PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Sydal (ranked 4373 p4p, 4770 weight class) and Shadow Goat (ranked 438 p4p, 0 weight class). Shadow Goat will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sydal
vs
Goat

201 cm
21
270
1 - 0 - 0

215 cm
25
235
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dylan Sydal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Shadow Goat!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goat misses with the combination.
Goat fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sydal on the side of the head.
Goat lands a lovely overhand right.
A nice combination there by Goat.
Sydal takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Goat scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Shadow Goat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sydal showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Goat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Goat enables Sydal to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Goat manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sydal pushing down on Goat's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goat is trying to stand.
Sydal trying to mount his opponent but Goat defends it.
Sydal lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sydal stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Goat misses with a combination

and Sydal counters by clinching up.
Sydal displaying some good clinch control by pressing Goat up against the cage.
Goat looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sydal pulls guard effortlessly.
Goat really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sydal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Goat wants to stand and escape but instead Sydal has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Goat being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sydal slips nicely into half guard.
Ground and pound from Sydal.
Goat is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Sydal seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Sydal is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Goat has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goat is trying to escape back to his feet but Sydal uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Goat is trying to get back to his feet.

Sydal decides to stand back up.
Goat punishes Sydal's body with a nice straight punch.

Sydal shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Goat napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Goat is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sydal happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goat tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Sydal loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Goat hold on?
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dylan Sydal will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sydal fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Goat sprawls well initially but Sydal persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Sydal is taking a breather. Goat says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Sydal seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Goat for as long as he can get away with.
Goat wants to control but Sydal is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sydal stalling.
Sydal's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Dylan Sydal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Sydal there.

Sydal is looking for a kimura here.
Sydal stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Sydal looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sydal is nestled in close to Goat, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sydal perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sydal prevents Goat from standing back up.

Sydal stands up out of the half guard.
Goat misses with a few strikes there.

Sydal forces Goat back against the cage and clinches.

Sydal pulls guard.
Sydal throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sydal has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Goat can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Goat wants to stand but Sydal is controlling his posture from full guard.
Goat must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sydal wants to get back to his feet but Goat is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sydal on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sydal tries to get out of the position.
Sydal throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sydal wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Sydal rushes Goat and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sydal is trying to pull guard but Goat turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Goat is trying to push Sydal away but Sydal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Goat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Some wild striking there from Goat.
As Goat backs away, Sydal returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Sydal dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Goat throws a series of punches but Sydal moves out of range.
Goat shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sydal eats them both and turns towards Goat to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Goat is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Sydal has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sydal decides to pull guard.
Goat tries to stand but Sydal is controlling from the bottom.
Sydal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sydal is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Goat stopping the sweep attempt from Sydal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goat won't allow Sydal to get back to his feet.
Sydal has a closed guard, preventing Goat from standing up.

Sydal had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Goat defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sydal wants to stand but Goat is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Goat cracks Sydal with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

Sydal forces Goat back against the cage and clinches.
Sydal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Goat gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sydal.
Sydal throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sydal manages to break the clinch.
Sydal is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Goat.
Goat throws a one two combo.
Goat throws a nice looking combination but Sydal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dylan Sydal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Goat swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
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!
Goat lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sydal circles away quickly and effectively.
Goat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Goat scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Sydal slips a jab and a cross from Goat.

Sydal has closed the distance and engaged Goat in a clinch.
Sydal just leaning against Goat, taking a breather.
Goat is pressed up against the cage. Sydal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Goat down to the mat. Goat avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goat swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Sydal counters by moving into the clinch.

Sydal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Goat throws a series of punches but Sydal avoids them all with ease.
Shadow Goat seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sydal throws a head kick but Goat moves out of range.
Goat looks to land a combination but Sydal avoids it well.

Sydal has closed the distance and engaged Goat in a clinch.

Sydal lands a takedown into guard.
Sydal chips away with some ground and pound.
Sydal wants to pass the guard but Goat is keeping the position.

Sydal stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sydal is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Goat's half guard.
Goat scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Sydal manages to mount him!
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!
Sydal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Sydal raining down shots from the mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shadow Goat.
I think Sydal has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dylan Sydal!