PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Maverick Syndal (ranked 7695 p4p, 579 weight class) and Ben Star (ranked 8229 p4p, 601 weight class). Maverick Syndal has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Syndal
vs
Star

180 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Maverick Syndal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ben Star!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Syndal moves into the clinch.

Syndal pulls guard successfully.
Syndal keeping moving, preventing Star from controlling successfully.
Syndal wants to stand but Star is controlling the position.
Star postures up.

Syndal working for submissions but it's allowed Star to get to half guard.
Star tries to stand and escape but Syndal is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Star is trying to control the action in half guard but Syndal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Syndal is looking to improve his position.
Syndal is trying to stand back up but Star is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal is trying to maintain the position but Star is very close to passing his half guard.
Star really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Syndal. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Star is looking to take a break and control but Syndal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Star dives in and grabs Syndal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Syndal pushes down on Star's head and hops out.
Syndal looks to land a combination. Star sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Syndal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Syndal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Star looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Syndal is fending him off so far but Star persists. Nope, Syndal circles away and we're back to standing.
Syndal shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Star sprawls well. Star wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Syndal gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal throws a lazy head kick
and Star counters with a three punch combo that has Syndal backing up. Syndal nods at Star to acknowledge the strikes.

Syndal has taken the fight to the clinch.
Star is pressed up against the ropes. Syndal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Star down to the mat. Star avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maverick Syndal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Syndal.
Star is looking for the big counter here.
Syndal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Star sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Syndal somewhat.
Despite the aggression on Star's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Syndal fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maverick Syndal will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Star shoots in and drives through. Syndal sprawls well.
Star tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Syndal swivels and escapes.
Syndal slaps away a takedown attempt from Star, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Maverick Syndal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Star.
Syndal dives in for a single leg takedown but Star sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Syndal scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Star misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Syndal to counter with a crisp jab.
Syndal dives in for a single leg takedown but Star sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Syndal lands a big head kick that sends Star tumbling to the mat! Syndal takes a step backwards and waves Star back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Star is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Syndal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Star swivels and escapes.
Star is still on wobbly legs! Can Syndal finish him?
Star fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Syndal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Star seems to have recovered his senses.

Syndal has Star pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Syndal pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Star tumbling to the mat - Syndal dives into Star's guard.
Star trying to control the position.
Syndal will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Star escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Syndal gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Syndal controlling the action here.
Syndal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Star defending well though.
Syndal performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Syndal is looking to take a break and control but Star is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maverick Syndal dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Syndal forces Star back against the ropes and clinches.
Syndal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Star pulls his leg out and moves away.
Syndal fails with a takedown attempt.
Syndal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Star sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Syndal somewhat.
Star unleashes a big counter combination but Syndal bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maverick Syndal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Syndal clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syndal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Star backwards.
Star swings wildly with an uppercut but Syndal uses good head movement to avoid it.

Syndal breaks from the clinch.
Syndal shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Star as he jumps to the side.
Syndal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Star sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Syndal shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Star as he avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Syndal.
Star shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Syndal dives in for a single leg takedown but Star sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Star fails in his attempt to clinch.
Syndal closes the distance and clinches up with Star, looking for a takedown. Syndal pushes Star against the ropes but Star circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
As Syndal backs off Star throws a huge counter combo but Syndal manages to avoid it all.
Star with a poor takedown
and Syndal counters with a straight right hand.
Syndal tries for a takedown but Star sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Star appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Syndal misses with a takedown

and Star counters with a shoot takedown. Syndal fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Star trying to control the position from guard on top but Syndal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ben Star.
Well Syndal 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight for Maverick Syndal!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Maverick Syndal!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Maverick Syndal!

Maverick Syndal wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Maverick Syndal thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.