PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blair Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wan Zack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Sykes
vs
Zack

182 cm
18
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Blair Sykes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wan Zack!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Leandro Rodrigues and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zack shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Zack was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sykes really is a fat lump.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zack controls the position.
Zack trying to control the action but Sykes is working from the bottom.
Sykes is trying to improve his position.
Zack sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Sykes is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Zack misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sykes is not content to let Zack control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zack decides to stand back up.

Zack clinches up with Sykes and pushes him back against the cage.
Sykes managing to block the knees to the body from Zack.

Zack gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Zack trying to control but Sykes is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sykes throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykes keeping moving, preventing Zack from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Zack throws a big elbow that misses.

Zack has gone for a leg lock! Sykes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zack's guard.
Sykes postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wan Zack was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sykes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sykes showed some decent athleticism there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zack is trying to stand.
Zack trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Sykes manages to pass to mount!
Sykes looking to ground and pound but Zack is blocking nicely.

Sykes looking for a guillotine from mount but Zack is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zack is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The referee warns Zack that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Zack tries to reverse the position but Sykes maintains control.
BOOM! Sykes connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sykes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zack hang on?
Zack looks winded!
Zack is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Sykes has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zack swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Blair Sykes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zack lands with a kick to the ribs.

Zack gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Zack manages to break the clinch.

Zack closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sykes did well to prevent Zack getting side control.
Zack is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Zack really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sykes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sykes wants to improve his position but Zack is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Zack seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wan Zack was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Sykes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zack is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sykes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sykes's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zack throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Sykes has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Zack.
Sykes wants to control his opponent's hands but Zack gets his hands free.
You can see the frustration on Sykes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zack is trying to stick to Sykes's back but Sykes is turning into Zack. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Zack's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sykes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sykes lands a couple of digs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zack works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sykes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zack throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Blair Sykes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zack is wriggling around but Sykes manages to pass to half guard.
Zack trying to control but Sykes postures up.

Sykes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Sykes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zack 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.
Zack in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zack tries to free his leg and advance position but Sykes is retaining full guard.
Sykes trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Zack tries to stand but Sykes is controlling from the bottom.
Zack sitting in guard, not really doing much.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wan Zack was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A punch lands to the side of Sykes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wan Zack showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zack closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Sykes did well to prevent Zack getting side control.
Zack passes to full mount!
Sykes reaches up to try and control the position but Zack seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Sykes rolls and tries to escape and now Zack has his back!
Zack struggling to keep hold of the position.
Zack looking to hold on to the position here but Sykes rolls and ends up regaining guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zack looking to pass the guard.
Zack takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Wan Zack hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Zack gets a clinch.

Sykes drags the fight down to the ground.
Sykes trying to strike off his back.

Sykes uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zack wants to control from the top but Sykes keeps moving.
Zack wanted to stand there but Sykes had control of the position.
Zack slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Wan Zack has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sykes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zack defends it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sykes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zack decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sykes is trying to stand back up but Zack is controlling him
Sykes is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zack stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Sykes to get to his feet.

Zack scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Zack passes to full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zack looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wan Zack comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zack 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wan Zack!