PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sanford Fanning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanford Fanning has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fanning
vs
Sykes

182 cm
22
216 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
222 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sanford Fanning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykes misses with the combination.

Fanning moves into the clinch successfully.
Sykes gets underhooks to prevent Fanning's takedown attempt.
Sykes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sykes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sykes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Fanning has Sykes pressed against the cage, preventing Sykes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sykes is trying to force a seperation but Fanning has the dominant position.
Fanning has Sykes pressed against the cage, preventing Sykes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Fanning manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sykes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fanning bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Fanning looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fanning stands up and beckons Sykes to join him on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes misses with a few strikes there.
Sykes stuffs the takedown attempt from Fanning. Fanning gets slowly back to his feet.
Sykes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fanning.
The crowd cheers as Sykes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Fanning doesn't seem phased though.
Sykes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fanning moves away.
Fanning has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Rape Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Sykes throws a right hand that Fanning ducks under and follows up with a left that Fanning also avoids with ease.
Fanning on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Fanning on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sykes misses with a two punch combination.
Fanning fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sanford Fanning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sykes thuds his right hand into Fanning's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fanning shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sykes as he avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sykes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fanning.
Sykes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Fanning fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sykes sprawls well initially but Fanning persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Fanning gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Fanning smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sykes throws out a powerful jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Sykes scores with a four punch combination!
Sykes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sykes misses with a double jab.
Fanning on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Sykes connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes lands the left hand.
Sykes has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Sykes cracks Fanning with a good jab.
Fanning on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Xavier Sykes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fanning fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sykes avoids it really well and circles away.
Sanford Fanning seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fanning is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Sykes leaves Fanning with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Fanning.

Fanning stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fanning shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sykes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Fanning decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sykes lands a glancing blow to the side of Fanning's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fanning goes for a double leg but Sykes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sykes continues to drive forward.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sykes, as that shot connected.

Oooooh!!! Sykes has knocked Fanning down with a huge combo! Sykes steps away and waves a wobbly Fanning back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Fanning is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fanning takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sykes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Sykes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sykes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Fanning shoots for a takedown but Sykes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fanning doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sykes slips a straight right by Fanning.
Sykes lunges at Fanning with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Fanning's hand.
Sykes throws a series of punches but Fanning avoids them all with ease.
Sykes tests Fanning's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sykes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sykes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice takedown defense from Sykes. No joy for Fanning on that attempt.
Sykes with the counter takedown but Fanning avoids it easily.
Sykes scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Oh Fanning is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Sykes slaps away a takedown attempt from Fanning, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Fanning seems to have got his legs back now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sanford Fanning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sykes throws a series of punches but Fanning avoids them all with ease.
Fanning will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sykes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sykes cracks Fanning with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Fanning. Fanning circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sykes scores with a sloppy right hand. Fanning should have avoided that one.
Fanning takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sykes lands with a right and another and another! Fanning is in big trouble! Sykes lands again and this time it's lights out for Fanning! A quality knockout there for Sykes.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Xavier Sykes!