PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denny Sideman (ranked 704 p4p, 775 weight class) and Tyler Cage (ranked 98 p4p, 112 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Sideman
vs
Cage

183 cm
32
195
21 - 15 - 2

185 cm
34
185
21 - 16 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing

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 21 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Denny Sideman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tyler Cage!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Cage misses the target.
Cage throws a leg kick which misses Sideman's front leg but catches the back leg as Sideman tries to avoid it.
Sideman slips a jab from Cage.
Sideman throws a body shot but no joy.
Sideman loads up on a big right hand but Cage slips the punch.
Sideman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cage moves away.
Cage unleashes a big counter combination but Sideman bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Sideman just misses with a punch to the body.
Cage scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Cage defending well as Sideman loads up on a big left hand.
Sideman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cage paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sideman has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Sideman throws a lazy right hand but Cage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sideman.
Cage lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Good exchange - Cage coming out on top.
Sideman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cage lands an overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sideman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cage.
No joy there for Cage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cage misses with a hook
and Sideman counters with a stiff right hand.
Sideman jabs at Cage's body.

Cage pushes Sideman up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sideman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sideman misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cage.
Sideman swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sideman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cage is keeping busy.
A head punch on the inside from Sideman fails to land.
Sideman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cage.

Cage breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sideman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cage.
Sideman swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sideman connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cage displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Sideman throws out the jab.
Sideman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Sideman 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Cage listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A combination from Cage does no damage.
Cage throws a hook but Sideman blocks it.
Sideman is looking to wear down Cage with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Sideman.
A punch combination from Cage misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cage swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sideman.
No joy there for Cage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fighters circling - Cage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cage throws a poor cross that misses
and Sideman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cage thinking.

Sideman moves into the clinch.
Cage gets through Sideman's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sideman blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Cage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sideman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Cage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sideman circles away quickly and effectively.
Cage uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sideman.
Cage misses with a few strikes there.
Cage scores with a hook.
Sideman ducks under a wild hook from Cage.
Sideman throws a jab when Cage was well out of range.
Sideman misses the jab.
Tyler Cage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cage throws a shot from downtown. Sideman moves away and avoids it.

Cage closes the distance and clinches.

Sideman breaks from the clinch.
Sideman lands with a cross.
Sideman takes a swing at Cage's ribcage but misses.
Cage connects with a body shot.
Cage lands with a shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cage. Sideman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cage swinging wildly here.
Sideman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sideman throws a lazy right hand but Cage sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Cage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sideman circles away quickly and effectively.

Cage closes the distance and pushes Sideman back into the cage.
Cage wants to get back to striking at distance but Sideman won't allow it.
Cage tries to break free but Sideman pushes him back against the cage.
Cage looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Sideman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Cage wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sideman has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage blocks an uppercut.
Sideman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sideman throws a punch but it's blocked by Cage.
Sideman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cages head.
Cage misses with the head strike.
Sideman lands a nice uppercut.
Cage can't break the clinch.
Sideman lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cage backwards.
Cage is trying to break the clinch but Sideman is controlling him.
Cage wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sideman has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Sideman fails to land.
Sideman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sideman working aggressively here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cage tries to break the clinch but Sideman is controlling the position.
A short body shot lands from Cage as the two fighters clinch.
Sideman has a couple of punches blocked by Cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Cage.
Sideman misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tyler Cage will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sideman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cage.
Sideman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sideman connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cage's hands.
Sideman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sideman connects with a single shot there.
Sideman moves away from the strike by Cage.
Good leg kick by Cage.
Cage misses with a straight right.
Cage throws the left hand but Sideman avoids the punch easily.
Sideman tries to close the distance and clinch but Cage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sideman swings for the body but Cage moves out of range.
Cage looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sideman scores with a jab to the body.
Cage scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sideman throws a hook to the side of Cage's head but Cage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cage pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cage defending well as Sideman loads up on a big left hand.
Cage throws a big shot that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Cage paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sideman looks to land a right hand but Cage moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cage misses with a hook. Sideman ducked under it nicely.
Sideman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cage misses the shot to the body.
Cage takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sideman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cage.
Cage attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cage throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sideman counters with a left and a right that stings Cage.
Cage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sideman throws an off balance right hand
and Cage cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cage tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Sideman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Sideman has Cage up against the cage in a clinch.

Sideman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cage staying out of range there.
Sideman throws a hook to the side of Cage's head but Cage sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sideman punishes Cage's body with a nice straight punch.
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!
Sideman takes one to the side of the head.
Sideman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Sideman coming out on top.
Sideman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Cage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Sideman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Cage swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sideman is looking to counter the offense by Cage and move into the clinch.
Sideman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sideman keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Cage scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cage connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Cage looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from Sideman on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sideman missing with a left hand there. Cage was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cage lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cage tries to move into range but Sideman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Cage misses with a wild body shot.
Cage misses with a wild body shot.

Sideman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Sideman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sideman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sideman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cage manages to avoid it.
Sideman tries to clinch up.
Cage avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sideman bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cage's head backwards.
Sideman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cage lunges at Sideman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sideman's hand.
Sideman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cage.
Cage throws a good cross that connects.
Cage missing with a left hand there. Sideman was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sideman throws a looping overhand right but Cage ducks down to avoid it.
Sideman is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Cage throws a good cross that connects.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage tries to clinch up.
Sideman is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Cage throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sideman moves out of range of the leg kick from Cage.
Cage throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cage moves forwards but Sideman connects with a nice, crisp jab.
A jab from Cage does it's job there.
Sideman throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sideman's corner calls for a 1-2. Sideman obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cage lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The fighters circling - Cage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sideman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sideman misses with a body shot
and Cage connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cage misses with a jab, cross combination.
Cage is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Sideman.
Sideman with a jab.
Sideman throws a hook but Cage blocks it.
Sideman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cage finds it's way round the side to connect with Sideman's head.
Cage jabs Sideman right on the nose. Sideman blinks but takes it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A left lands for Cage.
Cage circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sideman throws the left hand but Cage avoids the punch easily.
Cage thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sideman walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tyler Cage will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Nice shot lands for Sideman.
Cage misses with a wild body shot.
Sideman throwing a counter right hand but Cage manages to avoid it.
Sideman tries to clinch there but Cage circles away.

Sideman gets a clinch.
Sideman lands a nice shot to the body.

Sideman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cage on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sideman blocks a jab.
Cage misses the shot to the body.
Sideman is looking to counter the offense by Cage and move into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Cage misses the target.
Cage lands with a straight right. Sideman didn't see that one coming.
A jab from Cage does it's job there.
Sideman connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sideman takes a swing at Cage's ribcage but misses.
Sideman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cage throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sideman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cage defending well as Sideman loads up on a big left hand.
Sideman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sideman takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tyler Cage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cage misses with a lunging right hand
and Sideman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cage throws a lazy right hand but Sideman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sideman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cage looks to land a right hand but Sideman moved out of range.
Cage misses with a straight right.
Cage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sideman was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sideman jabs Cage right on the nose. Cage blinks but takes it well.
Cage throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sideman sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cage scores with a leg kick.
Sideman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Cage.
A counter left hand to the body from Sideman misses its target.
Sideman swings widly with a right hand
and Cage counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Cage!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sideman clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cage.
Sideman tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Sideman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sideman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cage.
Cage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sideman throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cage bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cage connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sideman throws a hook but Cage avoids it easily.
Cage lands with a hook. Sideman tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sideman throws a jab but it's blocked by Cage.
Sideman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cage bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A jab from Cage misses.
Cage misses with a head kick.
Cage scores with a punch to the head.
Cage keeps the fight on the outside.
Cage pushes Sideman away with a front kick.
Cage paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Sideman darts in and clinches Cage up against the cage.
Cage has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sideman tries to throw a body punch but Cage avoids it by throwing Sideman back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sideman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sideman is looking to clinch but Cage is avoiding it.
Cage misses with an uppercut.
Sideman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cage throws out the jab.
Sideman blocks a low kick nicely.
The fighters circling - Sideman throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sideman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A big left from Sideman misses.
Sideman lands a jab-cross combination.
Cage works over Sideman's head and body with a nice combination.
Cage connects with a solid leg kick.
A slow jab from Cage misses its intended target.
Cage throws a right and a left that Sideman avoids nicely.
Cage moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sideman looks to throw the jab but Cage is out of range.

Sideman moves into the clinch.
Sideman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sideman lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Sideman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sideman throws a body shot but no joy.
Sideman swings for the body but Cage moves out of range.
Tyler Cage is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cage feints a jab promting Sideman to slip. Cage then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sideman slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sideman throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Cage stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sideman looks to land a left hand but Cage moved out of range nicely.
Cage on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Sideman tries to close the distance and clinch but Cage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sideman scores with a body shot.
Sideman avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sideman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cage.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sideman checks a leg kick.
Denny Sideman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice defenses there by Sideman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyler Cage comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cage 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyler Cage!
A relieved looking Tyler Cage thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.