PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cole River (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Sykloni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). River comes to the cage accompanied by Creedence Clearwater Revival - Born On The Bayou. Sykloni is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Within Temptation - Whole World Is Watching. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

River
vs
Sykloni

188 cm
33
175 lbs
33 - 9 - 1

188 cm
35
184 lbs
28 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

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 33 - 9 - 1, fighting out of New York, Cole River!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sami Sykloni!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykloni avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Sykloni now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
River is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sykloni throws a half hearted mid kick.
River turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sykloni throws an overhand right that lands on River's shoulder, as River tries to avoid the shot.
River is looking to counter the offense by Sykloni and move into the clinch.
River fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sykloni looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
River steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sykloni.
River slips a straight right by Sykloni.
River looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A chopping leg kick lands by River.
A slapping leg kick lands for River.
Sykloni connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sykloni has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sykloni wants to clinch up but River keeps it at a distance.
River fails in his attempt to clinch.
River fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sykloni looks to throw the jab but River is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sykloni tries to keep at a distance but River has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sykloni misses with a shot to the kidneys.

River manages to break the clinch.
River looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
River keeps Sykloni at a distance using the push kick.
Sykloni throws a leg kick
and River counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sykloni circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Sykloni counter with a right hand.
River has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sykloni finds it's way round the side to connect with River's head.
River connects with a solid leg kick.
Sykloni moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sykloni staying out of range there.
River throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sykloni keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River throws a combination. Sykloni tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River tries to clinch but Sykloni is having none of it.
Sykloni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
River tries to land a body kick
and Sykloni makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
River lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sykloni throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
No luck for Sykloni with that takedown attempt.
Cole River is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
River misses with a double jab.
River throws a leg kick
and Sykloni counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sykloni is on the wrong end of a nice combination from River.

Sykloni changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. River looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
River is trying to control Sykloni's posture but Sykloni avoids it.
River being controlled for a moment.
River is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni happy to just control the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sykloni trying to control the action but River is working from the bottom.
Sykloni moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
River tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Sykloni in side control, just content to control the action for now.
River is looking to reverse the position.
River controls the position for a moment.
Sykloni is looking to take a break and control but River is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sykloni taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole River dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sykloni shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sykloni showed some decent athleticism there.
Sykloni is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
River wants to get back to his feet.
River is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
River tries to get to full guard but Sykloni has control of the leg.
River desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni stalling.
Sykloni has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sykloni controlling the position easily from mount.
River is trying to escape the mount.
Sykloni tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
River is trying to escape the mount.
Sykloni looking to control but River is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
River is looking to get to half guard.
River wants to hold on but Sykloni pushes him away.
Sykloni controlling from mount.
River wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Sykloni.
Sykloni landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sykloni scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni controlling the position easily from mount.
River tries to hold on but Sykloni postures up.
The referee warns River that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
River wants to hold on but Sykloni pushes him away.
Sykloni lands a big shot there that rocks River but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Sykloni working away from the top, dropping strikes.
River tries to reverse the position but Sykloni maintains control.
Sykloni controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River is squirming around, avoiding Sykloni's attempts to control the action.
Sykloni won't let River get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
River keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
River wants to control but Sykloni is having none of it.
Sykloni tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
River is in all sorts of trouble here.
River tries to hold on but Sykloni postures up.
Sykloni content just to control the position here.
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.
That's time! River's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sykloni shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
River pushes Sykloni away with a front kick.
A shot to the body from Sykloni misses
and River counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sykloni's knee momentarily.
Sykloni throws a hook but River avoids it easily.
Sykloni avoids a kick to the body.
Sykloni throws a nice outside leg kick.
River dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
River fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sykloni.
Sykloni throws a leg kick that is checked
and River counters with a lovely straight right hand!
River looks for the body kick but Sykloni saw that one coming.
Sykloni scores with a shot to the body.
Sykloni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
River pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sykloni is out of range and River settles back down.
Sykloni bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of River's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sykloni misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sykloni pivots, looking for a leg kick but River is out of range and Sykloni settles back down.
River misses with a double jab
and Sykloni makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Sykloni.
Sykloni defending well as River loads up on a big left hand.
Sykloni connects with a body shot that sends River's belly button to the back.
A jab from River misses.
River comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sykloni takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
River misses with a low kick.
River walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sykloni checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sykloni looks like he wants to counter punch here.
River tries a head kick but it misses.
Sykloni lands a jab to the head.
Sykloni has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni misses with a body shot.
It looked like River wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
River throws a body punch but Sykloni moves out of range.
Sykloni takes a body punch but keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
River scores with a leg kick.
Sykloni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cole River seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Sykloni.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sykloni lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and River has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from River and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
River moves in looking to clinch but Sykloni pushes him off.
River swats away the attempt to clinch by Sykloni.
River seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sykloni blocks a head kick by River.
Sykloni doesn't manage to clinch there - River circles away.
River thuds a left hand into Sykloni's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Sykloni as he checks the leg kick.
Sykloni swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and River moves into the clinch.
River throws a punch but it's blocked by Sykloni.
River looking to throw knees to the head but Sykloni is blocking nicely.
River connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sykloni's face.
Sykloni gets through River's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Sykloni has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics River uses from the top position.
River content to stall in guard here.
Sykloni looking for a sweep. Not yet Sykloni, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
River controlling from the top position.
River wants to stand but Sykloni is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sykloni pulls River in close to prevent any damage.
River looking to sit in guard and control but Sykloni gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole River showed his dominance in that final round.
I think River has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cole River!
Cole River managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Spartan Nutrition , into his post fight interview.