PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maverick Syndal (ranked 1331 p4p, 1333 weight class) and Thorvald Espensen (ranked 191 p4p, 192 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Syndal
vs
Espensen

180 cm
33
170
17 - 9 - 1

177 cm
28
185
8 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

HELLBENT

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 17 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maverick Syndal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thorvald Espensen!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Syndal lands with a nice body punch.
Espensen misses with a hook. Syndal ducked under it nicely.
A punch combination from Syndal misses.
Syndal tries a head kick but it misses.
Syndal pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Syndal cracks Espensen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Syndal connects with a right hand. Espensen shakes it off.
Espensen staying out of range there.
Syndal swats away the attempt to clinch by Espensen.
We've been informed that Espensen has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Syndal lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Espensen clinches with his opponent.
Espensen lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Espensen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Espensen tries a knee to the head but Syndal blocks it.
Syndal blocks the elbow strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Espensen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Syndal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Syndal stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Syndal.
Espensen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Espensen.
Espensen has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
Espensen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Espensen.
Espensen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Espensen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Espensen landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Syndal takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Espensen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Syndals head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espensen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Syndal slowing the pace effectively.
Espensen struggles to land a body shot inside as Syndal controls his hands.
Espensen can't find room to land a body shot as Syndal controls the action.
Espensen working aggressively here.
The referee calls for Syndal to work.
Espensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Syndal.
Syndal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Espensen scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Syndal prevents a body shot from Espensen.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.
Espensen tries to land a knee to the head but Syndal blocks with his arms.
Espensen misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal scores with a shot to the side of Espensen's head.
Syndal stalling the fight.
Espensen struggles to land a body shot inside as Syndal controls his hands.
Espensen misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Espensen.
Espensen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Espensen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Espensen misses with a knee to the head.
Syndal avoids a wild elbow strike from Espensen.
Syndal blocks an uppercut.
Espensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Syndal.
Espensen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Espensen lands a right hand.
Espensen misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syndal avoiding damage as Espensen throws knees to the body.
Espensen misses with a punch on the inside.
Espensen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Syndal looking to stall.
Espensen misses with some punches.
Espensen crunches a lovely knee into Syndal's ribcage.
Espensen misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Espensen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Espensen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
Syndal swings wildly with an uppercut but Espensen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Syndal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Syndal.
Syndal is trying to break the clinch but Espensen has him pressed against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thorvald Espensen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Syndal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Espensen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Syndal.
Syndal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Espensen.
Syndal throws a front kick aimed at Espensen's knee but Espensen avoids it well.
Syndal takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Syndal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Decent striking displayed by Espensen there.
Syndal scores with a shot to the body.
Syndal throws a body punch but Espensen moves out of range.
Espensen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A shot to the liver by Espensen. Beautiful body shot.
Espensen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Syndal.
Espensen throws a low kick but Syndal moves out of range easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Espensen.
Syndal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Espensen moves away.
A swing and a miss from Syndal.
Syndal throws a shot from downtown. Espensen moves away and avoids it.
Espensen avoids the head kick by Syndal.
Espensen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Syndal misses with a left hand
and Espensen counters with a right hand to the body.
Syndal is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Syndal jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal throws a nice looking combination but Espensen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Espensen avoids the body shot from Syndal.
A low kick from Espensen misses
and Syndal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Espensen misses the shot to the body.
Syndal misses with a few strikes there.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A shot to the body from Syndal misses
and Espensen counters with a slapping leg kick.
Espensen swings for the body but Syndal moves out of range.
Syndal takes one to the side of the head.
Syndal swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Espensen.
Syndal checks a leg kick.
Syndal throws a body shot but no joy.
Espensen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A swing and a miss from Espensen.
Espensen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Espensen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Syndal checks the leg kick.
Nice shot by Espensen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Espensen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Syndal's sensitive parts.
Syndal fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Espensen manages to avoid it.
Espensen lands with a good body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espensen staying out of range there.
Syndal goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A solid leg kick lands there for Espensen.
Syndal misses with a straight left.
Espensen motions for Syndal to come forward. Espensen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Espensen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Syndal is able to avoid easily.
Espensen slips a straight right by Syndal.
Espensen thumps Syndal with a low kick.
Syndal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Espensen.
Espensen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Espensen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Syndal manages to avoid it.
Espensen throws a shot to the body.
Espensen swings for the body but Syndal moves out of range.
Syndal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Espensen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Syndal lands a body shot.
Espensen lands a head kick. Syndal smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The fighters circling - Syndal throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Syndal sets himself, and Espensen steps forward looking for the clinch! Syndal avoids it this time.
Syndal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal connects with a leg kick.
Espensen ducks under a wild hook from Syndal.
Espensen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Syndal fires out a quick counter leg kick but Espensen just manages to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Espensen.
Espensen thows a leg kick but Syndal checks it
enabling Syndal to counter with a crisp jab.
Syndal is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Espensen defending well as Syndal loads up on a big left hand.
Syndal misses with a straight left.
Espensen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Espensen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Espensen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Syndal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Maverick Syndal is winning the standup battle so far.
Espensen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Syndal. That did some damage!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Syndal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Espensen throws a leg kick
and Syndal counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Syndal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Espensen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Syndal rather than just go for the knockout.
Espensen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Espensen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Syndal swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Syndal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Espensen sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espensen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Syndal counters with a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Syndal checks a leg kick.
Syndal misses the body punch

and Espensen counters by clinching up.
Syndal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Syndal looking to stall.
Espensen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thorvald Espensen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Espensen working aggressively here.
Espensen has a couple of punches blocked by Syndal.
Espensen struggles to land a body shot inside as Syndal controls his hands.
Espensen throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Espensen throws a punch but it's blocked by Syndal.

Syndal breaks from the clinch.
Syndal looks to land a left hand but Espensen moved out of range nicely.
Espensen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Maverick Syndal will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Syndal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Espensen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Espensen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Syndal was well out of range. Poor timing from Espensen.
Espensen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Syndal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Syndal throws a hook but Espensen avoids it easily.
Espensen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Syndal misses with a straight left.
Syndal goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Syndal on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Syndal checks the leg kick.
Syndal throws a body punch but Espensen moves out of range.
Syndal throws a lazy right hand but Espensen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Espensen moves out of range of the strikes.
Espensen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Syndal at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Syndal misses the target.
Espensen works the jab nicely.
Syndal swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Espensen counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Espensen ducks under a wild hook from Syndal.
Syndal misses with a hook. Espensen ducked under it nicely.
Syndal walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Espensen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
That kick from Espensen tenderised Syndal's leg. Syndal is trying to keep his angry face on.
Espensen lands a slapping body shot.
Syndal has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Espensen.
Espensen misses the shot to the body.
Espensen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Espensen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Syndal.
Syndal takes a swing at Espensen's ribcage but misses.
Syndal throws a shot from downtown. Espensen moves away and avoids it.
Espensen looks to score with a jab to the body but Syndal is just out of range.
Espensen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Espensen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Syndal on the side of the head.

Espensen has managed to clinch.
Espensen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Syndal backwards.
Syndal gets through Espensen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Espensen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Espensen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Espensen tries to land knees in the clinch but Syndal avoids the damage to the body.
A shot in the inside from Espensen.
Espensen tries a body shot but Syndal blocks it.
Espensen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Espensen lands a left hand.
Espensen looking to throw knees to the head but Syndal is blocking nicely.
A head punch on the inside from Espensen fails to land.
Espensen tries to work over Syndal's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Espensen misses with an elbow over the top.
Espensen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Espensen lands with a left to the head.
Espensen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Espensen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Syndal breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syndal misses the shot to the body.
Espensen thinks about the counter body kick.
Syndal blocks a low kick nicely.
Espensen tries to move into range but Syndal moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Espensen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A slapping leg kick lands for Espensen.
Espensen slips under a jab.
Espensen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Espensen lands a leg kick that knocks Syndal off balance momentarily.
Espensen tries a low kick but Syndal avoids it.
Espensen misses with a low kick as Syndal jumps back.
Syndal listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Espensen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Syndal rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Espensen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Espensen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Espensen with the inside leg kick.
A jab from Syndal misses.
Espensen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Espensen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espensen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Syndal's sensitive parts.
Syndal takes one on the button.
Espensen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Espensen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Syndal's hands.
Espensen thuds a left hand into Syndal's body.
Danga de danga de dang - Syndal scores with a four punch combination!

Espensen is rocked!
and Syndal counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Espensen! He's just covering up as Syndal starts to tee off till the referee steps in and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Maverick Syndal!
An out of breath Maverick Syndal thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.