PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Rabago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aaron Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rabago
vs
Sykes

190 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Rabago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rabago circles away.
Rabago is looking to clinch but Sykes is avoiding it.
Rabago stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rabago wants it to stay on the feet.
Sykes circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rabago moves into range and clinches up with Sykes.
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
Rabago lands an elbow just above Sykes 's eye.
Rabago trying to land knees to the body.
Sykes blocks an elbow strike.

Sykes jumps into guard, dragging Rabago to the mat.
Rabago wanted to stand there but Sykes had control of the position.
Sykes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rabago is controlling him.
Rabago has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sykes's guard.
Rabago won't allow Sykes to get back to his feet.
Rabago wanted to stand there but Sykes had control of the position.
Rabago won't allow Sykes to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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

Rabago has closed the distance and engaged Sykes in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rabago comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rabago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ryan Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Sykes.
Sykes avoiding damage as Rabago throws knees to the body.
Rabago lands a good knee to the midsection. Sykes won't want to take too many of those.
Rabago is breathing heavily.
Sykes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rabago lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Rabago has Sykes pressed against the cage, preventing Sykes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sykes managing to block the knees to the body from Rabago.
Rabago missing with knees to the body.
Sykes dodges an elbow strike from Rabago.
Sykes is trying to maintain a safe position but Rabago gets an underhook and turns Sykes into the cage.
Rabago lands an elbow just above Sykes 's eye.
Rabago working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rabago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
Sykes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rabago avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sykes blocks the elbow strike.
Rabago lands a knee to the body.
Sykes blocks an elbow strike.
Rabago throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes is trying to stall.
Sykes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rabago pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rabago is looking to clinch but Sykes is avoiding it.
Sykes looks for a takedown but Rabago sprawls well.

Rabago closes the distance and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rabago.
Rabago with a knee to the head.

Sykes jumps guard.
Rabago wants to get up but he can't break Sykes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sykes wants to get back to his feet but Rabago is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rabago trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sykes's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabago trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Sykes pushes Rabago off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sykes shoots in looking for a takedown. Rabago tries to sprawl out of it but Sykes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rabago manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sykes wants to clinch.
Rabago clinches but Sykes breaks the clinch

and Sykes counters by clinching up.
Rabago landing knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Rabago dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sykes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rabago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rabago tries to close the distance and clinch but Sykes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rabago clinches with his opponent.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rabago obliges.
Rabago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sykes.
Rabago is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sykes is defending well for now.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rabago just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sykes's brow.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rabago obliges.
Rabago misses with an elbow over the top.
Rabago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sykes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rabago blocks an elbow strike.
Sykes slows down the pace here.
Rabago tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sykes avoids it.
A short left from Sykes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sykes tries to pull guard but Rabago won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rabago.
Rabago prevents the takedown attempt.
Rabago trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabago pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Sykes gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rabago regains guard.
Rabago is looking to stand up but Sykes isn't so interested in that idea.
Sykes landing with the ground and pound.

Sykes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sykes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rabago really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sykes tries to stand but Rabago is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rabago pushes Sykes off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Sykes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ryan Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Sykes.

Rabago drives through and clinches with Sykes against the cage.
Rabago comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rabago.
Sykes has Rabago pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rabago manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sykes wants a takedown.
Sykes is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rabago gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sykes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rabago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sykes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rabago gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sykes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Rabago.
Rabago prevents the takedown attempt.
Rabago creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sykes's defenses.
Rabago is pressed up against the cage. Sykes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rabago down to the mat. Rabago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Rabago pushes Sykes up against the cage in a clinch.
Rabago throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sykes blocks it with crossed arms.
Sykes looking for a takedown.
Rabago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sykes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sykes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rabago obliges.
Rabago pushes Sykes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sykes wants a takedown.
Rabago with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sykes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rabago comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rabago putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sykes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Sykes pulls guard successfully.
Rabago wanted to stand there but Sykes had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rabago decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Rabago has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sykes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
Sykes looking for a takedown.
Rabago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sykes.
Rabago is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sykes is defending well for now.
Sykes goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rabago prevents it.
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Rabago dominated that second round.
That's time! 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.

Rabago keeps the fight on the outside.
Sykes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rabago as he avoids it easily.
Rabago doesn't manage to clinch there - Sykes circles away.
Rabago tries to close the distance and clinch but Sykes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sykes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rabago's waist but Rabago gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sykes off to one side.

Rabago moves into the clinch successfully.
Rabago is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sykes takes an elbow to the temple.
Rabago landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rabago lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rabago obliges.
Rabago is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sykes is defending well for now.
Sykes tries to score a body lock takedown but Rabago shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ryan Rabago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Sykes.
Rabago lands a hook that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.

Sykes pulls Rabago into guard.
Rabago would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rabago stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes shoots in for a takedown but Rabago shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rabago gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rabago comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Sykes pulls Rabago into guard.
Rabago won't allow Sykes to get back to his feet.
Rabago trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sykes's guard.

Sykes has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rabago off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabago fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sykes fails with a takedown attempt.

Rabago has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rabago lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rabago misses with a punch to the body.
Sykes avoiding damage as Rabago throws knees to the body.
Sykes managing to block the knees to the body from Rabago.
Sykes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rabago lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
Sykes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rabago gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rabago prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rabago landing knees to the body.
Rabago connects with a knee to the head.
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
Sykes blocks an elbow strike.
Aaron Sykes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rabago tries to land knees in the clinch but Sykes avoids the damage to the body.
Sykes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rabago lands a good knee to the midsection. Sykes won't want to take too many of those.
Rabago missing with knees to the body.
Sykes tries to pull guard but Rabago holds him up against the cage and eventually Sykes drops back down to his feet.
Sykes trying to land knees to the body.
Sykes is trying to force a seperation but Rabago has the dominant position.
Rabago misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sykes.
Sykes looking for a takedown.
Sykes's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Sykes gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rabago uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sykes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rabago moves into the clinch successfully.
Rabago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rabago.
Rabago gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sykes.
Rabago lands a good knee to the midsection. Sykes won't want to take too many of those.
Sykes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rabago.
Rabago unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sykes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rabago trying to land knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sykes.
Rabago lands an elbow that stopped Sykes in his tracks for a moment.
Sykes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rabago lands a damaging elbow.
Rabago creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sykes's defenses.
Rabago landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sykes takes a knee to the side of the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Rabago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rabago, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Rabago!