PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Byhenikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Don Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byhenikov's entrance music is Consequence. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Byhenikov
vs
Rhodes

184 cm
21
202 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Igor Byhenikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Rhodes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhodes tries to clinch up.
Byhenikov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Byhenikov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rhodes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Byhenikov.
Rhodes walks forward, straight into a front kick from Byhenikov.
Rhodes gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rhodes throws a low kick but Byhenikov moves out of range easily.
Byhenikov was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Byhenikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhodes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Byhenikov counters with a nice body shot.
Rhodes looks to clinch
enabling Byhenikov to counter with a crisp jab.
Rhodes slips a jab from Byhenikov.
Byhenikov scores with a nice right hand.
Byhenikov lands a glancing blow to the side of Rhodes's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byhenikov throws a right hand that misses
and Rhodes counters with a stiff right hand.
Byhenikov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rhodes on the side of the head.

Rhodes is rocked!

Rhodes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Byhenikov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rhodes is still on wobbly legs! Can Byhenikov finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Rhodes fails to land.
Byhenikov avoids the elbow strike from Rhodes, against the cage.

Byhenikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rhodes seems to have recovered his senses.
Rhodes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Byhenikov.
Byhenikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rhodes.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches.
Rhodes struggles to land a body shot inside as Byhenikov controls his hands.
Byhenikov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Rhodes lands a right hand.

Rhodes manages to break the clinch.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byhenikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Byhenikov just misses with a punch to the body.
Rhodes is looking to clinch but Byhenikov is avoiding it.
Rhodes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Byhenikov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rhodes fails in his attempt to clinch.
A big right from Byhenikov misses.
Don Rhodes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byhenikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rhodes doesn't manage to clinch there - Byhenikov circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes looks to clinch
letting Byhenikov counter with a right hand.
Rhodes misses with an uppercut
and Byhenikov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Some wild striking there from Byhenikov.
Byhenikov misses with an uppercut. Rhodes saw that one coming.
Byhenikov looks to throw the jab but Rhodes is out of range.
Rhodes moves in looking to clinch but Byhenikov pushes him off.
Rhodes is looking to clinch.
Rhodes throws the left hand but Byhenikov avoids the punch easily.
Rhodes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Byhenikov throws out a loose jab but Rhodes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhodes wants to counter with a clinch but Byhenikov pushes him away.
Byhenikov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rhodes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Byhenikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rhodes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A slow jab from Byhenikov misses its intended target.
Byhenikov misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes slips under a jab.
Rhodes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byhenikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rhodes. Byhenikov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rhodes doesn't manage to clinch there - Byhenikov circles away.
Rhodes tries to clinch there but Byhenikov circles away.

Rhodes closes the distance and clinches.
Rhodes blocks a body shot from Byhenikov.
Rhodes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Byhenikov on the inside.
Rhodes is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Byhenikov prevents a body shot from Rhodes.

Byhenikov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Byhenikov is looking to chop away at Rhodes's legs.
Rhodes is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes lands a glancing blow to the side of Byhenikov's head.
Rhodes slips under a jab.
Byhenikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Rhodes.
A swing and a miss from Rhodes.
Byhenikov looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Rhodes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byhenikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rhodes tries to move into range but Byhenikov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byhenikov throws a leg kick that misses.
Byhenikov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Byhenikov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rhodes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rhodes misses with a looping right.
Byhenikov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Rhodes wants to clinch.
Byhenikov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rhodes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Byhenikov dominated that round.
That's time! Byhenikov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rhodes tries to clinch up
and Byhenikov comes in over the top with a devastating right hand! Rhodes stumbles back against the cage, looking to regain his senses but Byhenikov is on him like rabid pit bull! Rhodes slumps to the ground under a storm of punches and this fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Igor Byhenikov!
During a confident post fight interview, Igor Byhenikov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.