Byrd Is Ready For the Toughest Challenge in His Career
Feb 2, 2011
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Byron Byrd knows how to manoeuvre his way into
M-1 Global’s light heavyweight title picture now that the current
205-pound champ, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, has opted to venture down a
weight class. Rather than sideline himself and wait, Byrd is
jumping at his chance to get back into action against Alihan
Magomedov at M-1 Challenge XXIII on March 5th; a win gets him an
immediate title shot at the vacated light heavyweight crown against
the winner of Narkun vs. Tinagadjiev taking place the same night.
Fans worldwide can tune into the official M-1 Global website
(www.M-1Global.com) on Saturday March 5th LIVE and for free to
witness the title contention picture play out; the action begins at
11:00am EST / 8:00am PST.
With a perfect 7-0 combined amateur and professional MMA record, Byrd is on a quest for excellence in sporting competition. Throughout 2010, the Florida native and American Top Team standout put on a clinic through the M-1 Selection tournament, destroying all three of his opponents inside the first round and totalling a mere 3:33 of fighting on route to seizing the championship on the Americas side.
With the majority of his victories coming by way of first round
TKO, Byrd’s striking is sharp to say the least with credit going to
his Muay Thai and Boxing but his ground skills are equally as
solid, as proven by the lightning quick triangle locked in on
Daniel Vizcaya during their finals bout. With neither fighter at a
loss for athleticism, the pair opened up fearlessly with Byrd
successfully stuffing repeated takedown attempts. Eventually going
to the canvas, Byrd pulled guard and easily weathered Vizcaya’s
rain of heavy shots and silenced critics who had wondered about his
ability to withstand punches.
Being on his back for the first time in the tournament, Byrd operated with confidence, patiently waiting for his opportunity to strike from below - and strike he did as Vizcaya made the mistake of leaving his arm exposed deep during a furious ground and pound. Instantaneously Byrd locked in a triangle leaving Vizcaya no other escape option but to pick his opponent off the canvass and slam him into the ground. Tightening up the suffocating submission, Byrd forced Vizcaya to tap at 2:43 of the opening frame, simultaneously earning him the Selections tournament light heavyweight title and silencing all who had questioned his ground skills.
Having watched his last two fights and seeing weaknesses in Magomedov’s ground game, Byrd isn’t looking to take the fight to the ground; in fact he’s prepared himself for anything. “I’m going to take the fight wherever it goes. If it stays up – great – I’m comfortable. If it goes to the ground, I’m comfortable there as well. This is a fight and anything can happen. Magomedov is a talented fighter with considerable experience but he still has to go into the ring and do what he has to do. I’m going in to implement my game plan.”
Even with the outcome affecting the light heavyweight title picture, Byrd showed incredible maturity. “I’m not even looking past Magomedov or focussing on anything other than this fight. It would be disrespectful to me, my team and my opponent to think about anyone other than Magomedov and this fight.”
Having an opportunity to speak about his trip to Russia, Byrd was extremely enthusiastic. “Yeah! I’m super excited to see the fans, a new country and to soak up the culture and experience of fighting of overseas for the first time; it’s something I’ll always remember and I appreciate M-1 giving me the opportunity.”
With the experience of an overseas fight, comes the additional pressure of critics casting Byrd as the underdog in this title contention fight to which the Florida native laughed; “Underdog? That’s for others to speculate. Yes, I am going into his home and his country and there are a lot of elements that warrant calling me the underdog but that doesn’t affect anything I’m doing to prepare for my fight. If I’m the underdog, so be it.”
Seems an optimistic and confident rising super-star is soaking up the wealth of experience in his A.T.T. camp as they prepare him for the biggest fight of an extremely promising career. Byrd has all the elements to become a future champion and the stage is set for an incredible fight at M-1 Challenge XXIII.
For additional information, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page
With a perfect 7-0 combined amateur and professional MMA record, Byrd is on a quest for excellence in sporting competition. Throughout 2010, the Florida native and American Top Team standout put on a clinic through the M-1 Selection tournament, destroying all three of his opponents inside the first round and totalling a mere 3:33 of fighting on route to seizing the championship on the Americas side.
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Being on his back for the first time in the tournament, Byrd operated with confidence, patiently waiting for his opportunity to strike from below - and strike he did as Vizcaya made the mistake of leaving his arm exposed deep during a furious ground and pound. Instantaneously Byrd locked in a triangle leaving Vizcaya no other escape option but to pick his opponent off the canvass and slam him into the ground. Tightening up the suffocating submission, Byrd forced Vizcaya to tap at 2:43 of the opening frame, simultaneously earning him the Selections tournament light heavyweight title and silencing all who had questioned his ground skills.
Raising the bar in the level of competition, Byrd’s sites are set
on Alihan Magomedov. “Magomedov is a very well rounded and tough
fighter,” said Byrd during his conversation with M-1. “He comes to
fight every time and I know he’ll be prepared. The timing of his
punching is very dangerous and that’s one reason why he is such a
good striker. ”
Having watched his last two fights and seeing weaknesses in Magomedov’s ground game, Byrd isn’t looking to take the fight to the ground; in fact he’s prepared himself for anything. “I’m going to take the fight wherever it goes. If it stays up – great – I’m comfortable. If it goes to the ground, I’m comfortable there as well. This is a fight and anything can happen. Magomedov is a talented fighter with considerable experience but he still has to go into the ring and do what he has to do. I’m going in to implement my game plan.”
Even with the outcome affecting the light heavyweight title picture, Byrd showed incredible maturity. “I’m not even looking past Magomedov or focussing on anything other than this fight. It would be disrespectful to me, my team and my opponent to think about anyone other than Magomedov and this fight.”
Having an opportunity to speak about his trip to Russia, Byrd was extremely enthusiastic. “Yeah! I’m super excited to see the fans, a new country and to soak up the culture and experience of fighting of overseas for the first time; it’s something I’ll always remember and I appreciate M-1 giving me the opportunity.”
With the experience of an overseas fight, comes the additional pressure of critics casting Byrd as the underdog in this title contention fight to which the Florida native laughed; “Underdog? That’s for others to speculate. Yes, I am going into his home and his country and there are a lot of elements that warrant calling me the underdog but that doesn’t affect anything I’m doing to prepare for my fight. If I’m the underdog, so be it.”
Seems an optimistic and confident rising super-star is soaking up the wealth of experience in his A.T.T. camp as they prepare him for the biggest fight of an extremely promising career. Byrd has all the elements to become a future champion and the stage is set for an incredible fight at M-1 Challenge XXIII.
For additional information, go to the official M-1 website, www.M-1Global.com and M-1 Global facebook fan page
