PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Syntra Cynster (ranked 6491 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phillipe Navarro (ranked 6443 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.

Cynster
vs
Navarro

190 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 St Petersburg, Syntra Cynster!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phillipe Navarro!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Navarro gets a clinch.
Navarro tries to work over Cynster's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Navarro dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Navarro manages to pull guard.

Navarro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cynster can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Navarro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Navarro wants to stand and escape but Cynster is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Navarro can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cynster advances position into side control!

Cynster tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Navarro throws Cynster to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Navarro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Navarro looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cynster!
The strikes coming from Navarro are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Navarro is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Navarro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Cynster's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Navarro has eaten all the pies!

Navarro thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Navarro in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cynster tries to improve position but can't.
Navarro is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Cynster will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Cynster manages to get back to half guard.
Navarro is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cynster!
Navarro has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cynster's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Navarro is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cynster can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Navarro looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Navarro trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Navarro stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillipe Navarro dominated that round.
That's time! Cynster's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cynster throws a lazy head kick

and Navarro counters by clinching up.

Navarro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Navarro feints and then cracks Cynster's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cynster down.
Navarro looks to land a body kick but Cynster moved away.

Navarro drives through with a takedown into Cynster's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Navarro decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Navarro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cynster, pushing him back against the cage.

Navarro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cynster works Navarro's body with a nice hook.

Navarro clinches up against the cage.
Navarro's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
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!
Cynster fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Navarro lands a takedown into guard.

Cynster manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Navarro tries to throw a body punch but Cynster avoids it by throwing Navarro back against the cage.

Navarro is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Cynster can't fight it off and eventually Navarro manages to take the fight to the floor. Cynster looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Cynster is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Navarro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Cynster trying to keep a closed guard but Navarro is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Navarro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Navarro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Cynster trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Navarro not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Navarro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cynster has momentary wrist control but Navarro slips an elbow through the middle.
Navarro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cynster swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Navarro's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cynster will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cynster enables Navarro to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cynster manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Navarro sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Navarro slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phillipe Navarro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cynster misses with a head kick.
Cynster fails with a takedown attempt.
Navarro looks to land a combination but Cynster avoids it well.
Cynster misses with a takedown

and Navarro moves into the clinch.

Navarro jumps guard and drags Cynster to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Navarro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cynster is one step ahead there.
Phillipe Navarro has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Navarro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cynster looking to pass the guard.

Cynster gets to his feet - Navarro follows without any prompting.
Navarro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Cynster gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Navarro to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Navarro looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Navarro avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro is stalling in the full guard.
Cynster trying to keep a closed guard but Navarro is proving a slippery customer.

Navarro gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro catches Cynster with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Syntra Cynster has been cut.

Navarro moves into the clinch.

Navarro jumps guard and drags Cynster to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Navarro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cynster trying to control the position from guard on top but Navarro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Navarro pulls Cynster in to control the position.

Navarro has his foot on Cynster's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cynster works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Navarro looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Cynster passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Navarro has one foot on Cynster's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Cynster shoots in but Navarro avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Syntra Cynster. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Navarro closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cynster's guard.
Cynster trying to keep a closed guard but Navarro is proving a slippery customer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Navarro 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phillipe Navarro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Navarro 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phillipe Navarro!