PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Walsh (ranked 529 p4p, 74 weight class) and Artur Syrowatka (ranked 1699 p4p, 234 weight class). Syrowatka has chosen Slash - Nothing to Say as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Walsh
vs
Syrowatka

190 cm
23
212 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

186 cm
32
216 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikey Walsh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artur Syrowatka!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Syrowatka.
Walsh half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Walsh lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Walsh is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Syrowatka.

It looks like Mikey Walsh has been cut.
Walsh avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Syrowatka stuns Walsh with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Syrowatka throws a hook but Walsh avoids it easily.
Syrowatka fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Walsh has managed to clinch.
Walsh looking to throw knees to the head but Syrowatka is blocking nicely.
Walsh lands a right hand that snaps the head of Syrowatka backwards.
Syrowatka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Syrowatka trying to stall but Walsh improves his position.

Walsh manages to break the clinch.
Walsh shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Syrowatka as he jumps to the side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syrowatka misses with a low kick.
Walsh is looking to counter punch.
Artur Syrowatka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Walsh displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Syrowatka throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Walsh, right into the meat.
Syrowatka shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Syrowatka lands a slapping body shot.
Syrowatka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Syrowatka throws a nice looking combination but Walsh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Syrowatka walks into a left hand.
Syrowatka misses with a two punch combination.
Syrowatka throws a left and a right that both miss
and Walsh counters with a one-two to the body.
Syrowatka missing with a left hand there. Walsh was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Syrowatka lands with a nice combination. Walsh backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Walsh tries to clinch up.
Syrowatka tries to land a body kick

and Walsh counters by clinching up.
Syrowatka blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh connects with a knee to the head.
Walsh throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Syrowatka blocks it with crossed arms.

Walsh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Walsh misses with a straight right.
Walsh fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Walsh. Those never looked like landing.
A little jabbing left from Syrowatka on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Syrowatka defending well as Walsh loads up on a big left hand.
A nice side step and Syrowatka releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Syrowatka lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Syrowatka scores with a four punch combination!
Walsh uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Syrowatka.
Syrowatka slips a jab and a cross from Walsh.
Walsh thuds a left hand into Syrowatka's body.
Syrowatka falls off balance throwing a combination
and Walsh counters with a head kick. That will keep Syrowatka thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syrowatka tries to bum rush Walsh with a series of wild strikes but Walsh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Walsh pivots, looking for a leg kick but Syrowatka is out of range and Walsh settles back down.
Nice body punch from Syrowatka.
Syrowatka closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Mikey Walsh's cut is getting worse.
A jab from Syrowatka misses.
Syrowatka looks to score with a jab to the body but Walsh is just out of range.
Syrowatka fails to land with a series of punches.

Walsh closes the distance and clinches.
Walsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Walsh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Walsh misses with a knee strike.

Walsh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Walsh shoots for a takedown but Syrowatka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Syrowatka. That did some damage!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Walsh throws a combination. Syrowatka tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Artur Syrowatka has been cut.
Syrowatka looks to score with a jab to the body but Walsh is just out of range.
Walsh takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Syrowatka throws a head kick that misses.
Walsh looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Walsh wants to clinch.
Walsh throws a shot from downtown. Syrowatka moves away and avoids it.
Syrowatka is working the combinations to good effect here.
Syrowatka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Walsh has taken the fight to the clinch.
Walsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Syrowatka tries to break the clinch but Walsh is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Artur Syrowatka will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Walsh scores with a hook.
Syrowatka is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Walsh rather than just go for the knockout.
Syrowatka throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Syrowatka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Syrowatka avoids a punch combination nicely.
Walsh fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Syrowatka is out of range.
Walsh tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Walsh looks to land a combination but Syrowatka avoids it well.
Walsh throws an overhand right that lands on Syrowatka's shoulder, as Syrowatka tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syrowatka looks to land a combination but Walsh avoids it well.
Walsh sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Artur Syrowatka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Syrowatka misses with a wild combination.
Syrowatka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syrowatka throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Walsh counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Walsh scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Walsh takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Syrowatka misses with a straight right.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Walsh checks a leg kick.
Walsh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Syrowatka circles away.
Syrowatka darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Walsh misses the shot to the body.
Walsh moves in looking to clinch but Syrowatka pushes him off.
Syrowatka tries to bum rush Walsh with a series of wild strikes but Walsh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Syrowatka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Syrowatka avoids the body shot from Walsh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Walsh.
Syrowatka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Walsh.
Syrowatka throws a series of punches but Walsh avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walsh tries to clinch but Syrowatka moves out of range.
Walsh pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Syrowatka. No joy for Walsh on that attempt.
Syrowatka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Syrowatka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Syrowatka wants it to stay on the feet.
Syrowatka now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Walsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Syrowatka swings for the body but Walsh moves out of range.
Walsh ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Syrowatka moves away.
Syrowatka throws a combination. Walsh tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Walsh looks to throw the jab but Syrowatka is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Syrowatka buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Walsh darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Artur Syrowatka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Syrowatka misses with the combination.
No joy there for Syrowatka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It looked like Walsh wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Walsh clinches with his opponent.
Syrowatka has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Walsh keeps control of Syrowatka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Walsh with a knee to the head.
Walsh fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mikey Walsh has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Walsh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Walsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A frustrated look appears on Syrowatka's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh tries to land knees in the clinch but Syrowatka avoids the damage to the body.
Syrowatka is pressed up against the cage. Walsh has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Syrowatka down to the mat. Syrowatka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Walsh throws a jab when Syrowatka was well out of range.
Syrowatka is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Walsh.

Walsh gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Syrowatka is trying to maintain a safe position but Walsh gets an underhook and turns Syrowatka into the cage.
Walsh lands a nice knee to the body.
Walsh lands with a left to the head.

Syrowatka breaks the clinch.
Walsh moves in looking to clinch but Syrowatka pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Syrowatka. Walsh does a little dance to reset his feet.
Walsh closes this distance looking for a takedown but Syrowatka circles away.
Walsh scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A decent looking cross lands there for Syrowatka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mikey Walsh will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Walsh is looking to clinch.
Walsh looks to throw the jab but Syrowatka is out of range.

Walsh has closed the distance and engaged Syrowatka in a clinch.
Walsh has Syrowatka pressed against the cage, preventing Syrowatka from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Walsh keeps control of Syrowatka as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Walsh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Syrowatka blocks an uppercut.

Walsh pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Syrowatka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Syrowatka throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Walsh counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Syrowatka thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syrowatka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Walsh connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Syrowatka misses with a body kick.
Walsh wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Walsh moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walsh lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Syrowatka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Walsh looking to throw knees to the head but Syrowatka is blocking nicely.
Syrowatka tries to throw a body punch but Walsh avoids it by throwing Syrowatka back against the cage.
Walsh goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Walsh prevents Syrowatka from breaking the clinch.
Walsh lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Walsh lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Syrowatka breaks from the clinch.
The fighters circling - Syrowatka throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Walsh tries to close the distance and clinch but Syrowatka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Walsh tries for a takedown but Syrowatka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Syrowatka misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syrowatka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Walsh gets a clinch.

Walsh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Walsh drops his hands momentarily and Syrowatka takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Walsh forces Syrowatka back against the cage and clinches.
Walsh misses with a knee to the head.
Walsh will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Syrowatka up against the cage.
Walsh lands an elbow inside.
Walsh lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That has opened up Artur Syrowatka's cut even more.
Walsh lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Syrowatka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Syrowatka tries to circle away but Walsh has him pinned against the cage.
Walsh holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walsh misses with an elbow over the top.
Walsh is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Walsh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walsh tries to throw a body punch but Syrowatka avoids it by throwing Walsh back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Syrowatka's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Syrowatka has had enough of the clinch but Walsh keeps him there for the moment.
Walsh throws a knee to the head but misses.
Walsh looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Syrowatka blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Syrowatka is looking to break free of the clinch but Walsh has double underhooks.
Walsh lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Walsh misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Syrowatka.
Walsh tries a knee to the head but Syrowatka blocks it.
Walsh displaying some good clinch control by pressing Syrowatka up against the cage.

Syrowatka breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh lands a nice leg kick that just misses Syrowatka's sensitive parts.
Walsh shoots in for a takedown but Syrowatka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Despite the aggression on Syrowatka's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Walsh ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Syrowatka lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Syrowatka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Walsh throws a shot from downtown. Syrowatka moves away and avoids it.
Syrowatka misses with a wild combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Walsh shoots in for a takedown but Syrowatka shows good takedown defense.
Walsh doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Syrowatka takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikey Walsh showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Walsh 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:29

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