PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Osea Viriviri (ranked 4604 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riley Sykes (ranked 4999 p4p, 0 weight class). Sykes has chosen Bouncing Souls - Ole as his entrance music. Osea Viriviri has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Viriviri
vs
Sykes

190 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Osea Viriviri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Sykes!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viriviri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sykes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Viriviri manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Sykes tries to keep at a distance but Viriviri has taken the fight into the clinch.

Viriviri tightens his grip and picks Sykes up, before dumping him to the ground. Sykes manages to land in guard.
Viriviri will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sykes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Viriviri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Viriviri is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viriviri seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sykes for as long as he can get away with.
Viriviri throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sykes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Viriviri defends well.
Sykes is trying to control the position but Viriviri postures up.
Sykes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Viriviri is one step ahead there.
Sykes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Viriviri.
Sykes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Viriviri content to stall in guard here.
Sykes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Viriviri 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Viriviri takes the fight into the clinch.

Viriviri has picked Sykes up - he's going for a ride! Viriviri dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Viriviri thows a huge punch but Sykes dodges it nicely.
Sykes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Viriviri. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Viriviri thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Viriviri has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Viriviri controlling the action here.
Viriviri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Viriviri sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sykes defending well though.
Viriviri perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viriviri sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sykes defending well though.
Viriviri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Viriviri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sykes looks winded!
Viriviri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Viriviri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sykes's head.
Sykes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Viriviri.
Viriviri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Viriviri there.
Viriviri drops an elbow to the side of Sykes's head.
Viriviri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Viriviri.
Viriviri uses his free foot to push down on Sykes's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Sykes.
Viriviri dominating with strikes here.
Viriviri controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viriviri landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sykes is bucking up trying to escape but Viriviri cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Viriviri misses with a head shot.
Viriviri tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Viriviri landing shots from mount.
Viriviri throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sykes can do anything to dispel that myth.
Poor strikes thrown by Viriviri there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Sykes wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Viriviri.
Viriviri unloads with some shots from mount but Sykes bucks and avoids them well.
Viriviri controlling from the full mount.
Sykes is in a horrible position here. Viriviri smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Viriviri throws some wild stikes that Sykes manages to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osea Viriviri dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Viriviri fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sykes, pushing him back against the cage.

Sykes is fighting off a takedown attempt but Viriviri is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sykes to the mat. Sykes regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Viriviri controls from within his opponent's guard.
Viriviri throwing strikes but missing.
Viriviri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Viriviri.
Viriviri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Viriviri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Viriviri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Viriviri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sykes is breathing heavily.
Sykes being controlled here, momentarily.
Sykes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Viriviri.
Viriviri controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Viriviri postures up in Sykes's guard and throws a big left but Sykes blocks it.
Viriviri throwing strikes from guard but Sykes blocks nicely.
Viriviri is in close to Sykes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Viriviri accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Viriviri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viriviri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sykes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Osea Viriviri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Viriviri throws a big right hand that misses.
Viriviri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Viriviri is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Viriviri passes Sykes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Viriviri keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Viriviri not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viriviri keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Viriviri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sykes can do to turn this around?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Osea Viriviri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Viriviri closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sykes quickly recovers to half guard.
Viriviri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Viriviri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sykes's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Viriviri in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Viriviri.
Viriviri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Viriviri slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Viriviri missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Viriviri controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osea Viriviri dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Viriviri closes the distance and clinches.
Viriviri drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Viriviri is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sykes is defending well.
Viriviri drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Sykes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osea Viriviri. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Viriviri has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sykes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viriviri missing with strikes from the back.
Viriviri misses with an elbow to the head.
Viriviri lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Viriviri struggling to land strikes to the head as Sykes covers up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Viriviri controls the position.
Sykes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Viriviri punches the canvas rather than the man.
Sykes covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Viriviri thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Sykes is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Viriviri.
Viriviri scores with punches to the body.
Sykes is covering up but some of the strikes from Viriviri are getting through and doing damage.
Sykes covering up well and avoiding damage.
Viriviri throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Viriviri is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Viriviri thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viriviri throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Sykes covering up well under a barage of strikes.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Viriviri controlling the positon.
Viriviri throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Viriviri missing with punches from the back.
Viriviri missing with punches from the back.
Viriviri loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Sykes hold on?
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Viriviri is punishing Sykes with some ground and pound.
Viriviri punches the canvas rather than the man.
Viriviri keeps control of the position easily here as Sykes tries to buck him off.
Sykes covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Even with his hooks in, Viriviri manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Sykes is covering up but some of the strikes from Viriviri are getting through and doing damage.
Viriviri is landing with strikes from the back.
Viriviri punishes Sykes with strikes from the back mount.
Good control from Viriviri.
Sykes has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Viriviri.
Viriviri missing with strikes from the back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Viriviri controlling the positon.
Viriviri misses with an elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viriviri controlling the position well here. Sykes rolled but Viriviri kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Even with his hooks in, Viriviri manages to miss with strikes from the back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Viriviri throwing damaging strikes from the back! Sykes could be in trouble here!
Viriviri somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Viriviri is riding his opponent, not letting Sykes buck him off.
Viriviri misses with a punch to the head.
Riley Sykes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Osea Viriviri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Viriviri biding his time, controlling Sykes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Osea Viriviri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Viriviri, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Osea Viriviri!