PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Cyde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Mitchell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitchell is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: This Fire Burns - Killswitch Engage. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cyde
vs
Mitchell

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Cyde!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tyson Mitchell!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Anthony Taglia and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mitchell throws a head kick that half lands.
Mitchell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mitchell lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Cyde.
Mitchell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mitchell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cyde shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mitchell defends it nicely.
Mitchell closes the distance looking to clinch

and Cyde counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cyde.
Cyde seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mitchell can do anything to dispel that myth.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cyde accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mitchell looking to control.

Cyde gets to his feet - Mitchell follows without any prompting.
Cyde shoots in for a takedown but Mitchell shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Cyde. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mitchell takes the fight into the clinch.
Mitchell working hard to break the clinch.
Mitchell misses with a knee to the head.
Mitchell tries a knee to the head but Cyde blocks it.
Mitchell tries to land a knee to the head but Cyde blocks with his arms.

Cyde breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cyde darts in trying to clinch
and Mitchell counters with a stiff right hand.
Cyde misses with a head kick.
Mitchell tries to clinch there but Cyde circles away.
Cyde shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mitchell pinned against the cage. Mitchell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mitchell closes the distance but Cyde moves to the side
and Cyde counters with a three punch combo that has Mitchell backing up. Mitchell nods at Cyde to acknowledge the strikes.
Cyde tries to clinch up

and Mitchell counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mitchell is looking to break free of the clinch but Cyde has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cyde has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cyde blocks an elbow strike from Mitchell.
Cyde prevents Mitchell from breaking the clinch.
Mitchell looking to throw knees to the head but Cyde is blocking nicely.
Mitchell wants to stall.
Cyde wants to break free but Mitchell has control.

Mitchell breaks the clinch.
Mitchell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cyde.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mitchell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cyde misses with a takedown
and Mitchell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mitchell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Mitchell moves into the clinch successfully.
Cyde prevents Mitchell from breaking the clinch.
Mitchell lands an elbow inside.
Mitchell is trying to force a seperation but Cyde has the dominant position.
Cyde managing to block the knees to the body from Mitchell.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cyde tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mitchell avoids it.

Mitchell breaks from the clinch.
Mitchell wants to clinch up but Cyde keeps it at a distance.
A head kick misses from Mitchell.
Mitchell pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Cyde closes the distance and clinches.
Mitchell crunches a lovely knee into Cyde's ribcage.

Mitchell breaks the clinch.
A head kick by Cyde misses
and Mitchell counters with a one-two to the body.
Cyde fails with a takedown attempt.
Cyde is breathing heavily.
Mitchell throws a head kick that Cyde semi-blocks.
Cyde changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mitchell tries to avoid it but Cyde manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mitchell to the ground. Mitchell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mitchell throws a head kick but Cyde moves out of range.
Cyde on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mitchell. Mitchell obviously looking to wear him down.
Mitchell fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Cyde cracks Mitchell with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Mitchell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cyde, pushing him back against the cage.
Mitchell tries a knee to the head but Cyde blocks it.
Cyde keeps control of Mitchell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mitchell keeps control of Cyde as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Mitchell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cyde fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tyson Mitchell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mitchell moves in looking to clinch but Cyde pushes him off.
Cyde looks to clinch

and Mitchell moves into the clinch.
Mitchell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cyde avoids it.
Nice elbow from Mitchell.
Mitchell is trying to break the clinch but Cyde has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mitchell working hard to break the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mitchell as Cyde tries to tie him up.
Mitchell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cyde blocks it with crossed arms.
Mitchell using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cyde is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tyson Mitchell will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cyde's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cyde swats away the attempt to clinch by Mitchell.

Mitchell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cyde, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Mitchell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cyde tries to score a body lock takedown but Mitchell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cyde keeps control of Mitchell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cyde keeps control of Mitchell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cyde has Mitchell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mitchell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Mitchell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
James Cyde is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Mitchell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mitchell misses with a combination

and Cyde counters by moving into the clinch.

Mitchell breaks from the clinch.
Cyde swats away the attempt to clinch by Mitchell.
No joy there for Cyde, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cyde pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cyde doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mitchell counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Cyde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitchell is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cyde is defending well for now.
Mitchell leaning against his opponent.

Mitchell manages to break the clinch.
Mitchell tries to clinch but Cyde is having none of it.
Tyson Mitchell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cyde slips a jab from Mitchell.
Mitchell tries to clinch but Cyde moves away

and Cyde counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mitchell!
Mitchell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mitchell wants to hold on but Cyde pushes him away.

Cyde goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mitchell turns into him and now he's in Cyde's guard.
Cyde is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cyde looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mitchell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cyde. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mitchell tries to free his leg and advance position but Cyde is retaining full guard.
Cyde throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cyde looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mitchell tries to stand but Cyde is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mitchell stands and steps away. Cyde gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Mitchell moves into the clinch.
Mitchell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cyde has him pressed against the cage.
Mitchell pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Cyde's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cyde keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mitchell's efforts to push away.

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

Mitchell drives through and clinches with Cyde against the cage.

Mitchell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mitchell throws a head kick but Cyde moves out of range.
Mitchell throws the left hand but Cyde avoids the punch easily.
Mitchell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cyde paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cyde avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mitchell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cyde, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell misses with a knee strike.
Cyde fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Mitchell gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cyde.
Mitchell lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mitchell prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cyde can't get the takedown.

Mitchell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cyde misses with a wild combination.

Mitchell instigates a clinch.

Mitchell breaks the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Mitchell.

Mitchell pushes Cyde up against the cage in a clinch.
Cyde blocks the elbow strike.
A frustrated look appears on Mitchell's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Mitchell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Cyde doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mitchell counters with a nice uppercut.
Mitchell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cyde fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mitchell avoids it really well and circles away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mitchell!
Cyde avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mitchell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mitchell tries to clinch but Cyde moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cyde goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mitchell throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cyde throws a head kick that misses.

Mitchell rushes Cyde and presses him up against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Mitchell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cyde pushes Mitchell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mitchell is struggling to control the position.
Cyde drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mitchell pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Cyde. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mitchell tries to clinch
and Cyde counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cyde fails with a takedown attempt.
Mitchell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cyde swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mitchell throws a series of punches but Cyde avoids them all with ease.
Mitchell tries a head kick but it misses.
Mitchell tries to clinch there but Cyde circles away.
Cyde clinches but Mitchell breaks the clinch
and Mitchell counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cyde keeps the fight on the outside.

Mitchell darts in and clinches Cyde up against the cage.
Mitchell wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The referee calls for Mitchell to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cyde is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mitchell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Cyde.
Mitchell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mitchell throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mitchell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mitchell lands a nice knee to the body.
Mitchell wants to break the clinch but can't.

Cyde ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cyde no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cyde looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mitchell would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cyde keeping moving, preventing Mitchell from controlling successfully.
Mitchell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitchell wants to stand but Cyde is controlling his posture from full guard.
Cyde bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mitchell's guard.
Mitchell looking for a sweep. Not yet Mitchell, not yet.
Mitchell keeping moving, preventing Cyde from controlling successfully.
Cyde pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mitchell is keeping the position for now.
Tyson Mitchell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Mitchell wants to sweep but no luck.
Mitchell is trying to control the position but Cyde postures up.
Mitchell keeping moving, preventing Cyde from controlling successfully.
Mitchell trying to keep a closed guard but Cyde is proving a slippery customer.
Cyde sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mitchell's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cyde is looking to advance position but Mitchell won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cyde avoids the head kick by Mitchell.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tyson Mitchell.
I've got Mitchell winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyson Mitchell!