PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusty Hofnaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matt Byrne could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Rusty Hofnaker's chin.

Byrne
vs
Hofnaker

203 cm
23
240 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

196 cm
29
255 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Byrne!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rusty Hofnaker!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Francis DeMontford and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrne wants to slow Hofnaker down by chopping away at his legs.
Hofnaker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Byrne manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hofnaker moves out of range of the leg kick from Byrne.
Byrne looks to land a combination but Hofnaker avoids it well.
Hofnaker raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Byrne just misses with a punch to the body.
Hofnaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Byrne swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Hofnaker.
Hofnaker avoids the body shot from Byrne.
We've been told by Byrne's head coaches at LOD-Guts & Glory Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byrne throws out a leg kick but Hofnaker moves out of range and Byrne only half commits.
Hofnaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Byrne throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hofnaker shapes to counter with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Hofnaker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hofnaker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A head kick by Hofnaker misses
and Byrne counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hofnaker bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Byrne's head.
Byrne misses with a low kick.

Hofnaker has closed the distance and engaged Byrne in a clinch.
Byrne tries to throw a body punch but Hofnaker avoids it by throwing Byrne back against the cage.
Hofnaker misses with a knee strike.
Byrne misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Byrne scores with a shoulder strike.
Byrne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hofnaker missing with knees to the body.
Byrne is trying to break the clinch but Hofnaker has him pressed against the cage.

Hofnaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hofnaker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byrne swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Byrne moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Rusty Hofnaker has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrne misses with a jab, cross combination.
Byrne just misses with a punch to the body.
Hofnaker is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hofnaker.
Hofnaker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Byrne throws a hook but Hofnaker avoids it easily.
Byrne takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Byrne rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hofnaker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hofnaker is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Byrne waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hofnaker.
Byrne lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Byrne misses with a low kick as Hofnaker jumps back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hofnaker moves to clinch but Byrne breaks away
and Byrne counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hofnaker.
Hofnaker slips under a jab.
Byrne getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Hofnaker is rocked!
Byrne cracks Hofnaker with a brutal left hook that knocks him out cold! This one is over in a flash! Game over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Matt Byrne!
Matt Byrne retains his heavyweight title!
Matt Byrne thanked the fans post fight for their support.