PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Arkley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Sykloni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Sykloni's choice of entrance music: David Arkenstone - Carrickfergus. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arkley
vs
Sykloni

190 cm
29
221 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

188 cm
23
205 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Just Fight
Brute

$10

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Arkley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sami Sykloni!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Chad Campbell and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arkley throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sykloni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Arkley pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Arkley falls off balance throwing a combination
and Sykloni counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Arkley slips under a jab.
Arkley misses with a body kick.
Arkley takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Arkley misses with an uppercut
and Sykloni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Arkley throws a head kick but Sykloni moves out of range.
Sykloni throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arkley.
An inside leg kick from Sykloni misses.
Arkley misses with an uppercut
and Sykloni connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Arkley throws an overhand right that lands on Sykloni's shoulder, as Sykloni tries to avoid the shot.
Sykloni fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sykloni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arkley.
Sykloni connects with a leg kick. Arkley looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sykloni connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arkley lands a jab.
Sykloni walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Arkley checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Arkley rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sykloni cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Arkley takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Arkley rushes Sykloni and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sykloni misses with a punch to the body.

Sykloni ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sykloni no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Arkley wants to control from the top but Sykloni keeps moving.

Sykloni had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Arkley defends it easily.
Arkley wants to stand but Sykloni is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Arkley puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Arkley keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sykloni makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sykloni.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sykloni looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Arkley has picked Sykloni up and slammed him! Sykloni can't keep hold of the triangle and Arkley manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni manages to get back to half guard.
Sykloni trying to hold on to Arkley's head to control him but Arkley postures up.
Still in half guard, Arkley seems content to control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sykloni manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sykloni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Arkley forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sykloni with the active half guard here but Arkley passes nicely into side control.
Sykloni is trying to control Arkley's posture but Arkley avoids it.
Arkley has control of an arm but Sykloni manages to advance to Arkley's back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arkley has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sykloni dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sykloni scores with the left hand. Arkley knows he should have avoided that one.
Sykloni throws a hook but Arkley blocks it.
Arkley scoring well with a low kick there.
An inside leg kick lands from Sykloni.
Nice straight punches there by Arkley. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Arkley.

It looks like Sami Sykloni has been cut.
Arkley has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sykloni.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sykloni scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Sykloni thows a body shot but no joy.
Arkley clobbers Sykloni with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Arkley throws a jab but it's blocked by Sykloni.
Sykloni takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sykloni throws a leg kick which misses Arkley's front leg but catches the back leg as Arkley tries to avoid it.
Arkley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sykloni tries to work over Arkley's front leg with a kick but Arkley checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arkley closes the distance and clinches.
Arkley looking to throw knees to the head but Sykloni is blocking nicely.
Arkley misses with a knee strike.
Sykloni swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Arkley misses with a knee strike.
Arkley with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sykloni lands a hook that snaps the head of Arkley backwards.
Sykloni tries a body shot but Arkley blocks it.
Arkley throws a knee to the head but misses.
Arkley using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sykloni has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sykloni swings wildly with an uppercut but Arkley uses good head movement to avoid it.

Sykloni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Arkley.
Sykloni lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Arkley is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Arkley misses with a lunging right hand
and Sykloni counters with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arkley slips a jab and a cross from Sykloni.
Sykloni takes a swing at Arkley's ribcage but misses.
Arkley tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sykloni manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Arkley jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
That kick from Sykloni tenderised Arkley's leg. Arkley is trying to keep his angry face on.
A bone on bone clash there as Arkley blocks the leg kick.
A big right from Sykloni misses.
Sykloni ducks under a wild hook from Arkley.
Arkley looks to clinch
and Arkley takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sykloni lands a slapping body shot.
Jab, jab by Arkley - just one landing.
Sykloni steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arkley.
Arkley misses with a hook.
Arkley looks to throw the jab but Sykloni is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkley throws a series of punches but Sykloni moves out of range.
Arkley ducks under a wild hook from Sykloni.
Sykloni lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Arkley backs up against the cage.
Sami Sykloni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Arkley scoring well with a low kick there.
Arkley has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sykloni.
Sykloni fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sykloni avoids the head kick by Arkley.
Sykloni scores with a leg kick.
Sykloni lands a nice shot that snaps Arkley's head back.
Sykloni lands a glancing blow to the side of Arkley's head.
Sykloni delivers a nice body kick.
Sykloni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Arkley circles away quickly and effectively.
Sykloni fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykloni lands a slapping body shot.
A big right from Sykloni misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Arkley checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sykloni changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Arkley throws an overhand right that lands on Sykloni's shoulder, as Sykloni tries to avoid the shot.
Sykloni throws a body punch but Arkley moves out of range.
Sykloni scores with a shot to the body.
Sykloni lands a jab to Arkley's midsection.
Sykloni scores with a nice body kick.
Sykloni jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Arkley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arkley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arkley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sykloni.
Arkley throws a wild body kick that Sykloni sees coming a mile off.
Sykloni listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sykloni scores with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sykloni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sami Sykloni's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sykloni connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Arkley momentarily.
Arkley walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Arkley slips a jab and a cross from Sykloni.
Arkley blocks a head kick by Sykloni.
Arkley pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sykloni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Arkley.
Sykloni throws a jab when Arkley was well out of range.
Arkley pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Arkley takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sykloni connects with a nice looking jab.
Arkley drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sykloni uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Arkley.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sykloni in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Arkley throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sykloni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Arkley steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sykloni.
Sykloni takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Arkley - just one landing.
Arkley checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sykloni avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arkley checks a low kick from Sykloni.
Arkley avoids the head kick by Sykloni.
Arkley throws a hook but Sykloni blocks it.
Arkley throws an off balance right hand
and Sykloni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A good leg kick by Sykloni.
Arkley is looking to clinch.
Sykloni tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sykloni fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Arkley.
An inside leg kick lands from Sykloni.
Sykloni misses with a leg kick
and Arkley counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Arkley is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykloni dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Arkley. That did some damage!
James Arkley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arkley takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Arkley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sykloni throws out the jab.
Arkley takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Arkley takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sykloni misses with a low kick.
Arkley misses with an uppercut. Sykloni saw that one coming.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Arkley checks a leg kick.
Sykloni scores with the left hand. Arkley knows he should have avoided that one.
Arkley lands with a slapping head kick.
Sykloni throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sykloni jabs at Arkley's body.
Arkley misses with a looping left.
Arkley on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arkley takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni throws a good cross that connects.
A lazy left from Arkley finds it's target.
Arkley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sami Sykloni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Arkley throws out a loose jab but Sykloni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sykloni throws a head kick that Arkley semi-blocks.
Arkley looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Arkley fails with an attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Arkley misses its intended target.
Arkley throws the left hand but Sykloni avoids the punch easily.
Sykloni lands a slapping body shot.
Arkley takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Sykloni lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Arkley moves into the clinch successfully.
Arkley misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sykloni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arkley misses with a knee to the head.
Arkley tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sykloni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sykloni fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sykloni lands with a cross.
Sykloni connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Arkley's hands.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sykloni, as that shot connected.
Arkley chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sykloni can pounce on him.
Sykloni scores with a nice body kick.
Sykloni lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Arkley at a distance.
Arkley on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sykloni connects with a leg kick. Arkley looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sykloni scores with a jab to the jaw.
Arkley tries to clinch up but Sykloni circles away and keeps his distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Sykloni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sykloni 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Sykloni!
Post fight, an emotional Sami Sykloni said 'Well it happens, Bitch! '.