PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between dj Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcom Syndal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Johnson
vs
Syndal

175 cm
25
148 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, dj Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malcom Syndal!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Syndal displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like dj Johnson has been cut.

Syndal drives through and clinches with Johnson against the cage.
Johnson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Syndal after a bit of a struggle.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Syndal has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Syndal tries to work over Johnson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Syndal lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Johnson has Syndal pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Syndal manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Syndal avoiding damage.
Syndal slowing the pace effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Syndal.
Syndal is pushing Johnson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Syndal manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson swats away the attempt to clinch by Syndal.
Syndal just misses with a punch to the body.
Syndal throws a series of punches but Johnson avoids them all with ease.
Johnson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Syndal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Syndal avoids it well and moves away.
Syndal tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Syndal has managed to clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Syndal.
Syndal leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for dj Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Syndal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Syndal gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Syndal pressing his opponent against the cage.
Syndal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malcom Syndal.
The fight stays on the outside here - Syndal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Syndal moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails to pull guard.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Syndal pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Syndal throws a body shot but no joy.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The fighters circling - Syndal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Syndal fails with an attempt to clinch.

Syndal pushes Johnson up against the cage in a clinch.
Syndal stalling in the clinch.
Come on Syndal - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Syndal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndal stalls.
Syndal slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malcom Syndal.
Syndal misses the shot to the body.
Syndal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Syndal avoids it well and moves away.

Syndal forces Johnson back against the cage and clinches.
Syndal misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Syndal is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcom Syndal dominated that round.
The cut man is working on dj Johnson'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.

Syndal misses with a hook.
Johnson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Syndal instigates a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Syndal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Syndal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Johnson has him pressed against the cage.
Syndal content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Johnson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Syndal wants to get back to his feet but Johnson passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Johnson is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Johnson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Malcom Syndal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Syndal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Johnson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Syndal avoids it well and moves away.
Syndal lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Syndal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johnson moves away.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Syndal closes the distance and pushes Johnson back into the cage.

Syndal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Syndal has managed to clinch.
Syndal has Johnson pressed against the cage.
Syndal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Syndal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Johnson keeps control of Syndal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Syndal is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Syndal working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Syndal stalling in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Syndal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Syndal continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Syndal breaks the clinch.

Syndal closes the distance and clinches.
Johnson is trying to pull guard but Syndal has him pressed against the cage.

Johnson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Syndal defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Syndal not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Syndal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Johnson working for a triangle but Syndal defends it easily.

Johnson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Syndal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcom Syndal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on dj Johnson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Johnson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Malcom Syndal seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Syndal tries to close the distance and clinch up but Johnson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Johnson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Syndal tries to clinch up.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Syndal avoids it well and moves away.
Syndal just misses with a punch to the body.
Johnson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Syndal rushes Johnson and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syndal stalling in the clinch.
Syndal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Johnson up against the cage.
Syndal receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Syndal leaning against his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Syndal.
Syndal misses with a punch to the body.
Syndal just leaning against Johnson, taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Malcom Syndal.
No joy there for Syndal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Syndal tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.
Johnson attempts a counter takedown but Syndal avoids it well and moves away.

Syndal rushes Johnson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Syndal is trying to force a seperation but Johnson has the dominant position.
Syndal stalling.
Syndal throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson letting Syndal take a breather here.
Johnson tries to pull guard but Syndal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Johnson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Johnson seems to be looking for submissions.
Syndal is looking to improve his position.
Johnson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Syndal keeps working.
Johnson is taking a breather. Syndal says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johnson works his way into full mount!

Johnson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Syndal manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Malcom Syndal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Johnson is looking to take a break and control but Syndal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson advances to mount.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Syndal can do anything to dispel that myth.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Johnson wants to finish this one by submission but Syndal is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Johnson.

And that's the end of the fight!
dj Johnson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Syndal 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malcom Syndal!