PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Sylvia (ranked 3609 p4p, 5993 weight class) and Ntokozo Mpungose (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Sylvia
vs
Mpungose

195 cm
25
214
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
201
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Sylvia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ntokozo Mpungose !
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sylvia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mpungose swivels and escapes.

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

Mpungose looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sylvia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mpungose controls Sylvia momentarily but Sylvia frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mpungose is on top in guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sylvia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sylvia with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mpungose tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sylvia with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mpungose is trying to control the position but Sylvia postures up.
Sylvia lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sylvia controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sylvia works over Mpungose with some ground and pound from guard.
Sylvia stands up over Mpungose , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sylvia has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sylvia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sylvia prevents Mpungose from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia connects with a couple of short punches.
Sylvia makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sylvia slips nicely into half guard.
Mpungose is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mpungose on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mpungose is trying to stand back up but Sylvia is controlling him
Sylvia is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sylvia slows the pace down in half guard.
Sylvia seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Mpungose for as long as he can get away with.
Sylvia winds up and cracks Mpungose with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sylvia in particular looking to stall.
Sylvia wants to pass the guard but Mpungose is defending well.
Sylvia looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mpungose with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Sylvia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sylvia continues to stall.
Sylvia working over Mpungose with some ground and pound. Mpungose looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sylvia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sylvia scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sylvia lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sylvia slips a nice elbow through Mpungose 's hands, connecting with Mpungose 's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sylvia connects with a nice short shot to Mpungose 's temple.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sylvia shoots in for a double leg but Mpungose sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mpungose drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Sylvia defends it well.
Mpungose fails to land the takedown.
Mpungose tries to clinch there but Sylvia circles away.
Sylvia shoots in for a takedown but Mpungose shows good takedown defense.
Sylvia fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tom Sylvia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mpungose throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mpungose displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sylvia.

Mpungose gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sylvia trying to control the position from guard on top but Mpungose is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mpungose had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sylvia defends it easily.
Mpungose looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sylvia is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mpungose can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sylvia controls the pace.
Sylvia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mpungose 's guard.
Sylvia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mpungose can do to turn this around?
Sylvia lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Still in half guard, Sylvia seems content to control.
Sylvia scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sylvia controlling the action here.
Sylvia lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose trying to hold on to Sylvia's head to control him but Sylvia postures up.
Sylvia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Mpungose is breathing heavily.
Sylvia looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Mpungose with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Well, if Sylvia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sylvia lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mpungose is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sylvia scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sylvia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Sylvia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mpungose tries to roll over but Sylvia keeps him under control.
Sylvia is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sylvia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sylvia working Mpungose over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia winds up and cracks Mpungose with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sylvia passes to side control.
Mpungose taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sylvia working the head with strikes.
Sylvia cracks Mpungose with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sylvia works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sylvia landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sylvia lands an elbow.

Mpungose is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big shot lands for Sylvia! That's hurt Mpungose ! Will he recover? Sylvia fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Sylvia!