PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steven Hamada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burt Byrd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hamada
vs
Byrd

175 cm
23
172 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steven Hamada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Burt Byrd!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byrd looks to throw the jab but Hamada is out of range.

Byrd closes the distance and clinches.
Byrd can't break the clinch.
Byrd tries to break free but Hamada pushes him back against the cage.
Hamada misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Byrd.
Byrd dodges an elbow strike from Hamada.

Hamada turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Byrd is looking to regain half guard here but Hamada keeps moving and retains side control.
Hamada postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hamada remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Byrd tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hamada wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamada slows the pace down.
Hamada tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hamada content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Byrd wants to control but Hamada postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hamada tries to clinch but Byrd moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd keeps the fight on the outside.
Hamada tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Byrd manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hamada closes the distance and clinches.
Hamada tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Byrd avoids it.
Byrd blocks an elbow strike.
Byrd tries to circle away but Hamada has him pinned against the cage.
Byrd looking for a takedown.

Hamada decides to pull guard.
Byrd is looking to work some ground and pound but Hamada has wrist control.
Byrd must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hamada manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Byrd manages to get himself to full guard.
Byrd can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hamada controls the pace.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hamada throwing strikes from guard but Byrd blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd is looking to stand up but Hamada isn't so interested in that idea.

Hamada stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hamada fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hamada wants to slow Byrd down by chopping away at his legs.

Hamada has managed to clinch.
Byrd has Hamada pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hamada manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hamada is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Byrd pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Byrd on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hamada wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hamada looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamada tries to land a knee to the head but Byrd blocks with his arms.
Byrd is trying to break free.
Byrd wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Byrd on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Byrd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hamada is looking to clinch.
Hamada doesn't manage to clinch there - Byrd circles away.
Byrd throws a shot from downtown. Hamada moves away and avoids it.
Steven Hamada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hamada wants to clinch but Byrd slips to the side
and Byrd counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hamada closes the distance looking to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hamada tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hamada drives through and clinches with Byrd against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Byrd's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Byrd manages to break the clinch.
Hamada tries to clinch up.
Hamada throws a head kick that misses
enabling Byrd to counter with a crisp jab.
Byrd throws a series of punches but Hamada moves out of range.
Hamada misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hamada looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hamada tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byrd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Byrd fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Byrd throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Byrd swats away the attempt to clinch by Hamada.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hamada manages to avoid it.
Hamada tries to score a power double leg takedown but Byrd sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hamada somewhat.
Hamada moves to clinch but Byrd breaks away
and Byrd counters with a nice body shot.

Hamada has managed to clinch.
Hamada is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Byrd is keeping busy.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hamada - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Byrd trying to control the position but instead, Hamada has worked for underhooks and has pushed Byrd into the cage.
Byrd dodges an elbow strike from Hamada.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrd with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Byrd is trying to break the clinch but Hamada has him pressed against the cage.
Byrd looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Byrd is looking for a takedown.

Hamada breaks from the clinch.
Hamada takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hamada moves away from the strike by Byrd.
Byrd is breathing heavily.
Hamada throws a right hand that Byrd ducks under and follows up with a left that Byrd also avoids with ease.
Hamada tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byrd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Byrd throws a right and a left that Hamada avoids nicely.

Hamada clinches with his opponent.
Byrd is looking to break free of the clinch but Hamada has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hamada jumps guard.
Hamada seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hamada is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Byrd postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hamada is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hamada misses with an elbow over the top.
Hamada swings wildly with an uppercut but Byrd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd is trying to break the clinch but Hamada has him pressed against the cage.
Byrd is trying to force a seperation but Hamada has the dominant position.

Hamada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hamada throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamada looks to clinch
and Byrd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hamada thinking.
Byrd misses with an uppercut.

Hamada moves into the clinch.
Hamada leaning against his opponent.
Hamada has Byrd pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Byrd manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hamada misses with an elbow strike.
Hamada can't break the clinch.

Byrd breaks from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byrd throws a nice looking combination but Hamada bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hamada is looking to clinch.

Hamada rushes Byrd and presses him up against the cage.

Byrd manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Hamada dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hamada closes the distance and clinches.
Byrd misses with a knee to the head.
Byrd with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hamada wants a takedown but no success here.
Byrd is trying to drag Hamada to the mat but Hamada just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Byrd has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hamada avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Byrd wants to get back to striking at distance but Hamada won't allow it.

Byrd breaks from the clinch.
Hamada wants to clinch.
Byrd tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hamada paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamada tries to clinch up.
Byrd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hamada steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Byrd.
Hamada wants to clinch.
Hamada looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Byrd swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hamada is looking to clinch but Byrd is avoiding it.

Hamada forces Byrd back against the cage and clinches.
Byrd on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hamada wants to stall.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hamada just misses with a elbow thrown towards Byrd's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byrd breaks the clinch.
Byrd sizes up Hamada with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Hamada closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Byrd tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hamada is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Steven Hamada has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Burt Byrd.
Byrd has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Hamada breaks the clinch.
Hamada changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Byrd tries to avoid it but Hamada manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Byrd to the ground. Byrd escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steven Hamada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hamada gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Byrd throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hamada blocks it with crossed arms.
Hamada tries a knee to the head but Byrd blocks it.

Hamada breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hamada forces Byrd back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd avoids the elbow strike from Hamada, against the cage.
Hamada tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hamada looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hamada is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Byrd is defending well for now.
Hamada has Byrd pressed against the cage, preventing Byrd from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Hamada manages to break the clinch.
Hamada tries to clinch up

and Byrd counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Byrd's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hamada moves in looking to clinch but Byrd pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hamada looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hamada walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Steven Hamada is winning the standup battle so far.
Byrd tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hamada cracks the inside of Byrd's front leg.
Hamada avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hamada is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hamada takes the fight into the clinch.
Burt Byrd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steven Hamada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Byrd with an attempt at a knee that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Hamada showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hamada 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Hamada!