PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier Sykes has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Matti Tolonen's chin.

Tolonen
vs
Sykes

193 cm
25
217 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
222 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Machine Fight Gear

MayheM sportswear
Voodoo Nutrition

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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matti Tolonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tolonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sykes was well out of range. Poor timing from Tolonen.
Sykes now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Good leg kick by Tolonen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Tolonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sykes moves out of range as Tolonen strikes.
Sykes blocks a head kick by Tolonen.
Tolonen lands a nice looking body shot.
Tolonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tolonen just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tolonen.
Sykes lands a jab.
Sykes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tolonen.
Sykes moves out of range as Tolonen strikes.
Sykes feints a counter leg kick.
Tolonen throws a sloppy head kick and Sykes moves out of range easily.
Sykes works the jab nicely.
Tolonen throws a leg kick that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tolonen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Sykes blocks the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sykes misses the shot to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sykes.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tolonen.
Matti Tolonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tolonen delivers a nice body kick.

Sykes closes the distance and pushes Tolonen back into the cage.
Sykes misses with a punch on the inside.
Tolonen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Sykes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sykes throws a punch but it's blocked by Tolonen.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sykes.
Sykes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sykes taking a breather.

Tolonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sykes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tolonen.
Tolonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sykes.
Tolonen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tolonen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tolonen lands a nice shot that snaps Sykes's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sykes needs to keep his hands up - Tolonen had a free shot at his head there.
Tolonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A big left from Tolonen misses.
Tolonen misses with a low kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sykes. That's going to slow Tolonen down.
Tolonen misses with a body shot.
Sykes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Tolonen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tolonen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sykes. Sykes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tolonen.
Tolonen lands a glancing blow to the side of Sykes's head.
Tolonen lands a nice hook to Sykes's body. Sykes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Sykes misses the target.
Sykes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tolonen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sykes blocks a jab.
Sykes connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sykes takes a swing at Tolonen's ribcage but misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Tolonen misses its target.

Sykes rushes Tolonen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sykes working aggressively here.
Tolonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tolonen tries a body shot but Sykes blocks it.
Sykes throws a punch but it's blocked by Tolonen.

Tolonen manages to break the clinch.
Tolonen swings for the body but Sykes moves out of range.
Tolonen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sykes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tolonen throws a head kick that misses
and Sykes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sykes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tolonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tolonen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tolonen throws a looping overhand right but Sykes ducks down to avoid it.
Sykes scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykes misses with a head kick.
Sykes is looking to clinch but Tolonen is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Sykes blocks the low kick.
A big left from Tolonen misses.
Tolonen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sykes.
Tolonen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sykes on the side of the head.

It looks like Xavier Sykes has been cut.
Sykes throws a jab but it's blocked by Tolonen.
Tolonen misses with a straight left.

Sykes has closed the distance and engaged Tolonen in a clinch.
Tolonen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tolonen is trying to break free.
A right hand to the body from Tolonen.
Tolonen blocking some punches.
Tolonen blocks an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sykes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tolonen blocks a body shot from Sykes.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tolonen misses the jab.
It seemed like Sykes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Tolonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Xavier Sykes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tolonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sykes is looking to slow Tolonen down with leg kicks.
Tolonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Sykes is just out of range.
Tolonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sykes.
Sykes lands a jab to the head.
Sykes throws a nice looking combination but Tolonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tolonen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sykes.
Tolonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sykes throws out the jab.
Tolonen throws a hook but Sykes blocks it.
Sykes appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Sykes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tolonen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Sykes takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tolonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sykes.
Tolonen tries to land a leg kick but Sykes saw it coming and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tolonen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Sykes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tolonen.
It seemed like Sykes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tolonen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It seemed like Sykes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sykes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tolonen.
Sykes moves out of range as Tolonen throws a body kick.
Tolonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Sykes misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sykes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tolonen throws out the jab.
Sykes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tolonen.
Sykes misses with a body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Sykes blocks the leg kick.
Tolonen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Xavier Sykes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sykes throws a sloppy head kick and Tolonen moves out of range easily.
Tolonen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sykes lands an overhand right.
A low kick from Tolonen is predictable there
and Sykes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Tolonen is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykes avoids the body shot from Tolonen.
Oh Tolonen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sykes checks a leg kick.
A slow jab from Tolonen misses its intended target.
Tolonen seems to have got his legs back now.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Sykes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tolonen's calf.
Tolonen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sykes at a distance.
Sykes takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sykes scores with a hook to the body. Tolonen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tolonen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sykes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sykes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tolonen.
Sykes lands with a right that hurts Tolonen. Tolonen looks to clinch but Sykes throws a short knee that drops Tolonen. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punch and Knee). Xavier Sykes!
The defeated Matti Tolonen had this to say: 'Grappler just got lucky!'.