PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gobal Batra (ranked 797 p4p, 121 weight class) and Asmund Sykk (ranked 1578 p4p, 247 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Batra
vs
Sykk

190 cm
27
209 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

187 cm
27
205 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

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 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Gobal Batra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Asmund Sykk!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykk misses with a hook.
Sykk looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Asmund Sykk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batra throws a shot to the body.
Batra finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sykk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Batra.
Sykk looks to land a left hand but Batra moved out of range nicely.
Batra lands with a nice body kick.
Batra works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sykk is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Batra.
Sykk is looking to clinch but Batra is avoiding it.
Batra tries to counter by clinching up but Sykk breaks away and moves out of range.
Sykk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Batra.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Batra misses its intended target.
Sykk has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Batra.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Batra 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 keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra throws out a leg kick but Sykk moves out of range and Batra only half commits.
Batra rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sykk moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sykk lands a jab to the nose.
Sykk checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
It seemed like Sykk was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sykk misses with a straight right.
Sykk cracks Batra with an open hand slap.
Batra misses with a low kick.
Sykk swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Batra feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sykk's calf.
Sykk throws a leg kick that is checked
and Batra cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sykk misses with a left hand
and Batra counters with a low kick, right behind Sykk 's knee.
Batra misses with a low kick.
Sykk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Batra.
Batra misses the jab.
A big left from Sykk misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batra throws a lazy uppercut
and Batra takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sykk throws the left hand but Batra avoids the punch easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykk misses with a hook

and Batra counters by moving into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sykk.
Batra tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sykk misses with a body punch.
Sykk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Batra tries to throw a body punch but Sykk avoids it by throwing Batra back against the cage.
Batra pushes Sykk back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Sykk manages to break the clinch.
Batra tries to bum rush Sykk with a series of wild strikes but Sykk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jab from Batra.
Sykk jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Batra ducks right into an uppercut from Sykk.
Batra works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Batra ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sykk moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batra fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sykk is out of range.
Sykk is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Batra lands a nice shot that snaps Sykk's head back.
Batra's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sykk connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Batra scrambles back to his feet.
Batra moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sykk throws a right and a left that Batra avoids nicely.
Sykk scores with a punch to the head.
Sykk connects with a nice looking jab.
Sykk is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Batra had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Batra swings widly with a right hand
and Sykk counters with a good low kick that Batra was not able to check.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sykk.
Sykk takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Batra throws a wild body kick that Sykk sees coming a mile off.
Sykk throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Batra holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sykk scores with a shot to the side of Batra's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykk misses with a hook from the clinch.
Batra swings wildly with an uppercut but Sykk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Batra throws a punch but it's blocked by Sykk.
A head punch on the inside from Sykk fails to land.
Batra lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sykk misses with some punches.
Batra fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Batra fails to land.

Batra drags the fight down to the ground.
Sykk pushes down on Batra's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Batra is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sykk pulls his head out easily.

Batra looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sykk trying to control from half guard but Batra is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gobal Batra dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Batra ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Batra lands with an overhand left.
Sykk throws a sloppy head kick and Batra moves out of range easily.
Batra swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sykk drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sykk tries to clinch up.
Sykk takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Batra throws a low kick but it's checked well by Sykk.
Sykk ducks under a wild hook from Batra.
Batra steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sykk.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sykk. Batra does a little dance to reset his feet.
Batra tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Sykk manages to circle out of the way.
A big right from Batra misses.
Batra throws a leg kick but Sykk checks it.
Batra takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Batra throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sykk throws a leg kick

and Batra counters by moving into the clinch.
Sykk blocks a body shot from Batra.
Sykk pushes Batra back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sykk misses with the head strike.
Sykk stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Batra can't find room to land a body shot as Sykk controls the action.
Sykk scores with a shot to the side of Batra's head.
Batra blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sykk lands a left hand that snaps the head of Batra backwards.
Good body shot from Sykk.
Sykk throws a head punch that misses.
Sykk swings wildly with an uppercut but Batra uses good head movement to avoid it.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Batra jumps guard.

Batra has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sykk is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Batra.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Batra is trying to get back to half guard.
Sykk misses with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Batra regains half guard.
Batra avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sykk.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sykk wants to pass the guard but Batra is defending well.

Sykk is working for a submission of some sort.
Batra wants to improve his position but Sykk is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Batra looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Batra looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Sykk seems content to control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sykk connects with a nice short shot to Batra's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Batra wants to get back to full guard.

Batra looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Batra keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sykk performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sykk thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Batra's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Batra looking for submissions off his back.
Sykk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Asmund Sykk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Batra slips under a jab.
Batra throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sykk counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A punch lands to the side of Batra 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Batra.

Sykk forces Batra back against the cage and clinches.
Sykk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Batra ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Batra no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sykk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Batra works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Batra can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sykk controls the pace.

Batra working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sykk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sykk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Batra seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Batra is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Batra looking for a guillotine here but Sykk defends easily.
Sykk seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Sykk tries to free his leg and advance position but Batra is retaining full guard.
Batra avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sykk lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sykk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sykk trying to control but Batra is working from the bottom.

Batra is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sykk slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Batra tries to bench press Sykk off him but Sykk keeps the position.
Sykk is working Batra over with some ground and pound from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sykk trying to control the action but Batra is working from the bottom.
Sykk throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykk creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Batra is trying to improve his position.
Batra manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sykk holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Sykk gets back to full guard.
Batra landing some decent shots from guard.
Batra trying to control the position from guard on top but Sykk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sykk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sykk looking for a guillotine here but Batra defends easily.
Batra slips nicely into half guard.
Sykk trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Sykk looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sykk is trying is best to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Asmund Sykk.
I think Sykk 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Gobal Batra!
A relieved looking Gobal Batra thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.