PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lucas Bouchard (ranked 6708 p4p, 4315 weight class) and Samuel Sycek (ranked 712 p4p, 549 weight class). Samuel Sycek has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bouchard
vs
Sycek

186 cm
23
187
1 - 4 - 0

178 cm
20
193
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lucas Bouchard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samuel Sycek!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Sycek or perhaps it was just good defense by Bouchard, which made it look bad.
Sycek shoots in looking for a takedown but Bouchard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sycek's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bouchard throws a head kick that misses.
Bouchard fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sycek on the side of the head.

Bouchard takes the fight into the clinch.
Bouchard taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Bouchard wants to get back to striking at distance but Sycek won't allow it.

Sycek works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bouchard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Bouchard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sycek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sycek postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sycek landing some decent shots from guard.
Bouchard wants to stand but Sycek is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bouchard has control of Sycek's left arm, preventing Sycek from doing any damage.
Sycek with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sycek lands a couple of elbows.
Sycek postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sycek connects with a couple of short punches.
Sycek looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bouchard looking for a sweep. Not yet Bouchard, not yet.
Sycek throws a big right hand that misses.
Sycek postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bouchard is looking to stand up but Sycek isn't so interested in that idea.
Bouchard knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sycek on the ground.
Bouchard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sycek.
Sycek throwing strikes from guard but Bouchard blocks nicely.
Sycek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sycek has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Sycek advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sycek working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sycek is pressing down on Bouchard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bouchard is holding on for now.
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. Sycek connects with a nice short shot to Bouchard's temple.
Sycek throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sycek sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bouchard defending well though.
Bouchard wants to get back to full guard.
Sycek thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bouchard's head.
Sycek working Bouchard over with strikes.
Sycek drops an elbow to the side of Bouchard's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bouchard trying to hold on to Sycek's head to control him but Sycek postures up.
Bouchard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sycek.
Sycek lands strikes from half guard.
Sycek is nestled in close to Bouchard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sycek missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bouchard is trying to maintain the position but Sycek is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sycek works his way into full mount!
Sycek is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Bouchard is rocked!
Sycek lands a big shot there that rocks Bouchard but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Oh Bouchard is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sycek postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Bouchard badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Sycek around the waist but Sycek pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Sycek is the winner by TKO! Sycek jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Samuel Sycek!