PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anton Ilmarinen (ranked 194 p4p, 550 weight class) and Samuel Sycek (ranked 23 p4p, 66 weight class). Samuel Sycek acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ilmarinen
vs
Sycek

186 cm
32
198
16 - 4 - 0

178 cm
28
193
15 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Fantasy Threads

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anton Ilmarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Samuel Sycek!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilmarinen leaves Sycek with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ilmarinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sycek was well out of range. Poor timing from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Sycek shoots in for a double leg but Ilmarinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sycek closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ilmarinen circles away.
Anton Ilmarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuel Sycek.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sycek fails to pull guard.
Ilmarinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Ilmarinen on the inside.
Ilmarinen prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen has a couple of punches blocked by Sycek.
Sycek is trying to drag Ilmarinen to the mat but Ilmarinen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sycek tries to pull guard but Ilmarinen won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen prevents a body shot from Sycek.
A shot in the inside from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sycek backwards.
Sycek fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ilmarinen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ilmarinen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Sycek pulls guard successfully.
Sycek is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ilmarinen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ilmarinen wants to control from the top but Sycek keeps moving.
Ilmarinen 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.
Ilmarinen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ilmarinen postures up and lands a big shot to Sycek's brow.
Ilmarinen won't allow Sycek to sweep him here.
Sycek is still trying to improve position.
Ilmarinen content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen distracts Sycek with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Sycek is working from the bottom.
Sycek trying to keep a closed guard but Ilmarinen is proving a slippery customer.
Ilmarinen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ilmarinen cracks Sycek with a solid left hand.
Sycek throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ilmarinen working some strikes from top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ilmarinen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ilmarinen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ilmarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sycek is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ilmarinen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen chips away with some ground and pound.
Ilmarinen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sycek not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sycek keeping moving, preventing Ilmarinen from controlling successfully.
Ilmarinen working some strikes from top position.
Ilmarinen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ilmarinen looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ilmarinen wants to control from the top but Sycek keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sycek is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ilmarinen is pushing down on Sycek's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sycek is fighting to maintain full guard but Ilmarinen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ilmarinen slips a nice elbow through Sycek's hands, connecting with Sycek's forehead.
Ilmarinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sycek keeps working.

Ilmarinen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ilmarinen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sycek does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sycek tries to get to full guard but Ilmarinen has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ilmarinen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ilmarinen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Ilmarinen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sycek tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ilmarinen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sycek somewhat.
Ilmarinen feinted with a counter takedown.
Ilmarinen misses with a straight right.
Ilmarinen swings for the body but Sycek moves out of range.
Ilmarinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sycek shoots in but Ilmarinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ilmarinen lands with an overhand left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sycek looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Anton Ilmarinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Samuel Sycek.
Sycek fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ilmarinen avoids it really well and circles away.
Ilmarinen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sycek sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Sycek shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ilmarinen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ilmarinen gets back to half guard.
Ilmarinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sycek.
Ilmarinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen is trying to keep Sycek in close.
Ilmarinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sycek stands over his opponent and dives in with a flying punch! Ilmarinen throws up his legs and catches Sycek in a triangle! Oh this looks tight! Sycek tries to escape but he's forced to tap! Wow, fantastic work there by Ilmarinen! That came out of nowhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Anton Ilmarinen!
After winning the bout, Anton Ilmarinen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.