PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Syn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Bernardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Syn
vs
Bernardo

190 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

199 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Nemesis Cage Clothing (SALE)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 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 Hilo, Chris Syn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jose Bernardo!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernardo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Syn looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Bernardo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Syn sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bernardo somewhat.
Bernardo tries to work over Syn's front leg with a kick but Syn checks it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Bernardo - that will leave a mark!
Syn blocks a head kick by Bernardo.

Bernardo clinches.

Bernardo gets control of Syn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bernardo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Syn won't allow Bernardo to get back to his feet.
Syn stopping the sweep attempt from Bernardo.
Bernardo is looking to stand up but Syn isn't so interested in that idea.
Bernardo striking off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Syn is controlling him.

Bernardo looking for a guillotine here but Syn defends easily.
Bernardo wants to stand but Syn is controlling the position.

Syn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bernardo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Syn has managed to get both his arms back between Bernardo's legs - danger averted.
Bernardo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Syn working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bernardo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Syn.
Syn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Syn thows a big elbow that misses.
Syn won't allow Bernardo to sweep him here.
Bernardo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Syn.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bernardo instigates a clinch.
Syn is pressed up against the ropes. Bernardo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Syn down to the mat. Syn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Chris Syn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Bernardo.
Bernardo shoots in but no luck this time.
Bernardo throws a good cross that connects.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bernardo. Syn does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bernardo misses with a series of wild punches.
Syn throws a head kick but Bernardo moves out of range.
Bernardo misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Syn shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Syn was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Syn pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Syn cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bernardo is desperately trying to improve his position but Syn has a good base and remains in mount.
A nice elbow there by Syn.
Bernardo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Syn landing punches.
Bernardo is looking to improve his position but Syn isn't that keen on the idea.
Bernardo taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syn is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Bernardo gets back to half guard.
Syn drops an elbow to the side of Bernardo's head.

Bernardo actively working from the bottom here.
Bernardo is looking to improve his position.
Syn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bernardo's head.
Bernardo wants to improve his position but Syn is controlling well.
Syn looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bernardo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo tries to get to full guard but Syn has control of the leg.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bernardo shoots and misses

and Syn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bernardo won't be happy with that.
Bernardo tries to escape but Syn is in control.
Syn landing strikes.
Bernardo tries to escape but Syn is in control.
Syn is working Bernardo over with some ground and pound from side control.
Syn connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bernardo some visible discomfort.
Bernardo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Syn connects with a decent elbow.
Bernardo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Syn working the head with strikes.
Syn working the head and body with strikes.
Syn cracks Bernardo with a big right hand but Bernardo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo is looking for a sweep.
Bernardo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Syn's best efforts.
Bernardo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bernardo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Syn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Syn working the head and body with strikes.
Bernardo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Syn.
Bernardo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Syn.
Bernardo tries to kick Syn off but Syn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Syn scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Syn prevents Bernardo from improving his position.

Bernardo looking for submissions off his back.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Syn feints and as Bernardo raises his hands in defense, Syn changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Syn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bernardo is keeping the position for now.
Bernardo is looking to stand up but Syn isn't so interested in that idea.
Syn 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.

Bernardo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Syn defends it easily.
Syn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bernardo's head.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bernardo striking from his own guard.
Syn keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bernardo's head.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Syn postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bernardo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Syn manages to get himself to full guard.
Bernardo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Syn moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bernardo preventing the sweep.

Syn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bernardo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Syn is proving hard to escape from.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo trying to control but Syn is working from the bottom.
Bernardo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bernardo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Syn napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bernardo prevents Syn from escaping the position.
Syn is trying to improve his position.
Syn pushes Bernardo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Bernardo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bernardo wants to control but Syn is keeping him busy.

Syn sneaks out the side door and pushes Bernardo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Syn will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bernardo tries for a takedown but Syn circles away easily

so Syn counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Syn throws a strike but Bernardo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Syn keeping full guard, as Bernardo tries to pass.
Bernardo prevents Syn from getting back to his feet.
Syn keeping full guard, as Bernardo tries to pass.
Bernardo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Syn keeping moving, preventing Bernardo from controlling successfully.
Bernardo looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syn can't keep his opponent in guard - Bernardo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Bernardo seems to be working for a kimura but Syn defends the submission attempt.
Syn throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Syn is trying to stand up here but Bernardo is controlling him well.
Syn manages to get to full guard.
Bernardo prevents Syn from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bernardo trying to control but Syn is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Syn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bernardo stopping the sweep attempt from Syn.
Bernardo looking to pass the guard.
Syn is looking to stand back up but Bernardo counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Syn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo passes into side control, despite Syn's attempt to control the position.
Bernardo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Chris Syn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Syn taking a bit of punishment here - Bernardo scoring with strikes.
Bernardo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Syn struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bernardo just content to control the position.
Bernardo wants to control but Syn is keeping him busy.
Syn manages to get back to half guard.

Bernardo escapes and gets back to his feet.
Chris Syn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Syn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bernardo with a lazy takedown attempt

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

Bernardo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Syn is aware though and is defending well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Bernardo is looking for a triangle but Syn pushes his legs off easily.
Bernardo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Syn working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bernardo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Bernardo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Syn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bernardo wants to stand up but Syn is controlling him.
Syn works over Bernardo with some ground and pound from guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Syn working some strikes from top position.

Bernardo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bernardo is looking for a triangle but Syn pushes his legs off easily.
Syn with a flurry of punches that miss.
Syn working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Syn with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Syn lands a couple of elbows.
Syn lands a couple of digs.
Syn thows a big elbow that misses.
Bernardo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Bernardo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Syn distracts Bernardo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Syn is in close to Bernardo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bernardo looking for a sweep. Not yet Bernardo, not yet.
Syn stands up over Bernardo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Syn missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bernardo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Syn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bernardo tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bernardo throws a sloppy head kick

and Syn counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bernardo's guard now.
Bernardo throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Syn lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bernardo has momentary wrist control but Syn slips an elbow through the middle.
Syn postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bernardo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Syn stopping the sweep attempt from Bernardo.

Bernardo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Syn landing some decent shots from guard.
Bernardo keeping full guard, as Syn tries to pass.
Syn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bernardo throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Syn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Syn is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Syn is looking to work some ground and pound but Bernardo has wrist control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Syn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Syn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight for Chris Syn!
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight for Chris Syn!
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight for Chris Syn!

Chris Syn wins by unanimous decision!