PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Saxon Byrd (ranked 2204 p4p, 2371 weight class) and Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos (ranked 281 p4p, 298 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Byrd
vs
Xanthopoulos

179 cm
26
173
8 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
180
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Maximum Human Performance

Conquer

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Saxon Byrd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Byrd.
Xanthopoulos misses with a hook.
A big left from Xanthopoulos misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Byrd.
Xanthopoulos looks to score with a jab to the body but Byrd is just out of range.
Byrd connects with an inside leg kick.
Byrd throws a nice head kick!
Xanthopoulos throws a hook but Byrd blocks it.
Byrd thumps Xanthopoulos with a low kick.

Xanthopoulos closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Byrd quickly recovers to half guard.
Byrd trying to control here.
Xanthopoulos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Byrd tries to roll over but Xanthopoulos keeps him under control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrd trying to control but Xanthopoulos postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrd wants to improve his position but Xanthopoulos is controlling well.
Xanthopoulos thows a huge punch but Byrd dodges it nicely.
My spies in Tran MMA Gym inform me that Xanthopoulos has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Byrd avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos working over Byrd with some ground and pound. Byrd looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Xanthopoulos throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Byrd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Xanthopoulos not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Byrd trying to hold on to Xanthopoulos's head to control him but Xanthopoulos postures up.
Byrd keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Byrd is staying active underneath Xanthopoulos, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Xanthopoulos seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Xanthopoulos thows a huge punch but Byrd dodges it nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Xanthopoulos connects with a nice short shot to Byrd's temple.
Byrd blocking the ground and pound attempt from Xanthopoulos.
Byrd gets back to full guard.
Xanthopoulos landing with the ground and pound.
Xanthopoulos trying to control but Byrd is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byrd being controlled here, momentarily.
Xanthopoulos trying to control but Byrd is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byrd is controlling Xanthopoulos's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Xanthopoulos in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Xanthopoulos throws a strike but Byrd rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Byrd won't allow Xanthopoulos to get back to his feet.

Byrd gets to his feet - Xanthopoulos follows without any prompting.
Byrd works over Xanthopoulos's head and body with a nice combination.
Byrd thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Xanthopoulos if he has to take too many more of those.
Xanthopoulos misses with a double jab
and Byrd counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Xanthopoulos thinking.
Byrd defending well as Xanthopoulos loads up on a big left hand.
Byrd takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Byrd looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd is looking to score with low kicks.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab from Byrd.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Byrd throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Byrd misses with an attempted mid kick.
Byrd throws a body shot but no joy.
Byrd displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Xanthopoulos.
Byrd buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Byrd throws a head kick that Xanthopoulos semi-blocks.
Xanthopoulos is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Byrd throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saxon Byrd 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.

Byrd moves forwards but Xanthopoulos connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Byrd is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Byrd misses with a low kick.
Byrd dips to his left and cracks Xanthopoulos with an uppercut!
Byrd paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Byrd connects with a body shot that sends Xanthopoulos's belly button to the back.
Byrd connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Byrd scores with a crisp jab that stopped Xanthopoulos in his tracks.
Xanthopoulos takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Byrd cracks Xanthopoulos with an open hand slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xanthopoulos shoots in and drives through. Byrd sprawls well.
Byrd is looking to counter punch.
Byrd with a nice cross.
Xanthopoulos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Byrd as he jumps to the side.
Byrd looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A big right from Xanthopoulos misses.
Byrd with a jab.
Xanthopoulos misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos misses with a hook.
Xanthopoulos misses with a combination
and Byrd counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown attempt
and Byrd makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Saxon Byrd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos.
Byrd connects with a body shot that sends Xanthopoulos's belly button to the back.
Xanthopoulos misses with a combination
and Byrd counters with a left to the body.
Byrd lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Saxon Byrd is winning the standup battle so far.
Xanthopoulos looks to land a right hand but Byrd moved out of range.
Byrd fires out a quick counter leg kick but Xanthopoulos just manages to avoid it.
Byrd lands a jab-cross combination.
Byrd is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Xanthopoulos can do to turn this around?
Xanthopoulos lands a nice shot that snaps Byrd's head back.
Byrd uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Xanthopoulos.
A little feinted left hand from Byrd on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Byrd misses with a wild body shot.
Xanthopoulos takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Saxon Byrd is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xanthopoulos connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos throws out a loose jab but Byrd uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byrd tries to bum rush Xanthopoulos with a series of wild strikes but Xanthopoulos uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A jab from Byrd misses.
Xanthopoulos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Xanthopoulos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Byrd sets himself, and Xanthopoulos steps forward looking for the clinch! Byrd avoids it this time.
Byrd's corner calls for a 1-2. Byrd obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Byrd stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Byrd wants it to stay on the feet.
Byrd lands an overhand right.
Byrd takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Xanthopoulos connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Xanthopoulos takes a jab right on the kisser.
Byrd looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Xanthopoulos scores with a three punch combo!
Xanthopoulos might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Byrd throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab by Byrd.
Byrd connects with a right hand. Xanthopoulos shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos tries for a takedown but Byrd circles away easily
and Byrd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice jab there from Byrd.
The crowd cheers as Xanthopoulos lands an impressive looking overhand right. Byrd doesn't seem phased though.
Byrd stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Byrd wants it to stay on the feet.
Byrd connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Jab from Byrd.
Xanthopoulos misses with an uppercut
and Byrd cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Xanthopoulos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Byrd showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Xanthopoulos.
Xanthopoulos cracks Byrd with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Byrd chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Xanthopoulos connects with a nice looking jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos misses with a hook.
Byrd connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Xanthopoulos scores with the left hand. Byrd knows he should have avoided that one.
Byrd moves out of range of the strikes.
Byrd is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Byrd throws a lazy right hand but Xanthopoulos sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Xanthopoulos misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Byrd lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Xanthopoulos shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Byrd eats them both and turns towards Xanthopoulos to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Xanthopoulos takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Byrd scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Byrd jabs Xanthopoulos right on the nose. Xanthopoulos blinks but takes it well.
Xanthopoulos takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Saxon Byrd dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chrysanthos Xanthopoulos's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Xanthopoulos misses with a straight right.
Byrd is looking to counter punch.
Xanthopoulos takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Byrd tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Xanthopoulos throws a jab but it's blocked by Byrd.
Byrd ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Byrd misses the shot to the body.
Xanthopoulos moves out of range as Byrd strikes.
Byrd bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Xanthopoulos throws a right hand that Byrd ducks under and follows up with a left that Byrd also avoids with ease.
It looked like Byrd was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Byrd jabs at Xanthopoulos's body.
Byrd connects with a looping right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xanthopoulos dives in and scores a takedown into Byrd's guard.
Byrd pulls Xanthopoulos in to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Byrd utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Byrd keeping moving, preventing Xanthopoulos from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos throwing strikes from guard but Byrd blocks nicely.
Xanthopoulos wants to control from the top but Byrd keeps moving.
Byrd wants to sweep but no luck.
Xanthopoulos trying to control but Byrd is working from the bottom.
Xanthopoulos throws an elbow that misses. Byrd uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Xanthopoulos's guard. Nice move by Byrd!

Byrd is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Xanthopoulos working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Xanthopoulos 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.
Xanthopoulos trying to control the position here.
Byrd trying to control but Xanthopoulos is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Byrd swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Byrd sets himself, and Xanthopoulos steps forward looking for the clinch! Byrd avoids it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xanthopoulos throws a jab when Byrd was well out of range.
Xanthopoulos's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Xanthopoulos swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Byrd counter with a right hand.
Xanthopoulos misses with a looping left.

Xanthopoulos drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Xanthopoulos crashes against the mat.
Xanthopoulos is looking to take a break and control but Byrd is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Byrd is looking to regain half guard here but Xanthopoulos keeps moving and retains side control.
Byrd takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Xanthopoulos wants to take a breather but Byrd manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Xanthopoulos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byrd looking for a sweep. Not yet Byrd, not yet.
Xanthopoulos loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xanthopoulos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Xanthopoulos looking to sit in guard and control but Byrd gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Saxon Byrd is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xanthopoulos is trying to keep Byrd in close.
Xanthopoulos tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Saxon Byrd.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Byrd, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Saxon Byrd!
An out of breath Saxon Byrd thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.