PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryker Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Gendozo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byrd comes into the arena with ACDC- For those about to rock blaring out of the sound system. Gendozo has chosen The Temptations - My Girl as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Byrd
vs
Gendozo

175 cm
22
178 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

SHINTO

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ryker Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Carlos Gendozo!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gendozo.
Byrd throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gendozo scores with the left hand. Byrd knows he should have avoided that one.

It looks like Ryker Byrd has been cut.
Byrd wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Byrd closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gendozo's guard.
Gendozo keeping moving, preventing Byrd from controlling successfully.
Byrd looking to pass the guard.
We've been hearing that Byrd has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Byrd engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gendozo keeping full guard, as Byrd tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Byrd is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd wants to pass the guard but Gendozo is keeping the position.
Byrd controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Byrd passes Gendozo's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Byrd decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Gendozo loads up on a big right hand but Byrd slips the punch.
Byrd drops down looking for a counter takedown but Gendozo sprawls and moves away.
Byrd attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Byrd looks to score with a jab to the body but Gendozo is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd misses with the combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gendozo, as that shot connected.
Gendozo cracks Byrd with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gendozo scores with a hook.
Gendozo scores with a jab. Byrd acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Gendozo throws a poor cross that misses
and Byrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gendozo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice shot by Gendozo.
Gendozo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Byrd under the eye.

Byrd is rocked!
Gendozo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Byrd scores with a leg kick.
Byrd defending well as Gendozo loads up on a big left hand.
Gendozo throws a poor cross that misses
and Byrd cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gendozo scores with a nice strike.
Gendozo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd ducks under a wild hook from Gendozo.
Byrd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gendozo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Byrd's hands.
Gendozo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Byrd loads up on a big right hand but Gendozo slips the punch.
Gendozo throws a right hand that misses
and Byrd counters with a straight right hand.
Gendozo is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Byrd had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Gendozo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Byrd to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Byrd finds it's way through Gendozo's defenses.
Gendozo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Byrd has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gendozo finds it's way round the side to connect with Byrd's head.
Byrd lunges at Gendozo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gendozo's hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gendozo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Byrd on the side of the head.
Nice jab there from Gendozo.
Oh Byrd is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Carlos Gendozo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Byrd avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Byrd seems to have got his legs back now.
Gendozo throws a poor cross that misses
letting Byrd counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Gendozo.
Gendozo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Byrd counters with a straight right hand.
Byrd moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice shot by Byrd.
Gendozo misses with a left hand

and Byrd counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gendozo looks winded!
Byrd works his way into side control.
Byrd content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Byrd is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gendozo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Byrd taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ryker Byrd will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ryker Byrd's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Byrd.
Byrd throws a right and a left that both miss.
A jab from Byrd misses.
Good exchange - Gendozo coming out on top.
Byrd defending well as Gendozo loads up on a big left hand.
Byrd half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Gendozo misses with a hook
and Byrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gendozo scores with a jab.
Gendozo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Byrd counters with a left and a right that stings Gendozo.
Gendozo slips a jab from Byrd.
Gendozo throws an overhand right that lands on Byrd's shoulder, as Byrd tries to avoid the shot.
Gendozo catches Byrd with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Byrd jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gendozo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Byrd. Byrd circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gendozo lands a nice shot that snaps Byrd's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gendozo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gendozo throws a right hand that misses
and Byrd counters with a nice uppercut.
Gendozo looks to land a left hand but Byrd moved out of range nicely.
Ryker Byrd is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Byrd misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gendozo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Byrd walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A jab from Byrd does it's job there.
Gendozo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Byrd. Byrd circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Carlos Gendozo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Byrd gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gendozo.
Byrd takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Gendozo misses with an uppercut
letting Byrd counter with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A punch combination from Byrd misses.
Gendozo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gendozo throws a hook but Byrd avoids it easily.
Byrd appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

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

Byrd stands and steps away. Gendozo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gendozo is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Byrd. Those never looked like landing.
Gendozo looks to throw the jab but Byrd is out of range.
Byrd on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Byrd takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gendozo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Byrd connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Gendozo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Gendozo swings widly with a right hand
letting Byrd counter with a right hand.
Gendozo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Byrd counters with a stiff right hand.
Gendozo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gendozo throws a right hand that misses
letting Byrd counter with a right hand.
Gendozo throws an off balance right hand
and Gendozo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Byrd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A jab from Gendozo finds it's way through Byrd's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd jabs at Gendozo's body.
Byrd misses with a two punch combination.
A little jabbing left from Gendozo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Byrd swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gendozo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gendozo looks to clinch
and Byrd counters with a left to the body.
Gendozo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Byrd defending well as Gendozo loads up on a big left hand.
Carlos Gendozo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gendozo checks a leg kick.
Byrd lands with a nice combination. Gendozo backs away looking to recover.
Gendozo moves out of range of the body kick.
Gendozo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Nice defenses there by Gendozo.
Gendozo misses with an uppercut
and Byrd counters with a left to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Byrd.

Gendozo throws Byrd to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd connects with a leg kick. Gendozo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gendozo swings widly with a right hand
and Byrd counters with a right hand to the body.
Byrd connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Byrd's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Byrd duly obliges.
Gendozo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gendozo moves out of range of the body kick from Byrd.
Byrd scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gendozo thuds his right hand into Byrd's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Byrd keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gendozo.
Gendozo swings widly with a right hand
and Byrd counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Byrd misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryker Byrd dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ryker Byrd's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gendozo misses with a straight left.
Gendozo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good standup being displayed there by Gendozo as he connects with a hook.

Byrd throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gendozo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Byrd is in Gendozo's guard.

Gendozo is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Byrd presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Byrd breaks the clinch.
Gendozo dodges the punch combination from Byrd.
A little jabbing left from Gendozo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gendozo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Byrd. Byrd circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gendozo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Byrd to counter with a crisp jab.
Gendozo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Byrd throws out a leg kick but Gendozo moves out of range and Byrd only half commits.
Gendozo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gendozo misses with a left hand
and Byrd cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gendozo cracks Byrd with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Byrd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Byrd changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gendozo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Byrd tries to advance to mount but Gendozo denies him.
Byrd trying to control the position but Gendozo is working away.
Gendozo tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Byrd is looking to take a break and control but Gendozo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Byrd slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byrd is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gendozo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gendozo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Byrd wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Byrd taking a breather here.
Gendozo is trying to work for a sweep but Byrd has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd working the ground and pound effectively.
Byrd moves to the back position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Byrd controlling the positon.
Byrd seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gendozo for as long as he can get away with.
Byrd has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Gendozo.
Byrd has the hooks in. Gendozo is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Carlos Gendozo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Byrd lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gendozo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Gendozo wants to get back to his feet.
Byrd has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Gendozo's body.
Ryker Byrd overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Byrd patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Ryker Byrd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Byrd really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Gendozo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryker Byrd showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Byrd has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryker Byrd!
Ryker Byrd looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Look at my fights, I knock people dead. Human heads cannot withstand these fists. Whoever they give me next i promise you they will go down the same as this man did.'.