PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Sycek (ranked 1467 p4p, 1735 weight class) and Billy Conforto (ranked 215 p4p, 244 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Conforto's choice of entrance music: Alabama- Bishop Gunn. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Billy Conforto enters the cage!

Sycek
vs
Conforto

178 cm
23
193
7 - 5 - 0

185 cm
23
185
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samuel Sycek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Conforto!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sycek fails with an attempt to clinch.
Conforto unleashes a big counter combination but Sycek bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sycek shoots in but Conforto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Conforto ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sycek takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Samuel Sycek has been cut.
Sycek shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Conforto but Conforto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Conforto tries a quick counter leg kick but Sycek is wise to it.
Conforto throws a big shot that misses.
Sycek feinted with a counter takedown.
Conforto looks to score with a jab to the body but Sycek is just out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Conforto.
Sycek slips a jab from Conforto.
Conforto looks to score with a jab to the body but Sycek is just out of range.
Conforto missing with a left hand there. Sycek was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sycek moves out of range of the strikes.
Sycek staying out of range there.

Sycek has Conforto up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Conforto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Sycek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Conforto.
Conforto effectively controlling the action here.
Conforto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sycek.
Sycek is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Conforto to keep the fight standing.
Sycek fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Conforto lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sycek blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Conforto can't find room to land a body shot as Sycek controls the action.
Conforto tries to break free but Sycek pushes him back against the cage.
Conforto misses with an elbow over the top.
I was talking to Sycek's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Conforto working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Sycek pulls guard.
Conforto wants to stand but Sycek is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sycek wants to sweep here but Conforto controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conforto wants to stand but Sycek is controlling his posture from full guard.
Conforto is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Sycek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Conforto tries to stand but Sycek is controlling from the bottom.
Sycek throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Conforto cracks Sycek with an open hand slap.
Conforto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sycek manages to avoid it.

Sycek gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sycek is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Conforto is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sycek pulls guard.
Conforto wants to stand but Sycek has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sycek tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sycek is on top in guard.

Sycek with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sycek throwing strikes but missing.
Sycek works over Conforto with some ground and pound from guard.
Sycek distracts Conforto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sycek trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sycek landing with the ground and pound.
Sycek stops Conforto from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sycek stands up over Conforto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Conforto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Conforto wants to stand up but Sycek is controlling him.
Sycek works over Conforto with some ground and pound from guard.
Sycek stops Conforto from standing up.
Conforto has momentary wrist control but Sycek slips an elbow through the middle.
Sycek chips away with some ground and pound.
Sycek postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sycek postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Sycek 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sycek lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Conforto wants to stand up but Sycek is controlling him.
Conforto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Billy Conforto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Samuel Sycek's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sycek will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Conforto! But no joy.
Sycek shoots in for a takedown but Conforto shows good takedown defense.
Conforto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sycek manages to avoid it.
Sycek appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Sycek drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Conforto parries the strikes from Sycek easily there. Sycek is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Conforto to escape.
Conforto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sycek asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The strikes coming from Sycek are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Conforto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sycek asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conforto takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sycek throws a strike aimed at the side of Conforto's head but Conforto avoids it well.
Sycek scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Conforto to see if he's OK.
Sycek misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Sycek in side control, throwing shots but Conforto defends.
Conforto wants to get back to his feet but Sycek drags him back down.
Sycek cracks Conforto with a big right hand but Conforto just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Conforto felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Sycek cracks Conforto with a big elbow.
Sycek is working Conforto over with some ground and pound from side control.
Conforto on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Conforto taking a bit of punishment here - Sycek scoring with strikes.
Sycek misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Check out the look on Sycek's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sycek landing strikes.
Conforto is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Sycek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Conforto can do to turn this around?
Conforto parries the strikes from Sycek easily there. Sycek is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Conforto to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sycek works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sycek throwing shots but missing, from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sycek throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Conforto wants to get back to his feet but Sycek drags him back down.
Sycek throwing strikes but Conforto manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Sycek sneaks back into half guard.
Sycek punching from the bottom.
Conforto wants to stand but Sycek has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Sycek is looking for a sweep. Conforto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sycek moves into full guard.
Conforto wants to stand but Sycek is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sycek looking to hit a scissor sweep but Conforto is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conforto wanted to stand there but Sycek had control of the position.
Sycek wants to sweep here but Conforto controlling him for the moment.
Sycek with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Conforto can't handle though.
Sycek is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sycek lands with a punch from half guard.
Sycek working over Conforto with some ground and pound. Conforto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sycek lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Sycek missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sycek throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Conforto pushes Sycek off looking to stand but Sycek dives back in and keeps control.
Sycek sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Conforto defending well though.
Conforto is trying to stand up here but Sycek is controlling him well.
Sycek sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Conforto defending well though.
Sycek stops Conforto from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sycek lands a nice short elbow.
Sycek missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sycek prevents Conforto from standing back up.
Sycek is nestled in close to Conforto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Conforto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sycek seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Conforto looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sycek missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Sycek dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Samuel Sycek's cut.
That's time! Sycek's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sycek shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Conforto as he avoids it easily.
Conforto digs a good hook to Sycek's body.
Sycek with a poor takedown
and Conforto counters with a nice uppercut.

Sycek throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Conforto was covering up waiting for the punch and Sycek finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Conforto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sycek.
Sycek cracks Conforto with a solid left hand.
Sycek landing some decent shots from guard.
Sycek stops Conforto from standing up.
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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Conforto is keeping the position for now.
Sycek stops Conforto from standing up.
Sycek missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sycek is looking to work some ground and pound but Conforto has wrist control.
Conforto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sycek is controlling him.
Sycek makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Conforto wants to stand up but Sycek is controlling him.
Samuel Sycek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Sycek throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sycek stops Conforto from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sycek keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Conforto.
Sycek attempts a counter takedown but Conforto avoids it well and moves away.
Conforto throws out a loose jab but Sycek uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Conforto misses with a body shot.
Sycek has his takedown stuffed
and Conforto counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Samuel Sycek. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conforto slaps away a takedown attempt from Sycek, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Sycek takes the fight into the clinch.

Conforto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Conforto lands a head shot.
Sycek slips a jab from Conforto.
Sycek moves away from the strike by Conforto.
Samuel Sycek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conforto jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Sycek scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sycek drops an elbow to the side of Conforto's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sycek throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sycek lands with a punch from half guard.
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 Conforto's temple.
Conforto pushes Sycek off looking to stand but Sycek dives back in and keeps control.
Sycek slips a nice elbow through Conforto's hands, connecting with Conforto's forehead.
Sycek stops Conforto from getting back to his feet.
Conforto has hold of Sycek's hands but Sycek slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sycek scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sycek working the head and body with strikes.
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 Conforto's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sycek slips a nice elbow through Conforto's hands, connecting with Conforto's forehead.

Conforto is rocked!
Sycek working the head and body with strikes.
Conforto is still in real trouble! Can Sycek finish him?
Sycek has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Conforto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sycek has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Conforto's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Conforto is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Sycek loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Conforto scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Sycek land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Sycek stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Samuel Sycek!