PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christopher Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eloy Zofi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Christopher Byrd has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Byrd
vs
Zofi

161 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

171 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Christopher Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eloy Zofi!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zofi has taken the fight to the clinch.

Byrd breaks the clinch.

Zofi clinches up against the cage.
Zofi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Zofi pulls Byrd into guard.
Byrd trying to control but Zofi is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zofi wants to sweep here but Byrd controlling him for the moment.
Byrd knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zofi on the ground.
Zofi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zofi tries to free his leg and advance position but Byrd is retaining full guard.
Byrd can't keep his opponent in guard - Zofi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zofi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Byrd really is a fat lump.
Zofi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Zofi wants to pass to mount but Byrd is defending the position.

Zofi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zofi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Byrd trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Byrd gets full guard.
Zofi advances position into side control!
Byrd parries the strikes from Zofi easily there. Zofi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Byrd to escape.
Zofi tries to move to mount but Byrd blocks the move with his legs.
Zofi staying calm.

Zofi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zofi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Byrd wants to control but Zofi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zofi stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Byrd fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zofi manages to avoid it.

Zofi darts in and clinches Byrd up against the cage.
Zofi tries to break the clinch but Byrd is controlling the position.
Byrd wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zofi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Byrd has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Zofi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zofi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zofi wants to stand up but Byrd is controlling him.
Zofi is controlling Byrd's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd tries to stand but Zofi is controlling from the bottom.
Zofi pulls Byrd in close to his closed guard and prevents Byrd from doing any damage or advancing position.
Zofi wants to sweep here but Byrd controlling him for the moment.

Byrd drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zofi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zofi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zofi!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zofi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eloy Zofi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zofi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Byrd!
You can see the frustration on Byrd's face as Zofi controls the position.
Zofi moves into full mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zofi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zofi throws some wild stikes that Byrd manages to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zofi tries to control but Byrd wriggling away.
Zofi thowing shots but they're missing.
Byrd regains half guard.

Zofi decides to stand and escape the position.
Byrd moves out of range of the body kick from Zofi.

Zofi takes the fight into the clinch.
Byrd is trying to break the clinch but Zofi has him pressed against the cage.

Zofi gets control of Byrd's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zofi will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byrd drops back looking for a leg! Zofi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zofi manages to kick Byrd off! Byrd jumps back into Zofi's guard.
Zofi is controlling Byrd's posture.
Byrd wants to control from the top but Zofi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zofi controlling Byrd's posture.
Zofi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Byrd's guard.

Byrd working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zofi.
Zofi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Byrd wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Zofi is now in half guard.
Zofi misses with a head shot. Byrd uses the momentum to regain guard.
Eloy Zofi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zofi passes Byrd's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zofi.
Zofi wants to pass the guard but Byrd is defending well.
Byrd is looking to improve his position.
Zofi sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Zofi stands up and beckons Byrd to join him on the feet.
Eloy Zofi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Zofi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eloy Zofi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zofi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Byrd's guard.
Zofi postures up.

Zofi decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Byrd, up you get!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Byrd enables Zofi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Byrd manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zofi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Byrd is trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zofi has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Zofi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zofi stands up from half guard.
Byrd shoots in for a double leg but Zofi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zofi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Byrd paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Zofi has Byrd up against the cage in a clinch.
Byrd is trying to break the clinch but Zofi is controlling him.

Zofi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

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

Zofi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Byrd defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd is fighting to break Zofi's control of his arms but Zofi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zofi has a closed guard, preventing Byrd from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byrd won't allow Zofi to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zofi holds on and takes a little breather.

Zofi 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.
Byrd prevents Zofi from getting back to his feet.

Zofi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zofi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zofi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Byrd did well to prevent Zofi getting side control.
Zofi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zofi moves into full mount! Byrd won't be happy about that!
Byrd working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zofi throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Zofi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Zofi prevents Byrd from getting the reversal.
Zofi controlling the pace for now.
Zofi is continuing to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zofi in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eloy Zofi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zofi 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eloy Zofi!