PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michal Sykora (ranked 1305 p4p, 2791 weight class) and Tempe Gorge (ranked 100 p4p, 207 weight class). Gorge is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Tempe Gorge struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sykora
vs
Gorge

170 cm
29
142
15 - 16 - 0

170 cm
44
147
19 - 22 - 3

Good wrestling
World class MT
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michal Sykora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 22 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tempe Gorge!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gorge lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gorge misses with a hook
letting Sykora counter with a right hand.
Sykora lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Gorge misses with an uppercut. Sykora saw that one coming.
Sykora misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gorge.
Gorge looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gorge throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sykora fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sykora scores with a sloppy right hand. Gorge should have avoided that one.
Sykora lands with a hook. Gorge tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Gorge throws a push kick but Sykora slaps the foot to one side.
Gorge moves out of range as Sykora throws a body kick.
The fighters circling - Gorge throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gorge looks to score with a jab to the body but Sykora is just out of range.
Gorge connects with a body shot that sends Sykora's belly button to the back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sykora lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gorge thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sykora is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykora avoids the head kick by Gorge.
Sykora displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gorge.
Sykora appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Gorge lands a jab-cross combination.
Gorge misses with a right hand
and Sykora counters with a body kick that stops Gorge in his tracks momentarily.
Gorge throws a big shot that misses.
Sykora looks to throw the jab but Gorge is out of range.
Gorge moves out of range of the body kick.
We've been told by Sykora's head coaches at Brloh that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Gorge connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gorge has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Gorge throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sykora was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gorge misses with a wild combination.
Sykora leaves Gorge with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorge needs to keep his hands up - Sykora had a free shot at his head there.
Gorge fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sykora.
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!
Gorge throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sykora dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gorge. That did some damage!
Gorge misses with an uppercut. Sykora saw that one coming.

Sykora pushes Gorge up against the cage in a clinch.
Sykora makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Gorge wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gorge trying to land knees to the body.
Gorge can't break the clinch.
Sykora is pushing Gorge up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sykora blocking some punches.
Gorge tries to land a knee to the head but Sykora blocks with his arms.
Gorge misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykora creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Gorge's defenses.

It looks like Tempe Gorge has been cut.
Gorge working hard to break the clinch.
Sykora avoiding damage.

Gorge pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gorge does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Gorge throws a series of strikes that have Sykora backpedaling.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gorge.
Sykora connects with a jab.
Sykora takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gorge has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sykora.

Gorge closes the distance and pushes Sykora back into the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gorge throws an elbow but misses.
A short body shot lands from Sykora as the two fighters clinch.
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!
Sykora tries a knee to the head but Gorge blocks it.
Sykora misses with a knee to the head.
Gorge looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorge goes for a takedown attempt but Sykora pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Michal Sykora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tempe Gorge.
Nice body punch from Sykora.
Gorge throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sykora takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Gorge walks into a jab.
Gorge defending well as Sykora loads up on a big left hand.
Gorge misses with a shot to the body
enabling Sykora to counter with a crisp jab.
Sykora throws a right and a left that Gorge avoids nicely.
Sykora connects with the punch.
Gorge wants to slow Sykora down by chopping away at his legs.
Gorge scores with a body shot.
Gorge lands a nice looking body shot.
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 Michal Sykora will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tempe Gorge's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gorge misses with a hook
letting Sykora counter with a right hand.
Sykora avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sykora scores with a nice body kick.
Gorge throws a right hand that misses
and Sykora cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gorge throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Sykora counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tempe Gorge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gorge takes one on the button.
Donk. Sykora catches Gorge right on the button with a cross.
Sykora connects with a single shot there.
Sykora connects with an inside leg kick.
Sykora lands a glancing blow to the side of Gorge's head.
Sykora throws a sloppy head kick and Gorge moves out of range easily.
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!
Sykora is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sykora punishes Gorge's body with a nice straight punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Sykora misses the target.
Gorge misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykora avoids a kick to the body.
Sykora connects with a leg kick.
Gorge pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gorge misses the shot to the body.
Sykora lunges at Gorge with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gorge's hand.
Gorge throws a head kick but Sykora moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gorge is defended easily by Sykora.
Sykora thuds his right hand into Gorge's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sykora fakes the leg kick and cracks Gorge in the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorge throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Sykora counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sykora blocks a head kick by Gorge.
Gorge scores with a punch to the head.
Gorge misses with a series of wild punches.
Sykora tries to land a front kick but Gorge steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gorge! But no joy.
Gorge tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Sykora counters with a straight right hand.
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!
Gorge takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gorge throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sykora lunges at Gorge with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gorge's hand.
Sykora fails to land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Sykora misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykora loads up on a big right hand but Gorge slips the punch.
Gorge has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Gorge looks to land a left hand but Sykora moved out of range nicely.
Gorge throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gorge on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sykora cracks Gorge with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Gorge walks into a stiff left hand from Sykora.
Sykora keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gorge.
Sykora moves out of range of the strikes.
Gorge fails with a takedown attempt.
Sykora cracks Gorge with a good jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sykora.
Gorge takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gorge misses the shot to the body.
Sykora throws a leg kick which misses Gorge's front leg but catches the back leg as Gorge tries to avoid it.
Sykora throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sykora scores with a kick to the body.
Sykora cracks a nice hook into Gorge's ribs.

Sykora clinches up with Gorge and pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Sykora.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sykora scores with a shot to the side of Gorge's head.
Sykora on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sykora keeps control of Gorge as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sykora digs a right hand into Gorge's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gorge's gas tank.
Sykora lands with a left to the head.
Sykora displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gorge up against the cage.
Sykora lands a hook that snaps the head of Gorge backwards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Sykora dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tempe Gorge's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sykora moves into range and clinches up with Gorge.
Gorge throws a head punch that misses.
Sykora pressing his opponent against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Sykora.
Gorge is looking to break free of the clinch but Sykora has double underhooks.
Gorge tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sykora blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gorge's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sykora tries to land a knee to the head but Gorge blocks with his arms.
Gorge has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sykora avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gorge lands with a short shot to the head.
Sykora manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gorge has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sykora is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gorge tries to break the clinch but Sykora is controlling the position.
Sykora tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Gorge breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gorge is looking to clinch but Sykora is avoiding it.
Sykora swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sykora looks to land a body kick but Gorge moved away.
Gorge throws a head kick but Sykora moves out of range.
Sykora is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Gorge.
Gorge pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sykora uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gorge.
Sykora misses with a double jab.
Gorge shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sykora pinned against the cage. Sykora gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Michal Sykora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tempe Gorge.
Gorge takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sykora scores with a jab to the head.
Sykora is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gorge can do to turn this around?
Jab by Sykora.
Tempe Gorge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gorge misses with a takedown attempt
and Sykora counters with a left to the body.
Gorge walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sykora.
Gorge misses with an uppercut
letting Sykora counter with a right hand.
Sykora swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Gorge gets tackled into the cage by Sykora. Sykora maintains the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gorge has had enough of the clinch but Sykora keeps him there for the moment.
Still in the clinch, Sykora scores with a nice short uppercut.
Michal Sykora has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sykora has Gorge pushed against the cage.
Gorge is trying to break the clinch but Sykora is controlling him.
Sykora is leaning against Gorge and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gorge looking for a takedown.
Sykora lands a right hand.
Sykora unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gorge lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A short right from Sykora.
Sykora is leaning against Gorge and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Sykora connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykora landing knees to the head.
Sykora pushes Gorge back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sykora lands a knee to the head.

Gorge is rocked!
Sykora throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gorge takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gorge is still on wobbly legs! Can Sykora finish him?
Sykora has Gorge pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Gorge is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Sykora - that's hurt Gorge badly! Oh, another knee lands and Gorge is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Gorge doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Michal Sykora!