PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sashok Relatoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Byron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Byron has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Sashok Relatoff's chin.

Relatoff
vs
Byron

200 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
218 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sashok Relatoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Josh Byron!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byron throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Relatoff's head.
Relatoff looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Relatoff gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Relatoff throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Relatoff looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Byron trying to control the position from guard on top but Relatoff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Byron makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Byron looking to pass the guard.
Relatoff utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Byron trying to control the position from guard on top but Relatoff is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Relatoff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Relatoff keeping moving, preventing Byron from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byron is looking to stand up but Relatoff won't let him.
Byron wants to control from the top but Relatoff keeps moving.
Byron stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Relatoff swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Byron must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Byron throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Byron drives through and clinches with Relatoff against the cage.
Relatoff avoiding damage as Byron throws knees to the body.
Byron missing with knees to the body.
Byron putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Relatoff in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Byron missing with knees to the body.
Byron tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Byron working aggressively here.
Byron gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Byron tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Relatoff avoids it.
Byron lands an elbow just above Relatoff 's eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byron breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Byron throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Relatoff.
Byron connects with a high kick.
Sashok Relatoff seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byron scores with a body shot.
Byron stuffs the takedown attempt from Relatoff. Relatoff gets slowly back to his feet.
Byron wants to clinch.
Byron dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Crunch! Byron slams his shin into Relatoff's torso.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Byron looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Relatoff is fending him off so far but Byron persists. Nope, Relatoff circles away and we're back to standing.
Byron doesn't manage to clinch there - Relatoff circles away.
Relatoff shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Byron pinned against the cage. Byron gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Relatoff with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sashok Relatoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byron fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Relatoff keeps the fight on the outside.
Byron lands a slapping body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Byron looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Byron doesn't manage to clinch there - Relatoff circles away.
Byron scores with a jab to the body.
Byron tries to close the distance and clinch up but Relatoff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Relatoff walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Byron pushes Relatoff up against the cage in a clinch.
Byron has Relatoff pushed against the cage.
Byron jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Relatoff walks away with a smile on his face. Byron gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Relatoff takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Byron fails in his attempt to clinch.
Byron scores with a body shot.

Byron takes the fight into the clinch.
Byron wants to get back to striking at distance but Relatoff won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Relatoff takes a knee right on the jaw!

Byron breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Byron lands a right hook to the body.
Byron lands a nice leg kick that just misses Relatoff's sensitive parts.
Byron keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Byron looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Byron gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Relatoff keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Byron's efforts to push away.

Byron jumps guard and drags Relatoff to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Relatoff is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Byron is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Byron has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Byron tries to free his leg and advance position but Relatoff is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Byron dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Byron scores with a nice body kick.

Byron clinches with his opponent.
Byron is looking to control Relatoff's arms but Relatoff gets an underhook and turns him. Now Byron has his back to the cage.
Byron misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Relatoff.
Byron misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Relatoff.
Byron lands a nice elbow.
Byron stalling against the cage.
Relatoff blocks an elbow strike.
Relatoff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byron wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Byron.
Byron lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byron landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Byron lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Byron tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Byron putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Relatoff in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Byron lands an elbow inside that Relatoff shrugs off.
Byron is looking to break free of the clinch but Relatoff has double underhooks.
Byron lands a good knee to the midsection. Relatoff won't want to take too many of those.
Byron stalling in the clinch but Relatoff improves position.
Byron dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Relatoff takes an elbow to the forehead.
Relatoff goes for a takedown in the clinch but Byron prevents it.
Relatoff wants to get back to striking at distance but Byron won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Byron obliges.
Byron is trying to break free.
Byron tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Relatoff avoids it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Relatoff keeps control of Byron as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Relatoff blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Byron tries to pull guard but Relatoff won't allow it.
Byron works on Relatoff's body with a couple of short punches.
Byron wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Byron lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Byron has a couple of punches blocked by Relatoff.
Relatoff has Byron pressed against the cage, preventing Byron from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byron lands a nice elbow.
Byron is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Byron misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Relatoff.
Relatoff jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Byron walks away with a smile on his face. Relatoff gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sashok Relatoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byron tries to close the distance and clinch up but Relatoff swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Byron wants to clinch.
Byron tries to close the distance and clinch up but Relatoff swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Byron forces Relatoff back against the cage and clinches.
Byron is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Relatoff is keeping busy.
Byron jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Relatoff walks away with a smile on his face. Byron gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Relatoff is trying hard to land a takedown here. Byron sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Byron is looking to clinch.
Relatoff keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Relatoff changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byron tries to avoid it but Relatoff manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byron to the ground. Byron escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Byron goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Byron changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Relatoff tries to avoid it but Byron manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Relatoff to the ground. Relatoff escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Byron stuffs the takedown attempt from Relatoff. Relatoff gets slowly back to his feet.
Relatoff misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Byron lands a high kick!
Byron is looking to clinch but Relatoff is avoiding it.
Byron goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Byron scores with a head kick.
Byron lands a slapping body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Relatoff.
Josh Byron is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Relatoff keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Byron tries for a takedown but Relatoff sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Byron scores with a jab to the body.

Byron pushes Relatoff up against the cage in a clinch.
Relatoff keeps control of Byron as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Byron 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!

Byron stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Byron wants it to stay on the feet.
Byron lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Relatoff at a distance.
Byron moves in looking to clinch but Relatoff pushes him off.
Byron displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Byron looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Byron is looking to clinch but Relatoff is avoiding it.
Byron is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Relatoff rather than just go for the knockout.
Byron shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Relatoff but Relatoff pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Byron moves into range and clinches up with Relatoff.
Byron is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Relatoff is keeping busy.
Byron lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Relatoff as Byron tries to tie him up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.
Byron lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byron lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Byron utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Byron looking to slow down the pace here.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.
Byron is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Relatoff changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Byron fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Byron tries to clinch but Relatoff moves out of range.
Byron throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Byron closes the distance and clinches.
Byron is trying to break the clinch but Relatoff is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Byron is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Byron crunches a lovely knee into Relatoff's ribcage.
Relatoff blocks an elbow strike from Byron.
Byron trying to land knees to the body.
Relatoff keeps control of Byron as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Relatoff managing to block the knees to the body from Byron.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Byron tries to circle away but Relatoff has him pinned against the cage.
Byron creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Relatoff's defenses.
Byron landing knees to the body.
Byron is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Relatoff is defending well for now.
Relatoff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sashok Relatoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byron tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byron drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Byron creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Byron missing with knees to the body.
Byron unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Byron lands a nice elbow.
Byron trying to land knees to the body.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Relatoff is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Relatoff tries for a takedown. No joy.
Byron tries to circle away but Relatoff has him pinned against the cage.
Byron tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A nice left hand lands by Byron.
Byron scores a nice knee to the body.

Byron breaks the clinch.
Byron tries to clinch there but Relatoff circles away.
Relatoff fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Byron as Relatoff shoots in.
Relatoff circles away from the clinch attempt.
Relatoff takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Byron wants to clinch.
Sashok Relatoff has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Byron is looking to clinch but Relatoff is avoiding it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Relatoff takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Byron misses with a takedown attempt - Relatoff sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Byron closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Byron comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Byron has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Byron!