictable there

and Long counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Polo!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Long wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Polo, who protects the arm well.
The ground and pound from Long seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Long lands a nice forearm strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Long working the ground and pound but Polo is defending the strikes.
Polo is not content to let Long control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Long dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Long misses with a lunging right hand
and Polo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Polo cracks Long with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Polo.

Long is rocked!

It looks like Byron Long has been cut.

Long moves into range and clinches up with Polo.
Oh Long is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Long's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Long seems to have got his legs back now.
Long looking to slow down the pace here.
Long has a couple of punches blocked by Polo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo wants to break the clinch but can't.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Polo.
Polo tries to score a body lock takedown but Long shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Polo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Long with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Polo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Long leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long wants a takedown but no success here.
Polo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Long wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Byron Long. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Long is trying to maintain a safe position but Polo gets an underhook and turns Long into the cage.
Polo is trying to drag Long to the mat but Long just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Long gets underhooks to prevent Polo's takedown attempt.
Long misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Polo's elbow.
Polo tries for a takedown but Long manages to get underhooks.
Long is looking to control Polo's arms but Polo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Long has his back to the cage.
Polo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Long stalls.
Long trying to control the position but instead, Polo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Long into the cage.
Polo tries to score a body lock takedown but Long shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Long.
Polo goes for a takedown attempt but Long pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Polo fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Long thumps Polo with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marco Polo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Byron Long's cut.
That's time! Long's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Long misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Polo misses with a straight left.
Long lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Polo circles away quickly and effectively.

Polo gets tackled into the cage by Long. Long maintains the clinch.
Long is trying to maintain a safe position but Polo gets an underhook and turns Long into the cage.
Long misses with a hook from the clinch.
Long stops a takedown attempt from Polo.
Polo blocks an uppercut.
Polo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Long has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Polo clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Long throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Long missing with punches from the back.
Will Long go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Polo covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Long scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Polo is looking for a way out.
Long missing with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Long is trying to control but Polo is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Polo in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Long lands a big shot there that rocks Polo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Long looking to finish with strikes here!
Polo wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Long throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Polo blocking the ground and pound.
Polo is squirming around, avoiding Long's attempts to control the action.

Long goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Polo is on top in guard.
Polo stops Long from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long controls Polo momentarily but Polo frees himself.
Long is really struggling to control Polo but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Polo throws a strike but Long rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Long trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Long stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Polo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Long with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Long showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Long has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Byron Long!
An out of breath Byron Long thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.