PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sami Sykloni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Stiglitz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sykloni comes to the ring accompanied by Within Temptation - Whole World Is Watching. Stiglitz has chosen I Gave You A Reach Around and This Is How You Repay Me? as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Sykloni
vs
Stiglitz

188 cm
35
184 lbs
29 - 19 - 0

183 cm
28
184 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Spartan Nutrition

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 29 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sami Sykloni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dan Stiglitz!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sykloni looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stiglitz wants to improve his position but Sykloni is controlling well.
Sykloni with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sykloni has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Sykloni.
Sykloni thows a huge punch but Stiglitz dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sykloni thows a huge punch but Stiglitz dodges it nicely.
Sykloni not doing much here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Sykloni fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stiglitz, pushing him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stiglitz.
Sykloni lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stiglitz.
Sykloni makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sykloni lands a body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Stiglitz fails to land.
Stiglitz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stiglitz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stiglitz misses with a punch on the inside.
Sykloni works on Stiglitz's body with a couple of short punches.
Stiglitz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sykloni stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Stiglitz throws a punch but it's blocked by Sykloni.
Sykloni lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stiglitz has a couple of punches blocked by Sykloni.
Stiglitz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sykloni lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stiglitz.
Sykloni lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sykloni lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Stiglitz swings wildly with an uppercut but Sykloni uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Sykloni.
Stiglitz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sykloni softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Sykloni presses Stiglitz against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sykloni lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sykloni cracks Stiglitz with a nice body shot.
Stiglitz looks winded!
Sykloni lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sykloni lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sykloni lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Stiglitz or not.
Stiglitz takes a shot to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sykloni presses Stiglitz against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sykloni softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
A short body shot lands from Sykloni as the two fighters clinch.
Sykloni lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sykloni.
Sykloni lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Sykloni - that landed with a thud.
A short uppercut from Sykloni.
Sykloni is leaning against Stiglitz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Stiglitz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sykloni lands a body shot.
Sykloni lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sykloni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sykloni scores with a nice body kick.
Stiglitz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice body punch from Sykloni.

Sykloni feints and as Stiglitz raises his hands in defense, Sykloni changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sykloni forces his way into half guard.
Sykloni performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sykloni missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sykloni dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sykloni clinches up against the ropes.
Stiglitz has a couple of punches blocked by Sykloni.
Sykloni is leaning against Stiglitz and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sykloni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sykloni blocks an uppercut.
Stiglitz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stiglitz misses with a hook from the clinch.

Sykloni has hold of one of Stiglitz's legs. Stiglitz is fighting the takedown attempt but Sykloni gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sykloni 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.
Sykloni slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykloni sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stiglitz's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sykloni thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sykloni is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stiglitz can do to turn this around?
Sykloni is controlling the pace.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sykloni thows a huge punch but Stiglitz dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sykloni not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sykloni is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sykloni drives through and clinches with Stiglitz against the ropes.
Stiglitz misses with some punches.
Sykloni lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Sami Sykloni has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Stiglitz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sykloni lands a shot to the body.
Stiglitz is breathing heavily.
Still in the clinch, Sykloni scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Sykloni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni is working Stiglitz over against the ropes.
Nice body punch from Sykloni.
Sykloni scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sykloni stalls.
Sykloni cracks Stiglitz with a nice body shot.

Sykloni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Stiglitz enables Sykloni to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Stiglitz manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sami Sykloni overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sykloni looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Sykloni sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stiglitz's guard.
Sykloni works his way into side control.
Sykloni grinds an elbow into Stiglitz's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Sykloni politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Sykloni prefers to stall for the moment though.
Sykloni continues to hold on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sykloni dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Good standup being displayed there by Sykloni as he connects with a hook.

Sykloni clinches.
Sykloni lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sykloni lands a body punch.
Sykloni lands a body shot.
Sykloni throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Stiglitzs head.
Stiglitz working aggressively here.
Stiglitz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Sykloni.
Sykloni lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sykloni.
Sykloni cracks Stiglitz with a nice body shot.
Sykloni lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Sykloni throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Stiglitz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sykloni cracks Stiglitz with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Sykloni - that landed with a thud.
Sykloni makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni pushes Stiglitz back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Sykloni has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stiglitz regains guard immediately.
Sykloni is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sykloni with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stiglitz can't keep his opponent in guard - Sykloni advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sykloni perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sykloni's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sykloni lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sykloni trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni prevents Stiglitz from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sykloni in particular looking to stall.
Sami Sykloni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Sykloni lands with a shot to the body.
Sykloni scores with the left hand. Stiglitz knows he should have avoided that one.

Sykloni gets a clinch.
Stiglitz misses with a punch on the inside.
Stiglitz misses with the head strike.
Sykloni scores with a shot to the side of Stiglitz's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stiglitz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dan Stiglitz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stiglitz swings wildly with an uppercut but Sykloni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sykloni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stiglitz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stiglitz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sykloni blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Sykloni.
Stiglitz working aggressively here.

Sykloni pulls guard successfully.
Stiglitz is fighting to break Sykloni's control of his arms but Sykloni is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Sykloni showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sykloni has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Sykloni!
Sami Sykloni thanked the fans post fight for their support.