PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benji Cheshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franky Syn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Syn comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Truth by Alexander kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cheshire
vs
Syn

189 cm
26
220 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

190 cm
25
212 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benji Cheshire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franky Syn!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Syn moves into the clinch.
Syn working aggressively here.
Syn's coach down at All Around Training was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Syn's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Syn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Syn misses with the head strike.
Cheshire blocking some punches.
Cheshire lands an elbow that stopped Syn in his tracks for a moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syn.
Cheshire misses with a hook from the clinch.
Syn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Syn lands with a light punch inside.
Cheshire misses with a knee to the head.
Syn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short right from Syn.

Syn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cheshire wants to clinch.
Syn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Syn scores with a head kick. Cheshire tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Syn pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Syn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cheshire.
Syn looks to land a body kick but Cheshire moved away.

Cheshire forces Syn back against the cage and clinches.

Syn manages to break the clinch.
A cross from Syn lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Syn getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Syn keeps the fight on the outside.
Cheshire avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Syn misses with a hook
and Cheshire counters with a left to the body.
Syn keeps the fight on the outside.
Syn throws a leg kick but Cheshire sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cheshire misses with a body kick.
Cheshire slips a straight right by Syn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire is looking to clinch but Syn is avoiding it.

Cheshire clinches with his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Syn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cheshire just leaning against Syn, taking a breather.
Syn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Syn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Syn misses with a punch on the inside.
Cheshire has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Syn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cheshire stalling the fight.
Syn blocks an elbow strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cheshire.
Cheshire lands a damaging elbow.
Syn lands a body shot.
Syn misses with some punches.

Syn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cheshire takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire tries to clinch up but Syn circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Syn manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Franky Syn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Syn dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cheshire. That did some damage!
Syn swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Cheshire counters with a takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Syn is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Syn seems a little lost for a moment, as Cheshire dominates the positioning.
Syn is not content to let Cheshire control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syn trying to control but Cheshire flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cheshire trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Cheshire wants to control the position but Syn frees himself and scrambles - Cheshire manages to regain control in side control.
Cheshire takes a little break here. Syn wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Syn is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Franky Syn will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cheshire throws a push kick but Syn slaps the foot to one side.
Syn scores with a leg kick.
Syn cracks Cheshire with an open hand slap.
Syn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Syn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cheshire tries to clinch up but Syn circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheshire takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Cheshire doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Cheshire fakes the leg kick and cracks Syn in the body.
Syn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cheshire tries to clinch there but Syn circles away.
Syn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cheshire has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Syn finds it's way round the side to connect with Cheshire's head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cheshire fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Franky Syn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cheshire is looking to clinch.
Syn swats away the attempt to clinch by Cheshire.
Syn misses with a hook.
Syn misses with a right hand
and Cheshire counters with a body kick that stops Syn in his tracks momentarily.
Cheshire tries to clinch but Syn is having none of it.
Syn cracks the inside of Cheshire's front leg.
Cheshire is looking to clinch.
Syn lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cheshire explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Syn wants to clinch up but Cheshire keeps it at a distance.
Cheshire checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Syn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Syn wants to break free but Cheshire has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syn.
With the fighters up against the cage, Cheshire throws an elbow but misses.
Cheshire tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cheshire lands a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cheshire misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Syn.
Syn tries to break free but Cheshire pushes him back against the cage.
Cheshire connects with a knee to the head.
Cheshire takes a shot to the head.
Syn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cheshire backwards.
Syn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cheshire throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cheshire looking to throw knees to the head but Syn is blocking nicely.
Syn has a couple of punches blocked by Cheshire.
Cheshire blocks a body shot from Syn.
Syn cracks Cheshire with a nice body shot.
Cheshire throws an elbow that misses.
Syn throws a punch but it's blocked by Cheshire.
Franky Syn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syn working aggressively here.
Syn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cheshire blocks an uppercut.
Syn scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cheshire blocking some punches.
Cheshire goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Syn scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Syn fails to land.
Cheshire misses with some punches.
Syn working aggressively here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Cheshire throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Syn wants to get back to striking at distance but Cheshire won't allow it.
Cheshire misses with a knee strike.
Cheshire trying to control the position but instead, Syn has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cheshire into the cage.
Cheshire wants a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Cheshire blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Syn - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Syn looking to slow down the pace here.
Syn cracks Cheshire with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Syn stalling in the clinch.
Syn lands a nice uppercut.
Syn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Syn avoids a wild elbow strike from Cheshire.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A short left from Syn.
Syn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Syn misses with a punch to the body.
Cheshire lands a left hand that snaps the head of Syn backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franky Syn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Cheshire's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A looping hook to the body misses from Syn. Cheshire does a little dance to reset his feet.
A combination from Syn does no damage.
Franky Syn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cheshire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Syn feints a jab promting Cheshire to slip. Syn then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Cheshire slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Syn lands with a good body shot.
Cheshire gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Cheshire fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cheshire blocks a jab.
Syn leaves Cheshire with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Syn bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cheshire's head.
Cheshire tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Syn is able to avoid easily.

Cheshire fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Syn sprawls well initially but Cheshire persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cheshire performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syn is staying active underneath Cheshire, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cheshire looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Syn is trying to maintain the position but Cheshire is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Benji Cheshire just wasn't active enough.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Syn, right into the meat.
Cheshire tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Cheshire takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Syn keeps the fight on the outside.
Syn throws the kick towards the body but Cheshire avoids it.
Syn throws a right hand that Cheshire ducks under and follows up with a left that Cheshire also avoids with ease.
Syn moves in looking to clinch but Cheshire pushes him off.
Cheshire ducks under a wild hook from Syn.
Cheshire walks into a straight right hand from Syn.
Syn misses with a low kick as Cheshire jumps back.

Cheshire drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cheshire stops Syn from standing up.
Cheshire showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Cheshire seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Syn for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire passes Syn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Syn keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Cheshire perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Cheshire has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Benji Cheshire.
Syn throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Syn lands a jab to the head.
Cheshire shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Syn defends it nicely.
Cheshire throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch but Syn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cheshire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Syn closes the distance and clinches.
Syn lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cheshire backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Benji Cheshire did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cheshire looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Syn takes a swing at Cheshire's ribcage but misses.
Cheshire tries to clinch but Syn moves out of range.
Syn misses with an uppercut. Cheshire saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Syn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Syn scores with a nice head shot.
Syn wants to clinch.
Syn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A nice inside leg kick there by Syn. That's going to slow Cheshire down.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Syn paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Cheshire closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Syn quickly recovers to half guard.
Benji Cheshire overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheshire is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cheshire wants to take a breather but Syn is having none of it.
Cheshire takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cheshire wants to control but Syn is keeping him busy.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Benji Cheshire wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cheshire moves to clinch but Syn breaks away
and Syn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Syn bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Cheshire's head.
Cheshire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Syn.
Cheshire delivers a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syn pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Cheshire back to the cage. Syn follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch but Syn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cheshire throws a half hearted mid kick.
Syn misses with a hook. Cheshire ducked under it nicely.
Cheshire is looking to clinch.
Cheshire wants to clinch
and Syn counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syn is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Cheshire gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Syn is trying to break the clinch but Cheshire has him pressed against the cage.
Cheshire lands an elbow inside that Syn shrugs off.
Cheshire putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Syn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Syn is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cheshire.
Cheshire scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Cheshire to work.
Cheshire comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cheshire tries for a takedown. No joy.

Syn breaks from the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Syn pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cheshire tries to clinch up but Syn circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheshire tries to clinch but Syn moves out of range.
Syn throws an overhand right that lands on Cheshire's shoulder, as Cheshire tries to avoid the shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cheshire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Syn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syn misses with a double jab.
Syn looks to score with a jab to the body but Cheshire is just out of range.
Cheshire defending well as Syn loads up on a big left hand.
A cross from Syn lands.

Cheshire rushes Syn and presses him up against the cage.
Syn wants to stall.
Syn wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cheshire misses with a knee to the head.
Cheshire blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cheshire is pushing Syn up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cheshire lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Franky Syn has been cut.
A short uppercut from Syn.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Syn misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Benji Cheshire will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Franky Syn's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Cheshire darts in looking for a takedown but Syn gets double underhooks and turns Cheshire into the cage.
Syn lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Syn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cheshire backwards.
Syn throws a head punch that misses.
Syn leaning his opponent against the cage.
Cheshire scores with a shoulder strike.

Cheshire works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Cheshire is stalling in the full guard.
Cheshire wants to control from the top but Syn keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheshire stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Syn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cheshire is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Benji Cheshire.
Syn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Syn as Cheshire shoots in.
Syn feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cheshire's calf.
Syn throws out a powerful jab.
Cheshire tries to clinch up but Syn circles away and keeps his distance.
Syn moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Syn throws a front kick aimed at Cheshire's knee but Cheshire avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire tries to clinch up.
Cheshire fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benji Cheshire. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Syn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cheshire shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Syn as he avoids it easily.
Good exchange - Syn coming out on top.
Cheshire shoots in but no luck this time.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Syn thuds his right hand into Cheshire's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Syn, right into the meat.
Cheshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Syn circles away.
Cheshire is looking to clinch.
A jab from Syn does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire tries to clinch but Syn is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cheshire has a takedown stuffed.
Cheshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Syn circles away.
Syn wants to slow Cheshire down by chopping away at his legs.
Cheshire tries to clinch up but Syn circles away and keeps his distance.
Cheshire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Cheshire moves in looking to clinch but Syn pushes him off.
A lazy body kick from Cheshire
and Syn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Syn connects with a solid leg kick.
Syn throws a good cross that connects.
Cheshire circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syn swats away the attempt to clinch by Cheshire.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cheshire has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Syn.
An inside leg kick lands from Syn.
Danga de danga de dang - Syn scores with a four punch combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cheshire has Syn up against the cage in a clinch.
Cheshire throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Syn lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cheshire.
Cheshire controlling the action here for a moment.
Syn swings wildly with an uppercut but Cheshire uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franky Syn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Syn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Franky Syn!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Franky Syn!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Franky Syn!

Franky Syn wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Franky Syn thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.