PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maverick Syndal (ranked 1747 p4p, 178 weight class) and Sasha Beliy (ranked 1687 p4p, 174 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Syndal
vs
Beliy

180 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
24
160 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maverick Syndal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sasha Beliy!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Beliy has taken the fight to the clinch.
Syndal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Beliy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Beliy misses with a punch on the inside.
Beliy misses with some punches.
A short right from Beliy.
Syndal misses with the head strike.
Beliy has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
Beliy misses with some punches.
Syndal misses with the head strike.
Beliy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Syndal controlling the action here for a moment.
Syndal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syndal prevents a body shot from Beliy.
Syndal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Syndal's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Syndal struggles to land a body shot inside as Beliy controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beliy misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Beliy.
Syndal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Beliy tries to work over Syndal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Beliy pushes Syndal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Syndal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Syndal.
Syndal lands a hook to the side of the head.
Beliy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Syndal's elbow.
Syndal throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Beliys head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Beliy.
Beliy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Syndal misses with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal blocking some punches.
Beliy tries to throw a body punch but Syndal avoids it by throwing Beliy back against the cage.
Syndal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Beliy backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal stalling the fight.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Beliy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Syndal.
Syndal manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Syndal takes a shot to the head.
Syndal pushes Beliy back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Syndal tries a body shot but Beliy blocks it.
A short right from Beliy.
Syndal misses with a body punch.
Beliy blocks an uppercut.
Syndal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Syndal swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Beliy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Syndal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Beliy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Beliy blocking some punches.
Beliy tries a body shot but Syndal blocks it.
Beliy doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Beliy lands a right hand.
Beliy scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Syndal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Beliy scores with a shot to the side of Syndal's head.
Syndal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Beliy misses with a punch on the inside.
Beliy throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Syndals head.
Syndal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.
Syndal has had enough of the clinch but Beliy keeps him there for the moment.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Beliy throws a head punch that misses.
Syndal wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Beliy has him pressed against the cage.
Syndal blocking some punches.
Beliy gets through Syndal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Syndal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Syndal tries to circle away but Beliy has him pinned against the cage.
Beliy is working Syndal over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Beliy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Beliy misses with the head strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Beliy.
A short right from Beliy.
A short right from Beliy.
Beliy lands with a short shot to the head.
Syndal lands a body punch in the clinch.

Beliy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Beliy takes the fight into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Beliy scores with a nice hook to the head.
Syndal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Beliy misses with a punch to the body.
Beliy tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Syndal's elbow.
Syndal swings wildly with an uppercut but Beliy uses good head movement to avoid it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Beliy - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Beliy misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Beliy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Syndal jabs Beliy to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Syndal looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Beliy tries to close the distance and clinch but Syndal swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Beliy works the jab nicely.
Syndal takes a jab right on the kisser.
Syndal scores with a jab.
Syndal throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Syndal misses with a straight right.

Beliy gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Syndal wants to stall.
Syndal throws a punch but it's blocked by Beliy.
Beliy lands a shoulder strike.
Syndal misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Beliy fails to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Syndal manages to break the clinch.

Beliy fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Syndal sprawls well initially but Beliy persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Syndal is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beliy trying to pass the guard but Syndal defending well.
Syndal wants to get back to full guard.
Syndal controlling the position well.
Beliy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Syndal keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Beliy seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Syndal is looking to control Beliy's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Syndal avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Syndal swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Beliy misses with a jab to the body
and Syndal makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Beliy takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Syndal lands with a shot to the body.
Beliy misses with an uppercut. Syndal saw that one coming.
Syndal loads up on a big right hand but Beliy slips the punch.

Beliy pushes Syndal up against the cage in a clinch.
Beliy prevents Syndal from breaking the clinch.
Beliy lands with a light punch inside.
Syndal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal is trying to stall.
The referee calls for Syndal to work.
Syndal lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Beliy keeps control of Syndal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Syndal breaks from the clinch.
Beliy wants to clinch.
Syndal jabs Beliy to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Syndal misses with a shot to the body

and Beliy counters by clinching up.
Beliy can't find room to land a body shot as Syndal controls the action.
Beliy blocks an uppercut.
A short left from Beliy.
Beliy has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
Syndal lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndal lands with a right to the head.
Beliy lands a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Beliy.
Beliy lands a right hand that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Beliy is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Syndal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Syndal misses with a hook to the ribs.

Syndal breaks the clinch.
Beliy misses the shot to the body.
Beliy moves out of range as Syndal strikes.
Beliy throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A shot to the liver by Beliy. Beautiful body shot.
Syndal fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Beliy lands a nice hook to Syndal's body. Syndal takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Beliy takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Beliy lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Syndal scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Beliy doesn't seem bothered though.
Beliy gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Syndal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sasha Beliy will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Syndal swats away the attempt to clinch by Beliy.
A big right from Syndal misses.
Beliy tries to clinch but Syndal moves out of range.
Syndal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Syndal throws a body punch but Beliy moves out of range.
Beliy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Syndal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Beliy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Syndal throws a body punch but Beliy moves out of range.
Syndal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Beliy fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch lands to the side of Beliy 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Beliy throws a hook but Syndal blocks it.
Beliy tries to clinch there but Syndal circles away.
Syndal misses with an uppercut.
Beliy lands a lovely overhand right.
Beliy lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beliy tries to clinch up but Syndal circles away and keeps his distance.
Syndal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Beliy.
Beliy looks to clinch
and Syndal counters with a straight right hand.
Jab from Beliy.
Syndal with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Beliy steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Syndal.
Syndal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Beliy.
Beliy tries to clinch up but Syndal circles away and keeps his distance.
A cross from Beliy lands.
Syndal lands a right hook to the body.
Beliy has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Syndal digs a good hook to Beliy's body.
Maverick Syndal is winning the standup battle so far.
Syndal on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Beliy has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Syndal misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Syndal fails to land.
Beliy lands an uppercut.
Beliy blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Syndal manages to break the clinch.
Syndal throws a big shot that misses.
Beliy tries to counter by closing the distance.
Syndal tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Syndal thuds his right hand into Beliy's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Syndal throws out a loose jab but Beliy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Beliy.
Syndal throws a shot to the body.
Beliy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Syndal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Beliy takes one on the button.
Syndal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Beliy.
Maverick Syndal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Syndal misses with a wild body shot.
Syndal swings for the body but Beliy moves out of range.
Beliy takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Beliy tries to clinch but Syndal moves out of range.
Beliy throws a jab when Syndal was well out of range.
Syndal misses with a body shot.
A jab from Beliy does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beliy swings widly with a right hand
enabling Syndal to counter with a crisp jab.
Syndal thuds a left hand into Beliy's body.
Beliy moves into range and connects with a jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Syndal has had enough of the clinch but Beliy keeps him there for the moment.
Syndal prevents a body shot from Beliy.
Beliy prevents a body shot from Syndal.
Sasha Beliy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Beliy lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Syndal is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Syndal misses with the head strike.
Syndal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sasha Beliy seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Syndal wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beliy blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Syndal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Beliy doesn't manage to clinch there - Syndal circles away.
Beliy keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Beliy on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Syndal takes a swing at Beliy's ribcage but misses.
Syndal throws a hook but Beliy avoids it easily.
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!
Syndal misses with a wild body shot.
Syndal lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Syndal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Beliy was well out of range. Poor timing from Syndal.

Beliy moves into the clinch.
Syndal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Syndal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maverick Syndal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Syndal stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maverick Syndal showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Beliy 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sasha Beliy!