PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasiliy Syrovatkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus comes to the cage accompanied by Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn'. Syrovatkin has chosen Chris Clark - Herr Barr as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McManus
vs
Syrovatkin

177 cm
22
167 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

165 cm
30
169 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vasiliy Syrovatkin!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Syrovatkin scores with a hook to the body. McManus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McManus avoids the body shot from Syrovatkin.
McManus takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Syrovatkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McManus is looking to slow Syrovatkin down with leg kicks.
A bone on bone clash there as McManus blocks the leg kick.
Syrovatkin thows a body shot but no joy.
Vasiliy Syrovatkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McManus walks into a straight right hand from Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin tries to clinch up.
Syrovatkin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from McManus.
Syrovatkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McManus avoids a punch combination nicely.
Syrovatkin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McManus as he jumps to the side.
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!
Syrovatkin feints and then cracks McManus's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McManus down.
Syrovatkin throws a good cross that connects.
McManus slips a straight right by Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin throws the left hand but McManus avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Syrovatkin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from McManus.
McManus blocks a leg kick.
McManus misses with a looping left.
Syrovatkin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down McManus rather than just go for the knockout.
Syrovatkin misses the jab.
A good leg kick by Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin throws a lazy right hand but McManus sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Syrovatkin throws a shot to the body.

Syrovatkin rushes McManus and presses him up against the cage.
McManus misses with the head strike.
Syrovatkin working aggressively here.
Syrovatkin is stalling here.
McManus prevents a body shot from Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McManus doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syrovatkin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Syrovatkin tries to work over McManus's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
McManus lands a right hand that snaps the head of Syrovatkin backwards.
A short left from Syrovatkin.

McManus breaks from the clinch.
Syrovatkin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces McManus back to the cage. Syrovatkin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Syrovatkin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McManus.
Syrovatkin thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on McManus if he has to take too many more of those.
Syrovatkin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McManus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McManus takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Syrovatkin lands with an overhand left.
McManus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McManus will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Syrovatkin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Syrovatkin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McManus as he jumps to the side.
Syrovatkin misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syrovatkin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and McManus counters with a nice low kick that buckles Syrovatkin's knee momentarily.
Syrovatkin fails with the takedown.
Connor McManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasiliy Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin needs to keep his hands up - McManus had a free shot at his head there.
McManus tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Syrovatkin was well out of range. Poor timing from McManus.

McManus drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
McManus is looking to take a break and control but Syrovatkin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Syrovatkin is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, McManus asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Syrovatkin is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
McManus remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
McManus throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McManus trying to control the position but Syrovatkin is working away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Syrovatkin bucks up and tries to throw McManus off but instead McManus has got his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasiliy Syrovatkin dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Syrovatkin. Those never looked like landing.
Vasiliy Syrovatkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McManus lands with a right hand.
McManus throws a looping overhand right but Syrovatkin ducks down to avoid it.
McManus shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McManus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Syrovatkin swivels and escapes.
Syrovatkin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
McManus lands with a straight right. Syrovatkin didn't see that one coming.
McManus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Syrovatkin.
McManus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McManus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Syrovatkin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McManus somewhat.
McManus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Syrovatkin's waist but Syrovatkin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McManus off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Syrovatkin lands with a good body shot.
Syrovatkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Syrovatkin instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syrovatkin lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Syrovatkin.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Syrovatkin.
A short uppercut from Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin lands a left hand that snaps the head of McManus backwards.
Syrovatkin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Syrovatkin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Syrovatkin lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Syrovatkin misses with a hook to the ribs.

Syrovatkin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
McManus tries to buck Syrovatkin off but Syrovatkin is having none of it.
McManus is not content to let Syrovatkin control the position.
McManus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Syrovatkin's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus wants to improve his position but Syrovatkin is controlling well.
Syrovatkin wants to pass to mount but McManus is defending the position.
Syrovatkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.
McManus is looking for a sweep. Syrovatkin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McManus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Syrovatkin scores with a couple of nice shots.
McManus manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McManus working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Syrovatkin has passed into half guard!
McManus is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Syrovatkin jumps into side control!
McManus gets back to half guard.
McManus is not content to let Syrovatkin control the position.
McManus is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus is trying to maintain the position but Syrovatkin is very close to passing his half guard.

McManus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Syrovatkin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Connor McManus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Syrovatkin prevents McManus from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasiliy Syrovatkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McManus on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Syrovatkin. McManus does a little dance to reset his feet.
McManus misses with a wild body shot.
Syrovatkin throws a leg kick which misses McManus's front leg but catches the back leg as McManus tries to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from Syrovatkin as McManus shoots in.
Donk. Syrovatkin catches McManus right on the button with a cross.
Syrovatkin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed McManus momentarily.
Syrovatkin lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McManus thuds a left hand into Syrovatkin's body.
Syrovatkin throws a low kick, looking for McManus's leg but McManus calmly moves out of range.
McManus stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Syrovatkin.
McManus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Syrovatkin misses with a left hand
and McManus counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McManus just misses with a punch to the body.
McManus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McManus connects with a body shot.
McManus fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syrovatkin tries to land a front kick but McManus steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A clash of legs there as McManus blocks the low kick.
Syrovatkin chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Syrovatkin takes the fight into the clinch.
Syrovatkin lands a nice uppercut.
A body shot lands from Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McManus.
Syrovatkin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of McManuss head.
Good body shot from Syrovatkin.
Vasiliy Syrovatkin seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Syrovatkin tries to work over McManus's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Syrovatkin struggles to land a body shot inside as McManus controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syrovatkin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Syrovatkin misses with a punch to the body.
Syrovatkin misses with a punch on the inside.
Syrovatkin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Syrovatkin digs a right hand into McManus's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on McManus's gas tank.
Syrovatkin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McManus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Syrovatkin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A left hand lands to the body for Syrovatkin.
A left hand lands to the body for Syrovatkin.
A left hand lands to the body for Syrovatkin.
A right hand to the body from Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin lands a nice uppercut.

McManus is rocked!
McManus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Syrovatkin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Oh McManus is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Syrovatkin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Syrovatkin there.
Syrovatkin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ground and pound from Syrovatkin.
Syrovatkin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for McManus!
Syrovatkin lands a big shot to the head and McManus winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Vasiliy Syrovatkin!
Vasiliy Syrovatkin gave a mention to Steel Penn's Laundry 93% in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).