PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kira Miyata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vesa Sykk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Miyata might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to NANO - no pain, no game. Sykk comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Miyata
vs
Sykk

171 cm
22
153 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

172 cm
22
155 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality
Damnfield clothing

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kira Miyata!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vesa Sykk!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Miyata checks a leg kick.
Miyata tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sykk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Miyata takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

It looks like Kira Miyata has been cut.
Miyata misses with a wild body shot.
Nice defenses there by Miyata.

Sykk drives through and clinches with Miyata against the cage.
Miyata tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Sykk manages to break the clinch.
Miyata throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Sykk on the side of the head.
Sykk scores with a leg kick.
Sykk throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Miyata.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sykk, right into the meat.
Sykk tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Miyata is able to avoid easily.
Sykk avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sykk uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Miyata.
Sykk misses with a head kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sykk lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Miyata has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Miyata and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Miyata throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Miyata slips under a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sykk. That's going to slow Miyata down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sykk. Miyata does a little dance to reset his feet.
Miyata goes for a double leg but Sykk avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sykk continues to drive forward.
Miyata has Sykk pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sykk manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sykk lands a nice uppercut.
Sykk pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Miyata takes a shot to the head.
Sykk is working for takedown but Miyata is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sykk comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short right from Sykk on the inside.
Sykk looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sykk lands an elbow inside.
Sykk lands an elbow just above Miyata 's eye.
Miyata blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sykk will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Miyata up against the cage.
Miyata blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miyata jumps guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sykk working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sykk throws a big elbow that misses.
Sykk wants to stand but Miyata is controlling his posture from full guard.
Miyata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Miyata has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykk pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miyata is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Miyata looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sykk trying to control but Miyata is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miyata working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vesa Sykk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kira Miyata's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Miyata misses the shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Miyata. Those never looked like landing.
Sykk avoids the body shot from Miyata.
Sykk throws a hook but Miyata blocks it.
Sykk finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Miyata scores with a decent looking hook.
Sykk dodges the punch combination from Miyata.
Sykk cracks the inside of Miyata's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sykk.
Sykk throws a head kick that misses.
Sykk takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sykk misses with a head kick.
A clash of legs there as Miyata blocks the low kick.
Sykk tries a head kick but it misses.
Miyata looks to throw the jab but Sykk is out of range.
Sykk is looking to score with low kicks.
Miyata misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykk scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Sykk as Miyata shoots in.
Miyata looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Miyata tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Sykk counters with an outside leg kick.
Sykk shoots in for a takedown but Miyata shows good takedown defense.
Miyata looks to land a left hand but Sykk moved out of range nicely.

Miyata fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sykk sprawls well initially but Miyata persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Miyata trying to control the action but Sykk is working from the bottom.
Sykk desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyata prevents Sykk from improving his position.
Miyata with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sykk trying to hold on to Miyata's head to control him but Miyata postures up.

Miyata is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sykk is just riding it out for now. Miyata eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyata wants to take a breather but Sykk is having none of it.
Sykk is pressing down on Miyata's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sykk looking to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Miyata preventing the sweep.
Sykk is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vesa Sykk will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kira Miyata's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Miyata doesn't manage to clinch there - Sykk circles away.
Miyata throws the left hand but Sykk avoids the punch easily.
Sykk defending well as Miyata loads up on a big left hand.
Miyata loads up on a big right hand but Sykk slips the punch.

Sykk gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Miyata to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sykk keeping moving, preventing Miyata from controlling successfully.
Sykk trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykk trying to control the position here.
Miyata wants to pass the guard but Sykk is keeping the position.

Sykk working for a triangle but Miyata defends it easily.
Miyata looking to sit in guard and control but Sykk gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kira Miyata has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyata is pulling down on Sykk's head to control his posture.
Miyata keeping full guard, as Sykk tries to pass.

Miyata looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miyata is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sykk must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sykk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sykk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sykk advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sykk tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Miyata is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kira Miyata showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sykk has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vesa Sykk!
A victorious Vesa Sykk thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.