PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mark Sibayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drown Syndrome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Sibayan has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Sibayan
vs
Syndrome

178 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

176 cm
20
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Sibayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Drown Syndrome!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sibayan shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Syndrome napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sibayan moves into full mount!
Sibayan fails to take his opponent's back.
Syndrome wants to hold on but Sibayan pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sibayan wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sibayan unloads with some shots from mount but Syndrome bucks and avoids them well.
Syndrome tries to hold on but Sibayan postures up.

Sibayan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Syndrome is surviving well by controlling Sibayan's body position as best he can.
Syndrome tries to hold on but Sibayan pushes him away.
Sibayan seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Syndrome is holding on tight.
Sibayan scoring with strikes but Syndrome is staying in there.

Sibayan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Syndrome is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibayan is trying to take his opponent's back.

Sibayan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Syndrome has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Syndrome is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sibayan works his way to his opponent's back.
Sibayan doesn't have the hooks in and Syndrome manages to turn into his guard.
Syndrome looks winded!
Sibayan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sibayan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Syndrome postures up in Sibayan's guard and throws a big left but Sibayan blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Syndrome trying to control the position from guard on top but Sibayan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Syndrome in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sibayan wants to stand up but Syndrome is controlling him.
Syndrome wants to control from the top but Sibayan keeps moving.
Syndrome trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Syndrome trying to control but Sibayan is working from the bottom.
Syndrome tries to free his leg and advance position but Sibayan is retaining full guard.

Syndrome postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sibayan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Syndrome, into his guard.
Sibayan wants to control from the top but Syndrome keeps moving.
Sibayan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Syndrome is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sibayan looking to pass the guard.
Syndrome is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sibayan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Syndrome's guard.
Sibayan working Syndrome over with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sibayan is looking to advance position but Syndrome won't allow it.
Sibayan is thwarting Syndrome's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sibayan dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sibayan moves out of range of the body kick.
Syndrome motions for Sibayan to come forward. Syndrome throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Sibayan dives in and scores a takedown into Syndrome's guard.
Sibayan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sibayan trying to control the position from guard on top but Syndrome is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sibayan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Syndrome on the ground.
Sibayan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Syndrome's guard.
Sibayan trying to mount his opponent but Syndrome defends it.
Syndrome wants to control but Sibayan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sibayan is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Syndrome manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Syndrome is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibayan passes to side control.
Sibayan trying to control the action but Syndrome is working from the bottom.
Sibayan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Syndrome is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sibayan tries to advance to mount but Syndrome denies him.
Sibayan works to advance to full mount. Syndrome defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndrome is wriggling around trying to escape.
Syndrome wants to control but Sibayan is having none of it.
Sibayan wants to take Syndrome's back but he can't do it this time.
Syndrome keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Syndrome tries to hold on but Sibayan pushes him away.
Sibayan is looking to work his way around to Syndrome's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Sibayan is working hard here to advance position.

Sibayan looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sibayan wants to take Syndrome's back here but Syndrome is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.

Sibayan looking to secure an arm triangle but Syndrome defends it well.
Sibayan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Syndrome is looking to escape.
Syndrome tries to lock up and control but Sibayan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Syndrome is desperately trying to improve his position but Sibayan has a good base and remains in mount.
Sibayan looking to control but Syndrome is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndrome has given up his back. Will we see Sibayan going for some submissions?
Sibayan somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Syndrome rolls, trying to escape but Sibayan keeps control of the position.

Sibayan is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Sibayan not allowing Syndrome to control his hands.

Sibayan looking for the choke from the back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Syndrome tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Syndrome tries to hold on but Sibayan postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Syndrome really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Sibayan dominated that second round.
That's time! Sibayan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Syndrome goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sibayan stuffs the takedown attempt from Syndrome. Syndrome gets slowly back to his feet.

Sibayan dives in and scores a takedown into Syndrome's guard.
Syndrome looking for a sweep. Not yet Syndrome, not yet.
Mark Sibayan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sibayan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Syndrome is keeping the position for now.
Sibayan passes Syndrome's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Sibayan wants to pass to mount but Syndrome is defending the position.
Syndrome takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sibayan looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Syndrome with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibayan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Sibayan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Syndrome defends it well.
Sibayan tries to pass to full mount but Syndrome defends it.
Syndrome wants to control but Sibayan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Syndrome avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sibayan.
Sibayan tries to pass to full mount but Syndrome defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndrome is looking to control Sibayan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Syndrome avoid being mounted?
Syndrome tries to get to full guard but Sibayan has control of the leg.

Sibayan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sibayan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Syndrome knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Syndrome trying to control from the bottom.
Sibayan prevents Syndrome from improving his position.
Sibayan passes to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan fails to advance to Syndrome's back.
Syndrome can't escape the position.
Syndrome tries to hold on but Sibayan postures up.
Sibayan breaks from Syndrome's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Sibayan has hold of Syndrome's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Syndrome manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sibayan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Syndrome hang on?

Sibayan with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibayan trying to control but Syndrome is having none of it.
Syndrome tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Syndrome has given up his back.

Sibayan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Syndrome has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Syndrome trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sibayan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Syndrome has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Drown Syndrome has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Sibayan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sibayan doesn't have the hooks in and Syndrome manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Sibayan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sibayan, 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Sibayan!
A relieved looking Mark Sibayan thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.