PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Broke Johnson (ranked 4836 p4p, 4835 weight class) and Dylan Sydal (ranked 488 p4p, 487 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.

Johnson
vs
Sydal

200 cm
24
270
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
21
270
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Broke Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dylan Sydal!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Johnson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sydal striking off his back but it's not causing Johnson any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Sydal keeps moving.
Sydal keeping full guard, as Johnson tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Sydal.

Sydal looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sydal can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sydal wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sydal keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sydal seems keen to control Johnson's posture.
Johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sydal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sydal has his foot on Johnson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Johnson works his way back into a safe position though.
Johnson wants to control from the top but Sydal keeps moving.
Sydal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Johnson manages to get himself to full guard.

Johnson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sydal preventing the sweep.
Johnson is striking off his back. Sydal thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
Sydal is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sydal working over Johnson with some ground and pound. Johnson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sydal landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Johnson controlling the position for now.
Sydal content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson has hold of Sydal's hands but Sydal slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sydal is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sydal looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johnson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sydal slips a nice elbow through Johnson's hands, connecting with Johnson's forehead.
Sydal is controlling the pace.
Sydal passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sydal just content to control the position.
Sydal working the head with strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Sydal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sydal scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
Sydal scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Johnson to see if he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Sydal dominated that round.
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.

Johnson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sydal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Johnson dives in and grabs Sydal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sydal pushes down on Johnson's head and hops out.

Sydal drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Sydal has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Johnson after a bit of a struggle.
Johnson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sydal misses with the head strike.

Sydal turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sydal manages to end up in side control.
Johnson is looking to get back to his feet here but Sydal is keeping cool and he's managed to take Johnson's back.
Sydal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sydal looking to break Johnson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Johnson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Sydal will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sydal is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Johnson is defending well though. Sydal let's go of the attempt for now.
Johnson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sydal on the ground.
Johnson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johnson is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Johnson trying to control the action but Sydal just sinks the hooks in.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sydal is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Johnson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sydal gets his way!

Sydal looking for the RNC.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sydal controlling from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sydal throwing damaging strikes from the back! Johnson could be in trouble here!

Sydal working for the choke.
Johnson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Sydal biding his time, controlling Johnson.
Sydal scores with punches from the back.
Johnson is covering up but some of the strikes from Sydal are getting through and doing damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sydal controls the action.
Sydal is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Sydal looking for the rear naked choke. And he's got it! Johnson taps!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dylan Sydal!