PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Byhenikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byhenikov has chosen Harbinger as his entrance music. Igor Byhenikov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zaire
vs
Byhenikov

183 cm
23
198 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

184 cm
23
198 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Abdullah Zaire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Igor Byhenikov!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byhenikov throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zaire stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Byhenikov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
Zaire takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Byhenikov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Zaire misses with a low kick as Byhenikov jumps back.
Zaire looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zaire takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Byhenikov throws a leg kick that misses.
Byhenikov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Zaire throws out a leg kick but Byhenikov moves out of range and Zaire only half commits.
Byhenikov misses with a low kick as Zaire jumps back.
A low kick from Byhenikov misses
and Zaire counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zaire tries to land a front kick but Byhenikov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Zaire takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Zaire misses with a body kick.
Byhenikov misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
Byhenikov avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byhenikov lands a nice shot to the body.
Igor Byhenikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zaire takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Zaire tries to bum rush Byhenikov with a series of wild strikes but Byhenikov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zaire scores with a leg kick.
Zaire throws a sloppy head kick
and Byhenikov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Byhenikov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zaire.
Zaire is looking to score with low kicks.
Byhenikov connects with an inside leg kick.
Byhenikov blocks the body kick.
Zaire lands a leg kick that knocks Byhenikov off balance momentarily.
Byhenikov thumps Zaire with a low kick.
Zaire throws a half hearted mid kick.
Byhenikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaire.
Zaire throws out a loose jab but Byhenikov uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byhenikov is looking to clinch but Zaire is avoiding it.
Zaire drops down looking for a counter takedown but Byhenikov sprawls and moves away.
Byhenikov scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov avoids a kick to the body.
Zaire has been working on his boxing with his coaches at White Eagle in the buildup to the fight.
Zaire gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Byhenikov.
Byhenikov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zaire.
Byhenikov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Byhenikov has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Byhenikov misses with a looping left.
Zaire feinted with a counter takedown.
Byhenikov works Zaire's body with a nice hook.
Byhenikov looks to land a combination. Zaire sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Byhenikov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Byhenikov lands with a hook. Zaire tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Zaire chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Byhenikov can pounce on him.
Byhenikov throws a body punch but Zaire moves out of range.
Zaire defending well as Byhenikov loads up on a big left hand.
A decent looking cross lands there for Byhenikov.
Zaire misses with a head kick.
Byhenikov misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Zaire.
Byhenikov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zaire throws a low kick, looking for Byhenikov's leg but Byhenikov calmly moves out of range.
Byhenikov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Zaire throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Byhenikov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Byhenikov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Zaire had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A jab from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws a body punch but Byhenikov moves out of range.
Byhenikov lands with a hook. Zaire tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Byhenikov cracks Zaire with a good jab.
Byhenikov lands a jab to Zaire's midsection.
Zaire thumps Byhenikov with a low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Zaire.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byhenikov lands with a nice body punch.
Byhenikov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zaire.
Zaire avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Byhenikov throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov with a nice cross.
Zaire takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Byhenikov checks the leg kick nicely there.
A little jabbing left from Byhenikov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A combination from Byhenikov does no damage.
Byhenikov cracks the inside of Zaire's front leg.
Byhenikov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zaire. Zaire circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Byhenikov lands a really nice looking cross but Zaire seems unphased.
Byhenikov motions for Zaire to come forward. Byhenikov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zaire wants to slow Byhenikov down by chopping away at his legs.
Byhenikov lands an overhand right.
Zaire pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Byhenikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zaire.
Zaire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Byhenikov.
Zaire takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Byhenikov dominated that round.
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.

Byhenikov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zaire drops down looking for a counter takedown but Byhenikov sprawls and moves away.
Zaire is looking to chop away at Byhenikov's legs.
Byhenikov misses with a body shot.
Zaire with a jab.
Byhenikov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zaire eats them both and turns towards Byhenikov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Byhenikov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zaire. That did some damage!
Zaire avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A telegraphed right hand from Byhenikov misses the target.
Igor Byhenikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zaire throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Byhenikov counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Zaire ducks under a wild hook from Byhenikov.
Byhenikov misses with a body shot
and Zaire makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Zaire throws a low kick but Byhenikov moves out of range easily.
Byhenikov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Byhenikov lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zaire will feel that in the morning.
Zaire looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Byhenikov misses with a low kick.
Zaire looks to land a right hand but Byhenikov moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byhenikov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zaire at a distance.
Byhenikov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A shot to the liver by Byhenikov. Beautiful body shot.
Zaire blocks a leg kick.
Byhenikov moves out of range of the leg kick from Zaire.
Jab by Byhenikov.
Zaire ducks right into an uppercut from Byhenikov.
Byhenikov throws a push kick but Zaire slaps the foot to one side.
Zaire misses the jab.
A leg kick checked by Zaire.
Byhenikov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Byhenikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zaire.
Zaire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Byhenikov.
Zaire throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Byhenikov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Byhenikov wants to slow Zaire down by chopping away at his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaire stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Byhenikov.
The fighters circling - Zaire throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zaire tried to score with a low kick but Byhenikov checks it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Zaire lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Byhenikov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Byhenikov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Byhenikov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zaire misses with a low kick.
A clash of legs there as Byhenikov blocks the low kick.
Byhenikov throws a jab when Zaire was well out of range.
Good work by Byhenikov as he checks the leg kick.
Byhenikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zaire takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Byhenikov tries to bum rush Zaire with a series of wild strikes but Zaire uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zaire fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Byhenikov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice body kick from Zaire.
Byhenikov misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire thows a leg kick but Byhenikov checks it
and Byhenikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Byhenikov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Byhenikov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zaire.
A big right from Byhenikov misses.
Zaire feinted with a counter takedown.
Zaire shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nice body kick there by Byhenikov.
Byhenikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zaire.
Zaire throws a leg kick that is checked
and Byhenikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Zaire looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Zaire displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Byhenikov throws out the jab.
Zaire changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Zaire fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Byhenikov.
A telegraphed right hand from Byhenikov misses the target.
Zaire tries a head kick but it misses.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Byhenikov manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Byhenikov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaire chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Byhenikov can pounce on him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaire circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zaire tries to counter with a takedown but Byhenikov is quick to defend against it.
Zaire scoring well with a low kick there.
Zaire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A bone on bone clash there as Byhenikov blocks the leg kick.
Zaire throws an overhand right that lands on Byhenikov's shoulder, as Byhenikov tries to avoid the shot.
Byhenikov wants to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Byhenikov. Zaire does a little dance to reset his feet.
Byhenikov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zaire. Zaire obviously looking to wear him down.
Byhenikov slips a straight right by Zaire.
Byhenikov blocks the body kick.
Byhenikov checks the leg kick nicely there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Byhenikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zaire looks to throw the jab but Byhenikov is out of range.
Zaire misses with a straight left.
Byhenikov wants to counter the offense by Zaire and move into the clinch position.
Byhenikov connects with a right hand. Zaire shakes it off.
Zaire looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Byhenikov.
Byhenikov moves out of range as Zaire throws a body kick.
Byhenikov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zaire misses with a right hand

and Byhenikov moves into the clinch.
Zaire blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Zaire with a knee to the head.
Byhenikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Byhenikov gets through Zaire's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Zaire missing with knees to the body.
Zaire missing with knees to the body.
Zaire working aggressively here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Byhenikov.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byhenikov pushes Zaire back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Byhenikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Byhenikov misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byhenikov lands a hook that snaps the head of Zaire backwards.
Zaire controlling the action here for a moment.
Byhenikov scores with a shot to the side of Zaire's head.
Zaire is trying to pull guard but Byhenikov has him pressed against the cage.
Zaire wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Byhenikov has him pressed against the cage.
Byhenikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Zaire.
A short uppercut from Byhenikov.

Zaire pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Byhenikov throws a poor cross that misses
and Zaire counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Byhenikov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Zaire's sensitive parts.
Zaire looks to land a body kick but Byhenikov moved away.
Byhenikov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Byhenikov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Byhenikov misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov is looking to slow Zaire down with leg kicks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaire takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Byhenikov blocks a low kick nicely.
Byhenikov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Byhenikov lands a head kick. Zaire smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Zaire motions for Byhenikov to come forward. Zaire throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Byhenikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Zaire.
Zaire slips a jab and a cross from Byhenikov.
Zaire attempts a counter takedown but Byhenikov avoids it well and moves away.
Byhenikov lands a head shot.
Zaire checks a leg kick nicely.
Byhenikov misses with a wild body shot.
Byhenikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zaire manages to avoid it.
Zaire pushes Byhenikov away with a front kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Byhenikov. That did some damage!
Zaire finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Zaire moves away from the strike by Byhenikov.
Zaire blocks a jab.
Byhenikov lands a right hook to the body.
Byhenikov is looking to chop away at Zaire's legs.
Zaire fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Byhenikov is out of range.
Zaire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byhenikov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Zaire feinted with a counter takedown.
Byhenikov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zaire's calf.
Zaire uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Byhenikov.
Zaire lands a nice shot that snaps Byhenikov's head back.
A thudding body kick lands there by Zaire!
Zaire is looking to chop away at Byhenikov's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byhenikov throws a body punch but Zaire moves out of range.
Zaire tries to counter with a takedown but Byhenikov is quick to defend against it.
Zaire has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Byhenikov.
Zaire throws a low kick but it's checked well by Byhenikov.
Zaire tries a low kick but Byhenikov avoids it.
Zaire dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Byhenikov. That did some damage!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A chopping leg kick lands by Zaire.
Zaire takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Byhenikov throws a shot from downtown. Zaire moves away and avoids it.
Byhenikov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Byhenikov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zaire finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice cross by Byhenikov.
Abdullah Zaire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Byhenikov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Byhenikov misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Byhenikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Byhenikov 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Byhenikov!
A relieved looking Igor Byhenikov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.