PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Sykes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Swanson comes to the cage accompanied by The Devil You Know. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Swanson
vs
Sykes

184 cm
20
208 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
222 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Swanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Sykes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Sykes.

It looks like John Swanson has been cut.
Swanson tries to clinch there but Sykes circles away.
Sykes throws a lazy uppercut

and Swanson counters with a single leg into guard. Sykes didn't expect that.

Sykes scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Swanson dives in and grabs Sykes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sykes pushes down on Swanson's head and hops out.
And Sykes tries to counter it with a takedown but Swanson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sykes has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Swanson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Swanson scores with a nice strike.

Sykes moves into the clinch.
Swanson can't get the takedown.
Sykes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes lands with a light punch inside.
Sykes lands with a light punch inside.
Swanson wants to get back to striking at distance but Sykes won't allow it.

Swanson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swanson connects with a leg kick. Sykes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Sykes checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Despite the aggression on Sykes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That kick from Swanson tenderised Sykes's leg. Sykes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Swanson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sykes. That did some damage!

Sykes gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykes lands with a short shot to the head.
Swanson blocks a body shot from Sykes.
Sykes misses with a punch to the body.
Sykes throws a head punch that misses.
Swanson struggles to land a body shot inside as Sykes controls his hands.
Sykes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Swanson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Swanson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Swanson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Swanson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Swanson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sykes's head.
Sykes wants to control but Swanson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Swanson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swanson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swanson controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sykes ducks under a wild hook from Swanson.
Swanson throws a jab but it's blocked by Sykes.
Sykes moves away from the strike by Swanson.
Sykes is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Nice sprawl there from Sykes as Swanson shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sykes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swanson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sykes sprawls and moves away.
Swanson is looking to slow Sykes down with leg kicks.
Sykes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Swanson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
That kick from Swanson tenderised Sykes's leg. Sykes is trying to keep his angry face on.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sykes connects with a body shot that sends Swanson's belly button to the back.
Sykes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sykes cracks a nice hook into Swanson's ribs.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Sykes tries to counter it with a takedown but Swanson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Sykes misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Swanson back to the cage. Sykes follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Swanson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sykes.
Sykes lands a glancing blow to the side of Swanson's head.
Swanson cracks Sykes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Sykes closes the distance and pushes Swanson back into the cage.
Sykes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sykes blocks a body shot from Swanson.

Swanson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swanson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sloppy strikes from Sykes. Those never looked like landing.

Sykes closes the distance and clinches.
Sykes misses with a punch on the inside.
Sykes working aggressively here.
Sykes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Swanson's elbow.
Swanson throws a head punch that misses.
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!
Swanson has Sykes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sykes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Swanson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A left and a right from Sykes both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Swanson clinches.
Sykes lands with a short shot to the head.

Swanson breaks the clinch.

Swanson clinches.
Sykes swings wildly with an uppercut but Swanson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Sykes fails to land.
Sykes misses with a punch to the body.
Swanson blocks a body shot from Sykes.
Sykes misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Sykes.
Sykes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swanson lands a hook that snaps the head of Sykes backwards.

Swanson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Sykes regains guard immediately.
Swanson throws an elbow that misses. Sykes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Swanson's guard. Nice move by Sykes!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xavier Sykes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Swanson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sykes dodges the punch combination from Swanson.
Xavier Sykes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sykes tries to bum rush Swanson with a series of wild strikes but Swanson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sykes takes a swing at Swanson's ribcage but misses.
Swanson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sykes sprawls and moves away.
Swanson throws a front kick aimed at Sykes's knee but Sykes avoids it well.
Sykes tries to clinch up.
Swanson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sykes.
Swanson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sykes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Swanson.
Sykes throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykes lands an overhand right.
Xavier Sykes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sykes shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Swanson eats them both and turns towards Sykes to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Sykes 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.

John Swanson's cut is getting worse.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sykes tries to clinch up.
Swanson throws a leg kick but Sykes sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Good leg kick by Swanson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson throws an off balance right hand
and Sykes counters with a stiff right hand.
Sykes throws a jab when Swanson was well out of range.
Xavier Sykes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Sykes misses.
Sykes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sykes lands with a cross.
Xavier Sykes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sykes tries to clinch but Swanson moves out of range.

Sykes tries to keep at a distance but Swanson has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Sykes.

Swanson manages to break the clinch.
Swanson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sykes's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sykes duly obliges.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sykes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Swanson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swanson tries to move into range but Sykes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Swanson fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sykes moves into range and clinches up with Swanson.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sykes works the jab nicely.
Sykes wants to clinch up but Swanson keeps it at a distance.
Swanson scores with a decent looking hook.
Sykes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Swanson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sykes works over Swanson's head and body with a nice combination.

John Swanson's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Swanson tries for a takedown but Sykes sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Swanson throws out a powerful jab.
Sykes misses with a straight right.
Sykes misses the shot to the body.
Swanson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A punch lands to the side of Swanson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Swanson misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes wants to clinch up but Swanson keeps it at a distance.
Sykes ducks under a wild hook from Swanson.
Sykes is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A bone on bone clash there as Sykes blocks the leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Swanson.
Sykes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Swanson fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sykes throws a hook to the side of Swanson's head but Swanson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Sykes moves into the clinch successfully.
Swanson blocks an uppercut.
Swanson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Swanson blocks a body shot from Sykes.
Sykes swings wildly with an uppercut but Swanson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sykes misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sykes.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sykes.
Sykes has a couple of punches blocked by Swanson.
Sykes fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sykes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Sykes lands a body punch in the clinch.

Swanson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sykes jabs Swanson right on the nose. Swanson blinks but takes it well.
Sykes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sykes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Swanson.
Sykes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Swanson throws out the jab.
Swanson dives in for a single leg takedown but Sykes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sykes wants to clinch up but Swanson keeps it at a distance.
Swanson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sykes tries to clinch but Swanson is having none of it.
Swanson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sykes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Swanson throws a big shot that misses.
Despite the aggression on Sykes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swanson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sykes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Sykes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Swanson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Sykes slaps away a takedown attempt from Swanson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sykes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sykes catches Swanson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sykes misses with the combination.
Sykes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Swanson circles away quickly and effectively.
Swanson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sykes was well out of range. Poor timing from Swanson.
Swanson throws a body shot but no joy.
Sykes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Swanson.
Sykes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Swanson moves into the clinch.
Swanson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Swanson is looking for a takedown.

Swanson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sykes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sykes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sykes momentarily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Swanson.

Sykes closes the distance and pushes Swanson back into the cage.
Sykes misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sykes tries a body shot but Swanson blocks it.
Sykes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Sykes.
Swanson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xavier Sykes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Swanson manages to break the clinch.
Swanson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sykes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Swanson under the eye.
Swanson tries to move into range but Sykes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Sykes tries to clinch

and Swanson counters with a shoot takedown. Sykes fights it but they end up in guard.

Sykes has his feet on Swanson's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sykes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
John Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sykes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swanson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sykes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swanson tries to clinch up but Sykes circles away and keeps his distance.
Swanson throws a hook but Sykes blocks it.
Sykes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sykes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Swanson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Swanson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sykes quickly recovers to half guard.

Sykes has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Swanson is on him like a limpet, forcing Sykes back against the cage.
Swanson blocks an uppercut.
Sykes goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykes misses with a punch on the inside.
Sykes lands with a short shot to the head.
Swanson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sykes misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sykes misses with a hook to the ribs.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Swanson misses with a body shot.
Sykes defending well as Swanson loads up on a big left hand.
Sykes swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Swanson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sykes.
Swanson misses with an uppercut. Sykes saw that one coming.
Despite the aggression on Sykes's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Swanson rushes Sykes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Swanson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sykes misses with a double jab

and Swanson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Swanson stands up over Sykes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swanson works over Sykes with some ground and pound from guard.
Sykes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sykes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Swanson.
Swanson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Swanson throws a big right hand that misses.
Xavier Sykes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Swanson trying to control the position from guard on top but Sykes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Swanson looks to throw the jab but Sykes is out of range.
Swanson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sykes tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Swanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sykes throws a nice looking combination but Swanson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sykes misses with a body shot.
Swanson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sykes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Swanson circles away quickly and effectively.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Xavier Sykes.
I've got Sykes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Xavier Sykes!