PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vesa Sykk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathew Ridgeway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sykk might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name . Ridgeway has chosen The Forgotten War as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sykk
vs
Ridgeway

172 cm
35
155 lbs
32 - 18 - 1

174 cm
29
164 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Conviction

Aspire Clothing
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Vesa Sykk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mathew Ridgeway!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ridgeway buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ridgeway works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A leg kick checked by Sykk.
Ridgeway scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sykk doesn't seem bothered though.
Ridgeway throws the kick towards the body but Sykk avoids it.
Sykk is looking to counter with head kicks.
Ridgeway throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sykk fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ridgeway is out of range.
Ridgeway checks a low kick from Sykk.
Ridgeway misses with a shot to the body
and Sykk counters with a solid body kick.
Sykk fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ridgeway checks it well.

Ridgeway has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sykk blocking some punches.
Ridgeway blocks an uppercut.
Ridgeway works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sykk throws an elbow that misses.
Ridgeway lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sykk backwards.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sykk throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ridgeway misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sykk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ridgeway is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Sykk controls his hands.
Sykk pushes Ridgeway back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ridgeway's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sykk taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sykk definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ridgeway lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ridgeway scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ridgeway working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sykk fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ridgeway lands with a light punch inside.
Ridgeway throws a head punch that misses.
Ridgeway lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Sykk.
Sykk throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ridgeways head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sykk lands with a right to the head.
Ridgeway has a couple of punches blocked by Sykk.
Ridgeway tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sykk's elbow.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sykk lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ridgeway goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sykk misses with an elbow over the top.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ridgeway lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ridgeway stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ridgeway is trying to stall.
Ridgeway lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sykk or not.
Ridgeway scores with a shoulder strike.
Sykk swings wildly with an uppercut but Ridgeway uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ridgeway tries a body shot but Sykk blocks it.
Ridgeway has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Sykk seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Ridgeway can turn it around.
Sykk scores with a shoulder strike.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway has a couple of punches blocked by Sykk.
Ridgeway struggles to land a body shot inside as Sykk controls his hands.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sykk slowing the pace effectively.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.
Stalling in the clinch from Sykk.
Ridgeway throws a head punch that misses.
Ridgeway doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sykk creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short uppercut from Ridgeway.
Sykk throws a punch but it's blocked by Ridgeway.
Sykk blocking some punches.
Ridgeway misses with a punch on the inside.
Ridgeway tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ridgeway can't find room to land a body shot as Sykk controls the action.
Sykk lands a body punch.
Ridgeway tries to throw a body punch but Sykk avoids it by throwing Ridgeway back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway lands with a left to the head.
Ridgeway misses with the head strike.
A bit of stalling here from Sykk.
A head punch on the inside from Sykk fails to land.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sykk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykk holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ridgeway.
Ridgeway misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ridgeway tries to throw a body punch but Sykk avoids it by throwing Ridgeway back against the cage.
Ridgeway lands a right hand.
Ridgeway cracks Sykk with a nice body shot.
Sykk prevents a body shot from Ridgeway.
Sykk lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sykk throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Sykk fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice shot by Sykk.
Ridgeway changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sykk will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ridgeway rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Sykk counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ridgeway lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sykk's sensitive parts.
Ridgeway is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sykk closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ridgeway counters with a stiff right hand.
Sykk keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sykk goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sykk takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sykk connects with a solid leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sykk misses with an uppercut
and Ridgeway counters with a leg kick.
Sykk checks the leg kick.
Ridgeway throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sykk on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Sykk tenderised Ridgeway's leg. Ridgeway is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sykk drops his hands momentarily and Ridgeway takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ridgeway swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ridgeway swings for the body but Sykk moves out of range.
Sykk takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ridgeway scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ridgeway misses with an uppercut.
Ridgeway buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sykk on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ridgeway turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sykk on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ridgeway chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ridgeway misses with an uppercut.
Sykk fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ridgeway just manages to avoid it.
Ridgeway dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sykk. That did some damage!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ridgeway 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 Sykk has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Sykk and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Sykk lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ridgeway's sensitive parts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Some bone on bone action there as Sykk checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sykk connects with a crisp jab.
Sykk keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sykk throws a head kick but Ridgeway moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Ridgeway lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sykk doesn't seem phased though.
A low kick from Sykk is predictable there
and Ridgeway counters with a nice leg kick.
Ridgeway checks the leg kick.

Ridgeway has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ridgeway blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ridgeway tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Sykk pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ridgeway throws a body punch but Sykk moves out of range.
Ridgeway misses with a hook
enabling Sykk to counter with a crisp jab.
Sykk moves forwards but Ridgeway connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sykk misses with a left hand
and Ridgeway counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sykk is looking to score with low kicks.
Ridgeway connects with a leg kick. Sykk looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ridgeway blocks a leg kick.
Sykk lands with a cross.
Ridgeway checks a low kick from Sykk.
Sykk throws a leg kick
and Ridgeway counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sykk pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Ridgeway clinches up with Sykk and pushes him back against the cage.
Ridgeway misses with a punch to the body.
Ridgeway blocking some punches.
Sykk slows down the pace here.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway working aggressively here.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.
Ridgeway misses with a body punch.
Ridgeway scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ridgeway fails to land.
Ridgeway blocks a body shot from Sykk.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sykk breaks the clinch.
Sykk connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mathew Ridgeway seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A leg kick checked by Ridgeway.
Sykk on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ridgeway throws a sloppy head kick and Sykk moves out of range easily.
Sykk is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ridgeway throws a good cross that connects.
Ridgeway moves out of range of the body kick from Sykk.
Sykk misses with an uppercut. Ridgeway saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ridgeway! But no joy.
A jab from Ridgeway finds it's way through Sykk's defenses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sykk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Ridgeway showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sykk throws a leg kick
and Ridgeway counters with a low kick, right behind Sykk 's knee.
A low kick from Ridgeway misses
and Sykk counters with a good low kick that Ridgeway was not able to check.
Ridgeway is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sykk.
Sykk with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ridgeway throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sykk throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sykk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ridgeway chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sykk blocks a leg kick.
Ridgeway wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ridgeway throws a head kick but Sykk moves out of range.
Ridgeway throws a sloppy head kick and Sykk moves out of range easily.
Ridgeway fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ridgeway connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ridgeway connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ridgeway lands a jab.
Ridgeway buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ridgeway fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sykk looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ridgeway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sykk throws a front kick aimed at Ridgeway's knee but Ridgeway avoids it well.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sykk, as that shot connected.
A head kick misses from Sykk.
Sykk fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Ridgeway checks it well.
Ridgeway thumps Sykk with a low kick.
Sykk dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ridgeway. That did some damage!
Ridgeway connects with an inside leg kick.
Sykk throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk throws out a leg kick but Ridgeway moves out of range and Sykk only half commits.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ridgeway.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sykk lands a jab to the nose.
Sykk drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ridgeway on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Ridgeway looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Ridgeway lands a nice looking body shot.
Sykk tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sykk takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ridgeway dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sykk moves forwards but Ridgeway connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ridgeway tries to clinch there but Sykk circles away.
Sykk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ridgeway manages to avoid it.
Sykk lands with a cross.
Ridgeway lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway blocks a leg kick.
Sykk missing with a left hand there. Ridgeway was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sykk misses with a looping left.
Ridgeway pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ridgeway lunges at Sykk with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sykk's hand.
Sykk doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sykk swats away the attempt to clinch by Ridgeway.
Vesa Sykk has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sykk throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ridgeway walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sykk checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sykk tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sykk turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sykk fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ridgeway on the side of the head.
A swing and a miss from Sykk.
Sykk is looking to slow Ridgeway down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ridgeway scoring well with a low kick there.
Ridgeway lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sykk at a distance.
Mathew Ridgeway is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
Sykk stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ridgeway.
Ridgeway on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sykk takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sykk 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 Ridgeway has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ridgeway and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ridgeway just misses with a punch to the body.
Sykk misses with a low kick.
Ridgeway blocks a low kick nicely.
Ridgeway lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ridgeway throws a hook but Sykk blocks it.
A good leg kick by Sykk.
A low kick from Sykk is predictable there
and Ridgeway cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ridgeway defending well as Sykk loads up on a big left hand.
Ridgeway throws out a counter right but Sykk avoids it with no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mathew Ridgeway.
Well Ridgeway has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Ridgeway!
During a confident post fight interview, Mathew Ridgeway thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.