PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee McDaniel (ranked 6784 p4p, 668 weight class) and Joshua Syracuse (ranked 4833 p4p, 559 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

McDaniel
vs
Syracuse

190 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

213 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Pit Bull Development

Knockdown Clothes

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lee McDaniel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joshua Syracuse!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDaniel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Syracuse throws a series of punches but McDaniel avoids them all with ease.
McDaniel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Syracuse is fending him off so far but McDaniel persists. Nope, Syracuse circles away and we're back to standing.
Syracuse is looking to clinch but McDaniel is avoiding it.
As Syracuse looks to move away, McDaniel throws a big counter combo but Syracuse just gets out of the way.
McDaniel shoots for a double leg takedown but Syracuse sprawls well. He's pushed McDaniel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee McDaniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDaniel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by McDaniel misses
enabling Syracuse to counter with a crisp jab.
McDaniel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice uppercut there from Syracuse.

McDaniel gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Syracuse breaks the clinch.
McDaniel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Syracuse swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Syracuse throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDaniel is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Syracuse.
Syracuse is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McDaniel doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Syracuse counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. McDaniel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Syracuse won't allow McDaniel to sweep him here.
Syracuse trying to control but McDaniel is working from the bottom.
Syracuse throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Syracuse postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
McDaniel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Syracuse chips away with some ground and pound.
Syracuse wants to stand and escape but instead McDaniel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Syracuse working a defensive guard here.
Syracuse scores with a nice shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Syracuse has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes McDaniel off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Syracuse shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Syracuse showed some decent athleticism there.
Syracuse trying to control the action but McDaniel is working from the bottom.

McDaniel looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Syracuse escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Syracuse.
Syracuse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Joshua Syracuse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Syracuse avoids the head kick by McDaniel.
Syracuse throws a chopping leg kick but McDaniel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Syracuse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McDaniel pinned against the cage. McDaniel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McDaniel attempts a counter takedown but Syracuse avoids it well and moves away.
Syracuse looks winded!

Syracuse drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've been informed that Syracuse has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
McDaniel tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDaniel throws Syracuse to one side and escapes!
McDaniel swings widly with a right hand
and Syracuse counters with a nice body shot.
Syracuse keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A chopping leg kick lands by Syracuse.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McDaniel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Syracuse.
McDaniel half committed to a counter leg kick.
Syracuse lands with a right hand.
Syracuse misses the shot to the body.
McDaniel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Syracuse sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McDaniel somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Syracuse dominated that round.
That's time! McDaniel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McDaniel swats away the attempt to clinch by Syracuse.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Syracuse is defended easily by McDaniel.
Syracuse tries to clinch there but McDaniel circles away.

Syracuse rushes McDaniel and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McDaniel manages to break the clinch.
McDaniel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Syracuse manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDaniel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Syracuse closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McDaniel quickly recovers to half guard.

McDaniel has one foot on Syracuse's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Syracuse is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A lazy body kick from Syracuse

and McDaniel counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McDaniel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel pushes off an throws an elbow but Syracuse leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Syracuse looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

McDaniel breaks from the clinch.
McDaniel shoots for a double leg takedown but Syracuse sprawls well. He's pushed McDaniel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Syracuse throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDaniel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McDaniel changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
McDaniel dives in for a single leg takedown but Syracuse sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Joshua Syracuse seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McDaniel tries to land a body kick

and Syracuse counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

McDaniel pushes Syracuse off and scrambles back to his feet.
Syracuse changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Syracuse throws a jab but it's blocked by McDaniel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Syracuse darts in and clinches McDaniel up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

McDaniel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McDaniel.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee McDaniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDaniel shoots in looking for a takedown. Syracuse tries to sprawl out of it but McDaniel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Syracuse manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Good exchange - Syracuse coming out on top.
A combination from Syracuse does no damage.
McDaniel throws a big counter combination but Syracuse scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Syracuse fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syracuse is looking to clinch.
Syracuse is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDaniel.
Syracuse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McDaniel.
Syracuse replies with a solid counter kick to the body but McDaniel blocks it well.
McDaniel fails with a takedown attempt.
Syracuse lands with a kick to the ribs.
Syracuse has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Syracuse goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Syracuse wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syracuse fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and McDaniel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
McDaniel looks to land a combination but Syracuse avoids it well.
Syracuse throws a series of punches but McDaniel avoids them all with ease.
McDaniel throws a leg kick

and Syracuse counters with a nice double leg into guard.

McDaniel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Syracuse is working McDaniel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Syracuse postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joshua Syracuse will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Syracuse sizes up McDaniel with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Syracuse circles away from the clinch attempt.
Syracuse swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
McDaniel shoots in looking for a takedown. Syracuse tries to sprawl out of it but McDaniel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Syracuse manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McDaniel is defended easily by Syracuse.
Syracuse looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syracuse throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McDaniel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee McDaniel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McDaniel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Syracuse is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Syracuse moves into the clinch.

Syracuse's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McDaniel tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Syracuse feints a jab promting McDaniel to slip. Syracuse then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. McDaniel slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Syracuse stuffs the takedown attempt from McDaniel. McDaniel gets slowly back to his feet.
A little jabbing left from Syracuse on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Syracuse clinches up with McDaniel and pushes him back against the cage.

Syracuse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Syracuse forces McDaniel back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDaniel breaks from the clinch.
Syracuse has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McDaniel shoots for a takedown but Syracuse saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Syracuse cracks McDaniel with a right hand to the side of the head.
McDaniel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McDaniel tries to clinch there but Syracuse circles away.
Sloppy strikes from McDaniel. Those never looked like landing.
Despite the aggression on Syracuse's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Syracuse scores with a kick to the midsection.
Syracuse tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McDaniel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Syracuse closes the distance and clinches.

Syracuse breaks from the clinch.
A left and a right from Syracuse both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
McDaniel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Syracuse finds it's way round the side to connect with McDaniel's head.
McDaniel tries to clinch but Syracuse moves out of range.
Syracuse drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McDaniel defends it well.
McDaniel throws a leg kick but Syracuse sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Syracuse misses with a wild combination.
McDaniel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Syracuse avoids it really well and circles away.
McDaniel on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syracuse tries to clinch but McDaniel moves out of range.

McDaniel gets tackled into the cage by Syracuse. Syracuse maintains the clinch.
McDaniel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Syracuse escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McDaniel throws a body shot but no joy.

Syracuse takes the fight into the clinch.

Syracuse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
McDaniel wants to clinch up but Syracuse keeps it at a distance.
Lee McDaniel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joshua Syracuse is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McDaniel throws a lazy head kick
and Syracuse counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Syracuse comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Syracuse 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Syracuse!
In his post fight interview, Joshua Syracuse started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.