PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Trike Byson (ranked 4659 p4p, 4582 weight class) and Boyko Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Byson
vs
Kersikov

190 cm
18
187
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
189
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Trike Byson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Boyko Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Byson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kersikov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kersikov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kersikov trying to control but Byson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Byson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Byson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byson has Kersikov pulled in close to control his posture.
Kersikov wants to pass the guard but Byson is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kersikov misses with a kick to the body
and Byson counters with a nice body shot.
Kersikov misses with a hook to the body
enabling Byson to counter with a crisp jab.
A head kick by Kersikov misses
and Byson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Kersikov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Byson quickly recovers to half guard.
Kersikov is stalling here. Byson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kersikov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Byson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kersikov sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Byson trying to control the position but Kersikov is working away.
Byson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kersikov defending against the ground and pound.
Kersikov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kersikov is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Byson is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Kersikov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kersikov is desperately trying to improve his position but Byson has a good base and remains in mount.
Byson with good strikes from the mount here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byson misses with a head shot.
Byson throws some wild stikes that Kersikov manages to avoid easily.
Byson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Byson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kersikov is desperately trying to improve his position but Byson has a good base and remains in mount.
Byson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kersikov is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is trying to escape the mount.
Byson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Byson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kersikov is working to get back to half guard.
Byson throws some wild stikes that Kersikov manages to avoid easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kersikov wants to get back to his feet.
Byson is landing with some decent strikes but Kersikov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trike Byson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kersikov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Byson counters with a straight right hand.
Byson takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Trike Byson has been cut.
Kersikov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kersikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kersikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kersikov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Byson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kersikov misses with a takedown
and Byson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Byson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kersikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Byson is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov with a poor takedown
and Byson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kersikov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Byson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kersikov fails with the takedown
and Kersikov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Trike Byson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boyko Kersikov.
Byson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Byson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kersikov gets the takedown into side control.

Byson bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byson cracks Kersikov with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Trike Byson is winning the standup battle so far.
Kersikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Byson counter with a right hand.
Kersikov shoots and misses
and Byson counters with a straight right hand.
Kersikov misses with a takedown attempt
and Byson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kersikov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Byson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a lazy uppercut
and Byson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kersikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Byson counter with a right hand.

Kersikov forces Byson back against the cage and clinches.
Kersikov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Byson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kersikov tries to pull guard but Byson won't allow it.
Byson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Byson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kersikov fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Byson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Byson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kersikov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Byson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Byson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Byson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kersikov can do to turn this around?
Byson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kersikov up against the cage.
Byson being controlled against the cage.
Byson avoiding damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trike Byson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Trike Byson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kersikov misses with a double jab
and Byson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kersikov throws a sloppy body shot
letting Byson counter with a right hand.
Kersikov misses with a takedown attempt
and Byson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kersikov gets a clinch.
Kersikov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Byson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kersikov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov looking for a takedown.
Trike Byson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boyko Kersikov.
Byson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kersikov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Byson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Byson is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kersikov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Boyko Kersikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kersikov misses with a takedown attempt
and Byson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Byson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Byson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kersikov shoots and misses
and Byson counters with a straight right hand.
Trike Byson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kersikov.
Kersikov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Byson counters with a right hand to the body.
Kersikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov moves to clinch but Byson breaks away
and Byson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kersikov tries to clinch up
and Byson counters with a nice uppercut.
Kersikov has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

Kersikov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Byson to the ground. Kersikov is now in Byson's guard.
Byson is wriggling around but Kersikov manages to pass to half guard.
Trike Byson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kersikov tries to stand and escape but Byson is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byson is staying active underneath Kersikov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Byson is looking for a sweep. Kersikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kersikov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Byson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kersikov is just content to waste time from the top position. Byson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Kersikov has gone for a leg lock! Byson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kersikov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byson wants to control from the top but Kersikov keeps moving.
Kersikov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Kersikov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Byson throws an elbow that misses. Kersikov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Byson's guard. Nice move by Kersikov!

Kersikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kersikov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Boyko Kersikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boyko Kersikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kersikov throws a lazy head kick
and Byson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trike Byson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Byson 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trike Byson!