PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tim Sylvia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zenon Rojek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Sylvia
vs
Rojek

193 cm
23
210 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

181 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Black Skull Clothing

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tim Sylvia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Zenon Rojek!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sylvia closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rojek tries to improve position but can't.
Sylvia throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Sylvia goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rojek rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sylvia's guard! Nice work there by Rojek!

Sylvia working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rojek doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rojek manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rojek trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sylvia working a defensive guard here.
Sylvia has a closed guard, preventing Rojek from standing up.
Rojek not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojek looking to sit in guard and control but Sylvia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sylvia won't allow Rojek to sweep him here.
Sylvia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rojek is keeping the position for now.
Sylvia postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rojek tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice takedown defense from Rojek. No joy for Sylvia on that attempt.
Zenon Rojek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sylvia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rojek shoots and misses

and Sylvia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Come on Sylvia - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rojek tries to break the clinch but Sylvia is controlling the position.
Rojek drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Rojek jumps into guard, dragging Sylvia to the mat.
Rojek keeping moving, preventing Sylvia from controlling successfully.
Sylvia postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rojek is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Rojek wants to stand but Sylvia is controlling the position.
Rojek looks gassed!
Rojek manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sylvia tries to improve his position but instead Rojek has taken his back!
Sylvia turns into Rojek and is now in his guard.

That's four 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.
Rojek looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sylvia is one step ahead there.
Rojek has control of Sylvia's left arm, preventing Sylvia from doing any damage.
Sylvia is looking to stand up but Rojek won't let him.
Rojek looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sylvia wants to stand but Rojek is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rojek controls Sylvia momentarily but Sylvia frees himself.
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 Tim Sylvia will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sylvia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rojek throws a right hand that Sylvia ducks under and follows up with a left that Sylvia also avoids with ease.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rojek.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sylvia looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rojek cracks Sylvia with an open hand slap.
Sylvia scores with a head kick.
Tim Sylvia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rojek throws a series of strikes that have Sylvia backpedaling.
Rojek wants to clinch

and Sylvia counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sylvia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rojek is keeping the position for now.
Sylvia will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rojek controlling the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rojek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sylvia manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rojek gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sylvia has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rojek will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Sylvia drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sylvia trying to control the action but Rojek is working from the bottom.
Rojek is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Sylvia is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojek tries to bench press Sylvia off him but Sylvia keeps the position.
Rojek is trying to control Sylvia's posture but Sylvia avoids it.

Sylvia working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sylvia walks into a jab.
Sylvia shoots for a double leg takedown but Rojek sprawls well. He's pushed Sylvia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rojek throws a nice looking combination but Sylvia bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rojek looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sylvia keeps the fight on the outside.
Sylvia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sylvia will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sylvia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sylvia shoots for a takedown but Rojek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Sylvia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rojek drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojek throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sylvia works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sylvia has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rojek has passed into side control.
Rojek lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sylvia down.

Rojek tries for a kimura but Sylvia is defending well.
Sylvia trying to remain calm as Rojek controls from the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sylvia wants to control but Rojek postures up.
Rojek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sylvia keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zenon Rojek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sylvia's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rojek swats away the attempt to clinch by Sylvia.
Rojek throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rojek misses with a combination

and Sylvia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rojek working aggressively here.
Sylvia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rojek gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Sylvia jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rojek walks away with a smile on his face. Sylvia gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rojek misses with a takedown attempt - Sylvia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Sylvia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rojek counters with a single leg into guard. Sylvia didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rojek wants to stand but Sylvia is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sylvia throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rojek escapes and throws Sylvia's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Rojek stands up.
Rojek moves out of range of the body kick.
Rojek wants to clinch

and Sylvia counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sylvia.
Rojek wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rojek wants to get back to striking at distance but Sylvia won't allow it.
Rojek tries to break the clinch but Sylvia is controlling the position.
Sylvia wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Sylvia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sylvia missing with knees to the body.
Rojek tries for a takedown. No joy.
Rojek tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sylvia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rojek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rojek is trying to break free.
Rojek is looking to break free of the clinch but Sylvia has double underhooks.

Sylvia manages to pull guard.
Rojek must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rojek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sylvia swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rojek wants to stand but Sylvia is controlling his posture from full guard.
Zenon Rojek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sylvia keeping full guard, as Rojek tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sylvia is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sylvia looking for a sweep. Not yet Sylvia, not yet.
Sylvia controls Rojek momentarily but Rojek frees himself.

Rojek gets to his feet. Sylvia looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sylvia shoots for a takedown but Rojek saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rojek shoots in looking for a takedown. Sylvia tries to sprawl out of it but Rojek keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sylvia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Sylvia shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rojek counters with a straight right hand.
Rojek misses with a takedown attempt

and Sylvia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rojek won't be happy with that.

Sylvia stands up and beckons Rojek to his feet.
Sylvia walks into a jab.
Rojek darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Sylvia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Sylvia trying to control the action but Rojek is working from the bottom.
Sylvia grinds an elbow into Rojek's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tim Sylvia.
I think Sylvia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tim Sylvia!