PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gavin Byrne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miles Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Byrne
vs
Cox

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Gavin Byrne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Miles Cox!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cox misses with a few strikes there.
Cox throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Byrne's head.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Cox.
Cox throws a head kick that misses.
Cox throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cox throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Byrne's head.
Cox lands with a kick to the ribs.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Cox.
Byrne fails with a takedown attempt.
Byrne uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cox.
Cox throws a lazy head kick

and Byrne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cox is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Byrne stalls.
Byrne tries to work over Cox's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Byrne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox tries a head kick but it misses.
Cox throws a right hand that misses
and Byrne counters with a three punch combo that has Cox backing up. Cox nods at Byrne to acknowledge the strikes.
Cox shoots in for a double leg but Byrne sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cox misses with a wild combination.
Byrne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cox throws a series of punches but Byrne avoids them all with ease.
Cox lands a head kick. Byrne smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Cox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byrne shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cox as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cox looks to land a right hand but Byrne moved out of range.
Cox misses with a series of wild punches.
Cox throws a hook but Byrne blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cox turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Byrne misses with a takedown attempt - Cox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Byrne closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Byrne manages to break the clinch.
Good shot there by Cox.
Byrne shoots in looking for a takedown but Cox manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Byrne's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Byrne fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cox avoids it really well and circles away.
Byrne takes a jab right on the kisser.
Byrne fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox shoots for a takedown but Byrne saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cox misses with a two punch combination.
Byrne has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Byrne uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cox.
Byrne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cox pinned against the cage. Cox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Byrne dives in and scores a takedown into Cox's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Byrne stopping the sweep attempt from Cox.
Cox is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Byrne might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Byrne distracts Cox with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne wants to stand but Cox has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byrne stopping the sweep attempt from Cox.

Cox kicks Byrne off and gets to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cox throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Byrne.
Byrne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cox is fending him off so far but Byrne persists. Nope, Cox circles away and we're back to standing.
A head kick by Cox misses

and Byrne counters by clinching up.
Byrne misses with the head strike.
Byrne lands with a light punch inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Byrne fails to land.

Cox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Byrne fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miles Cox dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Byrne avoids the head kick by Cox.
A head kick misses from Cox.
Byrne moves out of range as Cox strikes.
Cox misses with a double jab.
Cox throws a head kick but Byrne moves out of range.
A head kick from Cox lands but Byrne takes it in his stride.
Cox looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Byrne fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Cox misses.
Cox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Byrne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Miles Cox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cox throws a sloppy head kick and Byrne moves out of range easily.
Gavin Byrne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Byrne scores with a one two! Cox had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrne misses with a takedown attempt - Cox sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Byrne tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Byrne takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Cox waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Byrne.
Byrne avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Cox throws a lazy head kick

and Byrne counters by moving into the clinch.
Byrne is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Cox gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne has Cox pressed against the cage, preventing Cox from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Byrne tries for a takedown but Cox manages to get underhooks.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cox has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Byrne jumps guard and drags Cox to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cox 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.
Cox really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Byrne. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byrne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cox prevents Byrne from getting back to his feet.
Cox 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.
Cox looking to pass the guard.
Byrne keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Miles Cox.
Cox misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrne slips under a jab from Cox.
Cox misses the jab.
Cox pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Byrne back to the cage. Cox follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Cox sizes up Byrne with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Cox.
Cox throws a series of punches but Byrne moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Byrne. No joy for Cox on that attempt.
Miles Cox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Cox.
Cox throws a head kick but Byrne moves out of range.
Byrne closes the distance and clinches up with Cox, looking for a takedown. Byrne pushes Cox against the cage but Cox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Byrne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cox but Cox pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Byrne throws a jab but it's blocked by Cox.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrne ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice defenses there by Byrne.
Cox connects with a solid leg kick.
Cox tries for a takedown but Byrne sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Byrne takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Byrne has a takedown stuffed.
Byrne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cox pinned against the cage. Cox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A big left from Cox misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Byrne closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cox circles away.
Cox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miles Cox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Byrne ducks under a wild hook from Cox.
Cox throws a right hand that misses

and Byrne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Byrne.

Byrne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Cox.
Cox throws a big shot that misses.
Cox throws a right hand that Byrne ducks under and follows up with a left that Byrne also avoids with ease.
Byrne shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cox is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Byrne closes the distance and clinches up with Cox, looking for a takedown. Byrne pushes Cox against the cage but Cox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Cox.
Byrne moves away from the strike by Cox.
Cox throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Byrne's head.
Cox plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cox sizes up Byrne with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Cox takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nice defenses there by Byrne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Byrne takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Byrne moves in looking to clinch but Cox pushes him off.
Byrne lands a nice looking body shot.
Byrne shoots in for a double leg but Cox sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gavin Byrne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrne blocks a head kick by Cox.
Cox misses with a lunging right hand
and Byrne counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Cox as Byrne shoots in.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Byrne.
Byrne shoots in for a double leg but Cox sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Byrne takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Cox.
Cox looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Byrne walks into a straight right hand from Cox.
Byrne takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Cox stuffs the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cox throws a head kick that Byrne semi-blocks.

Byrne is rocked!
Cox looks to land a right hand but Byrne moved out of range.
Oh Byrne is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Cox scores with a decent looking hook.
Cox misses with a head kick.
Cox lands with a kick to the temple. Byrne shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Byrne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cox pinned against the cage. Cox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Byrne seems to have got his legs back now.
Cox throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox throws a sloppy head kick and Byrne moves out of range easily.
Byrne shoots in for a takedown but Cox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A big right from Cox misses.
Cox rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Byrne moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cox looks to land a right hand but Byrne moved out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Cox. Those never looked like landing.
Byrne shoots in and drives through. Cox sprawls well.
Byrne avoids the head kick by Cox.
Byrne closes the distance and clinches up with Cox, looking for a takedown. Byrne pushes Cox against the cage but Cox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cox throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cox throws a head kick that misses
and Byrne counters with a thumping low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox shoots in for a double leg but Byrne sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cox throws a head kick that misses.
Cox stuffs the takedown.
Cox connects with a nice looking jab.
Cox scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Byrne is looking to clinch.
Byrne throws a series of punches but Cox moves out of range.
Cox swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cox scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Byrne takes a kick to the side of the head.
Byrne tries to clinch but Cox is having none of it.
Gavin Byrne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miles Cox is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrne scores with a decent looking hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miles Cox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cox winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miles Cox!
Miles Cox seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.