PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maverick Syndal (ranked 1584 p4p, 2994 weight class) and Cajetan Shashi (ranked 236 p4p, 396 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Syndal
vs
Shashi

180 cm
33
170
16 - 9 - 1

185 cm
36
169
13 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

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 16 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maverick Syndal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cajetan Shashi!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shashi goes for a double leg but Syndal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Syndal continues to drive forward.
Syndal feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Shashi throws a head kick that misses
and Syndal makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Shashi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Syndal looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Shashi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Syndal is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Syndal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shashi stands up.
Shashi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Syndal.
Syndal lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shashi dives in for a single leg takedown but Syndal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Good shot there by Syndal.
Shashi avoids a kick to the body.
Syndal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Syndal ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Shashi moves out of range as Syndal strikes.
Syndal fails with an attempt to clinch.
A lazy body kick from Shashi
and Syndal counters with a slapping leg kick.
Syndal attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Shashi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Syndal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shashi goes for a double leg but Syndal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Syndal continues to drive forward.
Maverick Syndal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cajetan Shashi.
Syndal lands with a good body shot.
Shashi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Shashi dodges the punch combination from Syndal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Syndal with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal throws a low kick but it's checked well by Shashi.
Shashi checks a low kick from Syndal.
Horrible takedown attempt by Shashi or perhaps it was just good defense by Syndal, which made it look bad.
Maverick Syndal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shashi lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Oooooh!!! Syndal has knocked Shashi down with a huge combo! Syndal steps away and waves a wobbly Shashi back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Shashi is rocked!
Syndal connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shashi is still on wobbly legs! Can Syndal finish him?

Shashi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shashi seems to have recovered his senses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syndal.
Shashi is trying to force a seperation but Syndal has the dominant position.
A short body shot lands from Syndal as the two fighters clinch.
Syndal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shashi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Syndal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Syndal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Shashis head.
Shashi misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syndal.
Syndal gets underhooks to prevent Shashi's takedown attempt.
Syndal misses with a punch on the inside.
Shashi stalling in the clinch but Syndal improves position.
Shashi has had enough of the clinch but Syndal keeps him there for the moment.
Shashi is trying to drag Syndal to the mat but Syndal just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shashi is trying to pull guard but Syndal turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Shashi has Syndal pushed against the cage.
Syndal scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Shashi looking for a takedown.
Shashi prevents a body shot from Syndal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shashi tries to pull guard but Syndal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Syndal pushes Shashi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shashi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Syndal stalling in the clinch.
Syndal working aggressively here.
Shashi tries to score a body lock takedown but Syndal shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

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

Syndal has taken the fight to the clinch.

Shashi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Syndal regains guard immediately.

Syndal manages to escape and get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syndal misses with an uppercut
letting Shashi counter with a right hand.
Syndal missing with a left hand there. Shashi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Syndal is looking to chop away at Shashi's legs.
Syndal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shashi was well out of range. Poor timing from Syndal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maverick Syndal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shashi with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Syndal counter with a right hand.
A low kick from Syndal misses
and Shashi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shashi needs to keep his hands up - Syndal had a free shot at his head there.
Shashi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Good work by Shashi as he checks the leg kick.
Shashi fails with the takedown.
Shashi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Syndal sprawls well. Syndal wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Shashi gets slowly back to his feet.
Maverick Syndal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cajetan Shashi.
Syndal throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shashi stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shashi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Syndal defends well and Shashi ends up having to push Syndal into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A head kick by Shashi misses
and Syndal counters with a nice leg kick.
Shashi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Syndal. Syndal obviously looking to wear him down.
Syndal scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shashi fails with a takedown attempt.
Syndal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body punch from Syndal.
Syndal throws a quick inside leg kick.
Maverick Syndal is winning the standup battle so far.
Shashi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Syndal scores with a nice right hand.
Syndal closes the distance looking to clinch
and Shashi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A solid leg kick lands there for Syndal.
Syndal throws a body shot but no joy.
Syndal connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shashi momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shashi is out of range.
Syndal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shashi.
Syndal thumps Shashi with a low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shashi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shashi tries to bum rush Syndal with a series of wild strikes but Syndal uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maverick Syndal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Syndal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Syndal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shashi.
Shashi tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Syndal lands with a cross.
Syndal gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Shashi moves out of range of the strikes.
Shashi with the counter takedown but Syndal avoids it easily.
Syndal throws a low kick, looking for Shashi's leg but Shashi calmly moves out of range.
Shashi goes for a double leg but Syndal avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Syndal continues to drive forward.

Syndal cracks Shashi with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Syndal has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Shashi to stand back up!
Shashi looks for a takedown but Syndal sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shashi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shashi is breathing heavily.
Syndal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice inside leg kick there by Syndal. That's going to slow Shashi down.

Shashi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shashi is trying to control. Syndal wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Syndal controlling the position well.
Syndal won't allow Shashi to pass to mount.
Shashi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Syndal wants to control but Shashi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Syndal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shashi can do to turn this around?
Syndal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Shashi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndal moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shashi postures up.
Shashi is looking to pass into half guard but Syndal pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Syndal is in guard.

Shashi looking for subs off his back but Syndal has passed one foot through into half guard.
Syndal not doing much here.
Syndal's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maverick Syndal dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shashi ducks right into an uppercut from Syndal.
Shashi checks a low kick from Syndal.
Shashi is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nice shot lands for Syndal.

Syndal clinches with his opponent.
Shashi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Shashi breaks from the clinch.
Shashi takes a swing at Syndal's ribcage but misses.
Syndal defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Shashi.

Syndal feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Shashi sprawling to the canvas! Shashi rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Syndal finish him?!
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!
Syndal slaps away a takedown attempt from Shashi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Syndal connects with a leg kick.
Syndal misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Syndal.
Shashi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Syndal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Shashi thinking.
Maverick Syndal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cajetan Shashi.
Shashi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A head kick misses from Shashi.
Shashi blocks a low kick nicely.
Shashi is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Syndal connects with a leg kick.
Syndal fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Shashi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Syndal scoring well with a low kick there.
Shashi misses with a body punch
enabling Syndal to counter with a crisp jab.
Syndal chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Syndal jabs Shashi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Syndal lands an uppercut, right on the button! Shashi tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Maverick Syndal!
An out of breath Maverick Syndal thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.