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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rubson Racker (ranked 6202 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Sykes (ranked 4699 p4p, 0 weight class). Sykes has chosen Bouncing Souls - Ole as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 189 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0 |
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175 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily |
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Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rubson Racker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Columbo Gatti.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Racker tries to close the distance and clinch but Sykes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sykes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sykes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Racker sneaks out the side door and pushes Sykes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Sykes blocks a head kick by Racker.
Racker throws a lazy uppercut
and Sykes counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Racker seems a little lost for a moment, as Sykes dominates the positioning.
Sykes advances to full mount.
Sykes controlling the pace for now.
Sykes goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Racker turns into him and now he's in Sykes's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes pulls Racker in close to prevent any damage.
Racker stands and steps away. Sykes gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sykes misses with a kick to the body.
Sykes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sykes is looking to take a break and control but Racker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Racker is trying to maintain the position but Sykes is very close to passing his half guard.
Ground and pound from Sykes.
Sykes is taking a breather. Racker says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Racker is trying to stand up here but Sykes is controlling him well.
Racker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Racker.
Sykes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Racker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Racker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sykes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Racker is breathing heavily.
Sykes gets to his feet. Racker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sykes gets a double leg takedown into Racker's guard.
Racker has momentary wrist control but Sykes slips an elbow through the middle.
Sykes trying to control but Racker is working from the bottom.
Sykes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes is in close to Racker's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sykes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sykes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sykes landing some decent shots from guard.
Racker keeping full guard, as Sykes tries to pass.
Sykes trying to control but Racker is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Riley Sykes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Racker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Racker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sykes feints and as Racker raises his hands in defense, Sykes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Racker wants to stand and escape but Sykes is having none of it.
Sykes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Racker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sykes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sykes controlling from the top position.
Sykes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Racker's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sykes trying to control the position from guard on top but Racker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sykes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Racker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Racker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Racker!
Racker advances nicely into full mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sykes tries to hold on but Racker pushes him away.
Racker misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sykes regains half guard.
Racker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sykes sees it coming and defends easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sykes can do anything to dispel that myth.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykes holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sykes manages to get to full guard.
Racker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sykes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Racker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes working for a triangle but Racker defends it easily.
Sykes is trying to keep Racker in close.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sykes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Racker did well to prevent Sykes getting side control.
Racker has hold of Sykes's hands but Sykes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Racker moves into full guard.
Racker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sykes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Racker will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sykes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Racker is working an open guard so Sykes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Racker lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sykes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Riley Sykes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Sykes sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sykes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've been told by Racker's head coaches at Cozad MMA New York that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Racker lands with a kick to the ribs.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sykes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sykes has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sykes there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Racker closes the distance but Sykes moves to the side
and Sykes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Racker fakes the leg kick and cracks Sykes in the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes shoots in and bounces Racker off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sykes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Racker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sykes lands a couple of digs.
Racker kicks Sykes off and gets to his feet.
Rubson Racker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sykes shoots in and bounces Racker off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Racker wants to get back to his feet but Sykes passes into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Racker is trying to get back to full guard.
Sykes is trying to control. Racker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sykes is working for a kimura but Racker is defending it quite comfortably.
Racker is refusing to be controlled, as Sykes sits in half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Racker manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sykes won't allow Racker to get back to his feet.
Racker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sykes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Racker is working hard here to advance position.
Sykes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Racker keeping moving, preventing Sykes from controlling successfully.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Racker wants to slow Sykes down by chopping away at his legs.
Sykes is looking for the big counter here.
Racker throws a head kick but Sykes moves out of range.
Racker throws a sloppy head kick and Sykes moves out of range easily.
Sykes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Racker on his heels. He'll look to pass Racker's guard now, I'm sure.
Racker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sykes is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Racker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sykes is controlling him.
Racker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sykes is one step ahead there.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rubson Racker.
I think Sykes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Riley Sykes!
Riley Sykes tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
34% |
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