PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Black Scholes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Black Scholes
vs
Sykes

178 cm
22
168 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

182 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edward Black Scholes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Riley Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykes throws a leg kick but Black Scholes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Sykes throws a head kick but Black Scholes moves out of range.

Black Scholes scores with a takedown into Sykes's guard.
Black Scholes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Sykes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Black Scholes is aware though and is defending well.
Black Scholes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Black Scholes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sykes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black Scholes stays in close to Sykes's body and controls the position.
Sykes wants to control but Black Scholes passes easily into half guard.
Sykes tries to get to full guard but Black Scholes has control of the leg.
Black Scholes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black Scholes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sykes is looking for a sweep. Black Scholes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Black Scholes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sykes's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black Scholes is taking a breather. Sykes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sykes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Black Scholes is working away from the top position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Black Scholes is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Black Scholes has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Skylab Vegas in the buildup to the fight.
Black Scholes swings widly with a right hand

and Sykes moves into the clinch.
Sykes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Black Scholes prevents it.
Sykes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Black Scholes is defending well.
Sykes has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Black Scholes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Edward Black Scholes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Riley Sykes.
Black Scholes holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black Scholes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Black Scholes has Sykes pressed against the cage.
Black Scholes gets underhooks to prevent Sykes's takedown attempt.
Black Scholes stalling the fight.
Black Scholes lands with a right to the head.
Black Scholes prevents Sykes from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes being controlled against the cage.
Black Scholes seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edward Black Scholes.

Sykes moves into range and clinches up with Black Scholes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sykes wants a takedown but no success here.
Black Scholes prevents a body shot from Sykes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Black Scholes dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Black Scholes misses with a hook to the body
and Sykes counters with a stiff right hand.
Black Scholes throws a series of punches but Sykes avoids them all with ease.

Black Scholes decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sykes wants to control but Black Scholes is keeping busy.
Black Scholes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Black Scholes drops an elbow to the side of Sykes's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black Scholes slows the pace down in half guard.
Black Scholes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Black Scholes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black Scholes winds up and cracks Sykes with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sykes wants to control but Black Scholes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Black Scholes controlling the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Black Scholes lands a lovely overhand right.
A big right from Black Scholes misses.
Sykes takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Black Scholes lands with a straight right. Sykes didn't see that one coming.

Black Scholes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sykes was covering up waiting for the punch and Black Scholes finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black Scholes postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes is wriggling around but Black Scholes manages to pass to half guard.
Black Scholes passes to full mount!
Sykes is in a horrible position here. Black Scholes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Black Scholes landing strikes from the mount.
Black Scholes working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black Scholes controlling from mount.
Sykes is desperately trying to improve his position but Black Scholes has a good base and remains in mount.
Black Scholes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Black Scholes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Black Scholes is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Black Scholes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Black Scholes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Sykes's face.
Black Scholes scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykes is trying to escape the mount.
Sykes is breathing heavily.
Black Scholes dominating with strikes here.

Sykes is rocked!
Black Scholes looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Black Scholes lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Black Scholes 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. 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.

Black Scholes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Black Scholes showed some decent athleticism there.
Sykes tries to get to full guard but Black Scholes has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Black Scholes in particular looking to stall.
Black Scholes prevents Sykes from improving his position.
Black Scholes stops Sykes from getting back to his feet.
Black Scholes trying to control the pace.
Black Scholes scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black Scholes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sykes is trying to control but Black Scholes manages to pass to mount!
Black Scholes landing strikes from the mount.
Edward Black Scholes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Black Scholes controlling from the full mount.
Black Scholes with shots to the head and body - Sykes looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black Scholes pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

It looks like Riley Sykes has been cut.
Sykes taking shots to the head.
Sykes is still in real trouble! Can Black Scholes finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sykes takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Black Scholes's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Edward Black Scholes!