PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valerio Bartoli (ranked 1161 p4p, 2035 weight class) and Maverick Syndal (ranked 149 p4p, 250 weight class). Bartoli comes into the arena with Modulate - Bass Alert blaring out of the sound system. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Bartoli
vs
Syndal

180 cm
37
160
30 - 15 - 2

180 cm
39
163
23 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Bondi MMA

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 30 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Valerio Bartoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Maverick Syndal!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartoli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maverick Syndal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bartoli thuds his right hand into Syndal's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Still in the clinch, Bartoli scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bartoli tries a body shot but Syndal blocks it.
Syndal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bartoli makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Syndal fails to land.
Bartoli has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
Syndal tries to land knees in the clinch but Bartoli avoids the damage to the body.
A body shot lands from Syndal.
Syndal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bartoli is defending well for now.
Syndal prevents a body shot from Bartoli.
Bartoli digs a right hand into Syndal's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Syndal's gas tank.
Bartoli dodges an elbow strike from Syndal.
Syndal tries to work over Bartoli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Syndal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bartoli lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartoli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Syndal's elbow.
Bartoli tries a body shot but Syndal blocks it.
Bartoli misses with some punches.
Bartoli working aggressively here.
Bartoli softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bartoli.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bartoli.
Syndal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.
Bartoli is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A nice left hand lands by Bartoli.
Bartoli misses with the head strike.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Syndal.
Syndal has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bartoli avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Valerio Bartoli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maverick Syndal.
A right hook to the body lands for Bartoli.
A head punch on the inside from Bartoli fails to land.
Bartoli managing to block the knees to the body from Syndal.
Bartoli gets underhooks to prevent Syndal's takedown attempt.
Syndal tries a body shot but Bartoli blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal tries to throw a body punch but Bartoli avoids it by throwing Syndal back against the cage.
Bartoli working aggressively here.
Syndal is looking to control Bartoli's arms but Bartoli gets an underhook and turns him. Now Syndal has his back to the cage.
Bartoli prevents a body shot from Syndal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bartoli has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
Syndal prevents a body shot from Bartoli.
Bartoli prevents a body shot from Syndal.
Syndal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bartoli's elbow.
Bartoli lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bartoli lands a body punch in the clinch.
Syndal misses with a punch to the body.
Bartoli throws a punch but it's blocked by Syndal.
Syndal letting Bartoli take a breather here.
Bartoli can't find room to land a body shot as Syndal controls the action.
Nice elbow from Syndal.
Bartoli lands a left hand that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
Syndal taking a breather.
Syndal misses with a punch to the body.
Bartoli lands with a short shot to the head.

Syndal lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bartoli holds on and takes a little breather.

Syndal drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bartoli dives on top into guard.

Bartoli content to stall in guard here.
Syndal is trying to control the position but Bartoli postures up.
Bartoli has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Syndal wants to control the position but Bartoli says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Bartoli decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli misses with a wild body shot.
Bartoli connects with a high kick.

It looks like Maverick Syndal has been cut.
Syndal misses with a wild body shot.
Bartoli is looking for a counter combo.
Nice uppercut there from Syndal.
Syndal takes one to the side of the head.

Syndal closes the distance and pushes Bartoli back into the cage.
A shot in the inside from Syndal.
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!
Bartoli lands with a right to the head.
Bartoli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal misses with some punches.
Bartoli managing to block the knees to the body from Syndal.
Bartoli can't find room to land a body shot as Syndal controls the action.
Syndal lands with a light punch inside.
Syndal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bartoli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bartoli lands with a right to the head.
Bartoli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal missing with knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Syndal.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valerio Bartoli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Maverick Syndal's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Syndal is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bartoli.
Bartoli works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Syndal is looking to clinch but Bartoli is avoiding it.
Syndal throws a sloppy head kick and Bartoli moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Bartoli misses the target.
Bartoli looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bartoli cracks Syndal with an open hand slap.
Syndal misses with a wild body shot.
Donk. Bartoli catches Syndal right on the button with a cross.
Syndal tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bartoli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Syndal lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bartoli circles away quickly and effectively.
Syndal on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bartoli. Bartoli obviously looking to wear him down.
Syndal misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bartoli lands with a thumping leg kick.

Syndal drives through and clinches with Bartoli against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syndal can't find room to land a body shot as Bartoli controls the action.
Bartoli blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Syndal missing with knees to the body.
Bartoli prevents a body shot from Syndal.
Syndal can't find room to land a body shot as Bartoli controls the action.
Syndal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bartoli tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bartoli throws a punch but it's blocked by Syndal.
Bartoli lands a body shot.
A short left from Bartoli.
Bartoli struggles to land a body shot inside as Syndal controls his hands.
Syndal is trying to maintain a safe position but Bartoli gets an underhook and turns Syndal into the cage.
Syndal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bartoli dodges an elbow strike from Syndal.
A short right from Bartoli on the inside.
Bartoli scores with a shot to the side of Syndal's head.
Bartoli misses with some punches.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bartoli working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bartoli stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bartoli blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bartoli lands an uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Bartoli.
Syndal is breathing heavily.
Bartoli pushes Syndal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syndal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Syndal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Syndal swings wildly with an uppercut but Bartoli uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli works on Syndal's body with a couple of short punches.
Syndal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Syndal taking a breather.
Bartoli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bartoli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bartoli lands an uppercut.
Syndal tries to throw a body punch but Bartoli avoids it by throwing Syndal back against the cage.
Bartoli misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bartoli lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
Syndal missing with knees to the body.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Bartoli.
Bartoli lands with a left to the head.
Syndal cracks Bartoli with a nice body shot.
Syndal misses with an elbow over the top.
Bartoli lands with a short shot to the head.
Syndal scores with a shoulder strike.
Syndal takes a shot to the head.
Bartoli pushes Syndal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Syndal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bartoli is defending well for now.
Bartoli lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bartoli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Syndal can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli can't find room to land a body shot as Syndal controls the action.
Bartoli digs a right hand underneath Syndal's ribcage. Syndal let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Syndal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bartoli is defending well for now.
Bartoli lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bartoli working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Bartoli.
Syndal tries to throw a body punch but Bartoli avoids it by throwing Syndal back against the cage.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Bartoli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bartoli misses with some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syndal.
Syndal can't find room to land a body shot as Bartoli controls the action.
Bartoli misses with a body punch.
Valerio Bartoli has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Syndal wants to stall.
Bartoli lands with a short shot to the head.
Bartoli managing to block the knees to the body from Syndal.
Bartoli blocks an uppercut.
Bartoli lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bartoli lands a nice uppercut.
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!
Bartoli scores with a nice hook to the head.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Bartoli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli misses with a punch to the body.
Syndal misses with some punches.
Bartoli lands a nice uppercut.
Syndal misses with some punches.
Syndal pushes off an throws an elbow but Bartoli leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bartoli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bartoli has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bartoli.
Bartoli misses with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Good body shot from Syndal.
Syndal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bartoli digs a right hand into Syndal's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Syndal's gas tank.
Bartoli throws a punch but it's blocked by Syndal.
A hook to the body from Syndal.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bartoli lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Syndal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Syndal tries to land knees in the clinch but Bartoli avoids the damage to the body.
Bartoli lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Syndal has a couple of punches blocked by Bartoli.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valerio Bartoli dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Maverick Syndal's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Bartoli connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Syndal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bartoli scores with a nice head shot.
Syndal closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bartoli connects with a solid leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Syndal misses the target.
Syndal misses with a straight left.

Bartoli has taken the fight to the clinch.
Syndal trying to control the position but instead, Bartoli has worked for underhooks and has pushed Syndal into the cage.
Syndal content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Syndal tries a body shot but Bartoli blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Syndal fails to land.
Bartoli lands a hook that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
Syndal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syndal stalling in the clinch but Bartoli improves position.
Syndal throws an elbow but it misses.
Bartoli lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Syndal looking for a takedown.
Syndal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Bartoli.
Syndal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bartoli gets through Syndal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bartoli lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
Syndal has a couple of punches blocked by Bartoli.
Syndal trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Syndal fails to land.
Syndal misses with a punch on the inside.
Bartoli scores with a shoulder strike.
Bartoli goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.
Bartoli lands with a short shot to the head.
Bartoli lands a nice uppercut.
Syndal trying to land knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Bartoli.
Syndal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Syndal prevents a body shot from Bartoli.
Bartoli lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Syndal or not.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Bartoli.
Syndal blocking some punches.
Bartoli is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartoli softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bartoli misses with some punches.
Bartoli goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Syndal tries a body shot but Bartoli blocks it.
Syndal blocks a body shot from Bartoli.
Bartoli working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bartoli lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Syndal can't find room to land a body shot as Bartoli controls the action.
Syndal misses with some punches.
Bartoli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Syndal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bartoli misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Bartoli - that landed with a thud.
Bartoli working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bartoli lands with a light punch inside.
Maverick Syndal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good body shot from Bartoli.
Bartoli lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bartoli pressing his opponent against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bartoli - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Bartoli.
Syndal takes a shot to the head.
Bartoli lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Syndal lands with a left to the head.
Bartoli lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Bartoli lands a nice uppercut.
Syndal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bartoli pressing his opponent against the cage.
Syndal wants a takedown.
Bartoli lands with a right to the head.
Syndal has a couple of punches blocked by Bartoli.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syndal.
Bartoli blocks an elbow strike.
Syndal tries to stall but Bartoli uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Bartoli misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syndal.
A right hook to the body lands for Bartoli.
Bartoli lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syndal tries to work over Bartoli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Syndal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bartoli lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bartoli digs a right hand into Syndal's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Syndal's gas tank.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Bartoli.
Bartoli lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bartoli pushes Syndal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bartoli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bartoli on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Syndal tries to work over Bartoli's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bartoli.
Syndal changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bartoli fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Valerio Bartoli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maverick Syndal.
Bartoli connects with a body shot.
Bartoli paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bartoli cracks Syndal with an open hand slap.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valerio Bartoli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bartoli has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valerio Bartoli!
In his post fight interview, Valerio Bartoli started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
Maverick Syndal spoke after the fight, saying 'I get paid to show up, Kicking ass is optional.'.