PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riley Sykes (ranked 25052 p4p, 601 weight class) and Martin Morales (ranked 4020 p4p, 449 weight class). Sykes comes to the cage accompanied by Bouncing Souls - Ole. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Sykes
vs
Morales

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Riley Sykes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Martin Morales!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sykes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sykes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Morales.
Morales throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Sykes counters with a takedown into side control.

Sykes decides to stand back up.
Sykes lands a two punch combo.

Sykes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Morales looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
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!
Sykes tries to move into full mount but can't pass Morales's legs.
Sykes lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Morales down.
Sykes works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Morales is trying to buck Sykes off.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales taking punishment in the form of punches.
Morales bucks up and tries to throw Sykes off but instead Sykes has got his back!
Morales is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Sykes looking for the choke but no joy.
Sykes controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales is trying to stand back up.
Sykes misses with a punch to the head.

Morales preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sykes.
Sykes tries to get the hooks in deep but Morales pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales trying to get back to his feet but Sykes is in full control for now.

Morales is trying to shake Sykes off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Sykes won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sykes.
Sykes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morales.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes ducks under a wild hook from Morales.
Morales misses with a right hand

and Sykes counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Morales!

Morales sneaks out the side door and pushes Sykes away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Martin Morales is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sykes is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sykes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sykes moves out of range as Morales strikes.
Sykes fails with a takedown attempt.
A jab from Morales misses.
Sykes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big left from Morales misses.
Sykes slips a straight right by Morales.
Morales thows a left - swing and a miss!
Morales throws a poor cross that misses

so Sykes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Morales has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Sykes has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Riley Sykes will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A slow jab from Morales misses its intended target.
Martin Morales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sykes shoots in but Morales avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Morales throws a jab but it's blocked by Sykes.
Sykes throws a quick counter head kick but Morales was just out of range.
Morales misses with a hook.
Morales throws a right hand that misses
and Sykes counters with a nice uppercut.
Morales misses with a hook. Sykes ducked under it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Sykes.
A telegraphed right hand from Morales misses the target.
Morales swats away the attempt to clinch by Sykes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Morales lands a nice shot that snaps Sykes's head back.
Morales looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Morales slaps away a takedown attempt from Sykes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sykes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morales's waist but Morales gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sykes off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riley Sykes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales loads up on a big right hand but Sykes slips the punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sykes shoots in looking for a takedown but Morales manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sykes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A jab from Morales misses.
Morales throws a hook to the side of Sykes's head but Sykes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sykes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Morales.
Morales misses with a looping right.
Martin Morales seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Morales misses with a looping left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sykes.
Sykes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sykes needs to keep his hands up - Morales had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Riley Sykes has been cut.
Morales looks to land a right hand but Sykes moved out of range.
Morales fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sykes on the side of the head.
A big left from Morales misses.
Sykes seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Morales connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sykes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Morales might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Morales misses with a straight right.
Sykes throwing a counter right hand but Morales manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morales with a hook.

Sykes is rocked!
Sykes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morales.
Oh Sykes is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Morales throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sykes seems to have got his legs back now.
Morales swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sykes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Morales.
Morales misses with an uppercut. Sykes saw that one coming.
Morales throws a lazy right hand but Sykes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Morales stuffs the takedown attempt from Sykes. Sykes gets slowly back to his feet.
Sykes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Morales.
It looked like Sykes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Morales has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sykes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sykes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Morales.
Sykes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Morales throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sykes.
The crowd cheers as Morales lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sykes doesn't seem phased though.
Morales throws a hook to the side of Sykes's head but Sykes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Morales swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Morales misses the target.

Sykes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Morales!
Morales wants to get back to his feet.
Sykes is chipping away with strikes.
Sykes tries to move to mount but Morales blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykes tries to advance to mount but Morales instead regains half guard.
Sykes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Morales does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Morales has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Sykes is on him like a limpet, forcing Morales back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A short left from Morales.
Morales lands with a right to the head.
Morales misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Morales showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Riley Sykes's cut.
That's time! Sykes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Morales loads up on a big right hand but Sykes slips the punch.
Morales throws the left hand but Sykes avoids the punch easily.
Sykes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Morales loads up on a big right hand but Sykes slips the punch.
Morales loads up on a big right hand but Sykes slips the punch.
Sykes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Morales's waist but Morales gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sykes off to one side.

Sykes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Morales's half guard.
Morales is trying to stand up here but Sykes is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykes tries to pass the half guard into mount. Morales knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Morales kicks off Sykes and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morales throws a hook but Sykes blocks it.
Morales looks to land a right hand but Sykes moved out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Sykes dives in and scores a takedown into Morales's guard.

Morales manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Morales.
Morales has a couple of punches blocked by Sykes.
Morales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morales swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morales throws a head punch that misses.
Morales has a couple of punches blocked by Sykes.
Morales scores with a shot to the side of Sykes's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morales fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morales misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morales gets through Sykes's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Morales lands a nice uppercut.
Sykes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Morales after a bit of a struggle.
Morales swings wildly with an uppercut but Sykes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morales lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.
Morales misses with the head strike.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morales misses with the head strike.
Morales has a couple of punches blocked by Sykes.
Morales swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sykes is trying to pull guard but Morales has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riley Sykes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morales misses with some punches.
Morales fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Morales swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Morales fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sykes blocks an uppercut.
Sykes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
Morales misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Morales.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morales.
Morales misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sykes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sykes is trying to pull guard but Morales turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Morales lands a hook that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morales gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sykes.
Morales pushes Sykes back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Morales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Still in the clinch, Morales scores with a nice short uppercut.
Morales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Morales dodges an elbow strike from Sykes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Morales.
Morales has a couple of punches blocked by Sykes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sykes misses with a knee strike.
Sykes is looking to take this one to the mat.
Morales swings wildly with an uppercut but Sykes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Morales lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Morales comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morales has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Morales!