PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Blake Synel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Gaines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blake Synel has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Synel
vs
Gaines

190 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blake Synel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bob Gaines!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Synel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Synel looks for a takedown but Gaines sprawls well.
Synel swats away the attempt to clinch by Gaines.
Synel slips under a jab.

Gaines moves into the clinch.

Gaines pulls guard effortlessly.

Gaines is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gaines looking to hit a scissor sweep but Synel is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaines has Synel pulled in close to control his posture.
Synel wants to control from the top but Gaines keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Synel won't allow Gaines to sweep him here.
Gaines looking to control.
Synel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Synel wants to pass the guard but Gaines is keeping the position.
Gaines has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gaines shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gaines showed some decent athleticism there.

Gaines seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Synel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gaines seems to be working for a kimura but Synel defends the submission attempt.
Gaines thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaines slows the pace down in half guard.
Synel trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Synel tries for a takedown but Gaines sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Synel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gaines sprawls well. Gaines wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Synel gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Synel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gaines fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.

Gaines feints and as Synel raises his hands in defense, Gaines changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gaines throws and elbow that misses. Synel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gaines's guard. Nice move by Synel!
Gaines is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Synel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gaines swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gaines looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaines working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Synel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Gaines dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gaines prevents a takedown attempt there.

Gaines wants the takedown. Synel is fighting it off but Gaines persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Synel's guard against the cage.
Gaines is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gaines trying to control the position from guard on top but Synel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gaines slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Synel wants to sweep here but Gaines controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaines wants to control from the top but Synel keeps moving.
Gaines 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.
Gaines wants to stand but Synel is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two 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.
Synel looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gaines is one step ahead there.
Gaines trying to control the position from guard on top but Synel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Gaines gets a takedown into half guard.
Gaines has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Synel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Well, if Gaines 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.
Gaines is looking to advance position but Synel won't allow it.
Gaines tries to stand but can't do so whilst Synel controls his leg.

That's four 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.
Gaines perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Synel wants to control but Gaines is keeping busy.
Synel on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaines trying to control the action but Synel is working from the bottom.
Synel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Gaines 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! 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.

Synel blocks a head kick by Gaines.
Synel blocks the body kick.
Synel fails to land the takedown.
Synel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gaines's waist but Gaines gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Synel off to one side.

Gaines moves into range and clinches up with Synel.

Gaines manages to break the clinch.
Gaines misses with an attempted mid kick.

Gaines rushes Synel and presses him up against the cage.
Gaines has Synel pushed against the cage.

Gaines ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gaines no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gaines looking to hit a scissor sweep but Synel is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Synel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gaines has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Synel has managed to get both his arms back between Gaines's legs - danger averted.
Synel wants to pass the guard but Gaines is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Synel wants to control from the top but Gaines keeps moving.
Gaines 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.
Synel looking to pass the guard.

That's two 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.

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

Gaines closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Gaines decides to return to a standing position.
Gaines fails with an attempt to clinch.
Synel moves in looking to clinch but Gaines pushes him off.
Synel closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gaines circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Synel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Synel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gaines counters with a nice double leg into side control. Synel won't be happy with that.
Synel tries to buck Gaines off but Gaines is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaines wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Synel, who protects the arm well.

Gaines stands up.

Gaines shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Gaines trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaines tries to stand but can't do so whilst Synel controls his leg.
Gaines stalling.
Blake Synel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bob Gaines is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Synel is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gaines pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Gaines comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gaines has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bob Gaines!