PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dai Zexi (ranked 3092 p4p, 410 weight class) and Joshua Syracuse (ranked 3813 p4p, 482 weight class). Dai Zexi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Joshua Syracuse's chin.

Zexi
vs
Syracuse

175 cm
19
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

213 cm
26
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Sportivité

Urban Fighter
Pit Bull Development

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dai Zexi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joshua Syracuse!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Damien Edna and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zexi throws a looping overhand right but Syracuse ducks down to avoid it.
Zexi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A punch combination from Syracuse misses.
A punch combination from Syracuse misses.
Syracuse connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Zexi blocks a leg kick.
Zexi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Syracuse scores with a three punch combo!
Zexi throws a looping overhand right but Syracuse ducks down to avoid it.
Syracuse is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Syracuse misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zexi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Syracuse as he avoids it easily.
Syracuse takes a swing at Zexi's ribcage but misses.
Syracuse fails to land with a series of punches.
No luck for Syracuse with that takedown attempt.
Syracuse misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syracuse throws a half hearted mid kick.
Zexi with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Syracuse to score with a decent uppercut.
An inside leg kick lands from Syracuse.
Syracuse blocks a jab.
Zexi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Syracuse.
Zexi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Syracuse defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dai Zexi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Syracuse misses.
Zexi throws a big shot that misses.
Syracuse with the counter takedown but Zexi avoids it easily.
Zexi misses with a straight left.
Zexi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Syracuse is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Zexi misses with a wild body shot.
Zexi is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Syracuse's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Zexi checks a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Syracuse.
Horrible takedown attempt by Zexi or perhaps it was just good defense by Syracuse, which made it look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Zexi misses.
Zexi throws a jab but it's blocked by Syracuse.
Joshua Syracuse is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Syracuse lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Syracuse throws a leg kick but Zexi sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Syracuse.
Syracuse misses with a few strikes there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Zexi dives in and scores a takedown into Syracuse's guard.
Zexi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Zexi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Syracuse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zexi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Syracuse has momentary wrist control but Zexi slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zexi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Syracuse wants to stand and escape but Zexi is having none of it.
Zexi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Zexi wants to pass the guard but Syracuse is keeping the position.
Zexi is pushing down on Syracuse's leg trying to pass to half guard. Syracuse is fighting to maintain full guard but Zexi has managed to sneak the leg through.
Zexi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Syracuse wants to control but Zexi is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Zexi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Syracuse trying to control here.
Zexi frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Zexi lands a big elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zexi has control of Syracuse's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Syracuse regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Zexi working for a guillotine from mount but Syracuse is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zexi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Syracuse has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zexi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zexi takes Syracuse's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Syracuse is in trouble.

Zexi is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Syracuse won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Zexi off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dai Zexi!
A very excited looking Dai Zexi made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Joshua Syracuse had this to say: 'Congratulations to my opponent. He was the better fighter tonight.'.