PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fred Siciliano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Rash (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fred Siciliano has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Siciliano
vs
Rash

177 cm
24
192 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

180 cm
23
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fred Siciliano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matt Rash!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Siciliano walks into a left hand.
Rash bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Siciliano's head.

Siciliano forces Rash back against the cage and clinches.

Siciliano breaks from the clinch.
Siciliano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Siciliano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rash defends it nicely.
Rash misses with a wild body shot.
Siciliano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rash buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rash lands with a good body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Rash. That snapped Siciliano's head back.
Siciliano moves in looking to clinch but Rash pushes him off.
Siciliano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Siciliano looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Siciliano on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Rash comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Siciliano closes the distance but Rash moves to the side
and Rash counters with a nice body shot.

Siciliano shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rash is trying to defend but Siciliano finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rash slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siciliano trying to control but Rash is working from the bottom.
Siciliano working some strikes from top position.
Siciliano looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Rash holds on and takes a little breather.
Siciliano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rash controls Siciliano momentarily but Siciliano frees himself.
Siciliano passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Siciliano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Siciliano 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.
Siciliano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rash's head.
Rash is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Siciliano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Siciliano is thwarting Rash's attempts to control the position.
Siciliano is looking to stall here but Rash recovers full guard.

Siciliano drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rash manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Siciliano has Rash in his guard.
Siciliano is trying to control the position but Rash postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano pulls Rash in close to his closed guard and prevents Rash from doing any damage or advancing position.
Siciliano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Siciliano working Rash over with strikes.
Siciliano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rash makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rash.
Siciliano in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Rash is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Siciliano content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rash stops a takedown attempt from Siciliano.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Siciliano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rash stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rash goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Siciliano tries to pull guard but Rash won't allow it.
Siciliano has Rash pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rash manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rash is trying to break the clinch but Siciliano is controlling him.
Siciliano fails to pull guard.
Rash is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Siciliano is keeping busy.

Siciliano ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Siciliano no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Siciliano trying to keep a closed guard but Rash is proving a slippery customer.
Siciliano throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rash is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Siciliano manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rash dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nice defenses there by Siciliano.
Rash dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Siciliano shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rash counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Siciliano wants to clinch but Rash slips to the side
and Rash counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Siciliano tries to clinch but Rash moves out of range.
Rash jabs at Siciliano's body.
Siciliano wants to clinch but Rash slips to the side
and Rash connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Siciliano moves in looking to clinch but Rash pushes him off.
Siciliano avoids the body shot from Rash.
Rash comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Fred Siciliano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rash swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rash comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Siciliano looks to clinch
and Rash makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fred Siciliano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rash digs a good hook to Siciliano's body.
Rash fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Siciliano manages to avoid it.
Rash tests Siciliano's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rash swings for the body but Siciliano moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Siciliano clinches up against the cage.
Siciliano tries for a takedown but Rash manages to get underhooks.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rash - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Siciliano gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rash keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rash wants to control but Siciliano is keeping busy.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rash can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rash is looking to improve his position.

Siciliano seems to be working for a kimura but Rash defends the submission attempt.

Siciliano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rash's head.
Rash is trying to maintain the position but Siciliano is very close to passing his half guard.
Siciliano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rash holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Siciliano is looking for a kimura here.
Rash is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Siciliano scores with a couple of nice shots.

Siciliano is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Siciliano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rash sees it coming and defends easily.
Siciliano thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rash's head.
Rash is looking to improve his position.
Siciliano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Siciliano looks to land a strike but Rash avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Siciliano working some strikes from top position.
Rash lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Siciliano!
Rash tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rash connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Siciliano is squirming around, avoiding Rash's attempts to control the action.
Siciliano sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rash controlling the action here.
Siciliano wants to improve his position but Rash is controlling well.
Siciliano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rash is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rash showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Siciliano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rash.
Rash cracks a nice hook into Siciliano's ribs.
Siciliano fails with the takedown
and Rash counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Siciliano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Siciliano forces Rash back against the cage and clinches.
Rash can't find room to land a body shot as Siciliano controls the action.
Siciliano prevents a body shot from Rash.
Siciliano throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rash.
Rash avoiding damage as Siciliano throws knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Siciliano lands a nice elbow.
Rash avoiding damage as Siciliano throws knees to the body.
Siciliano digs a right hand into Rash's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rash's gas tank.
Rash blocks an elbow strike.
Siciliano is trying to drag Rash to the mat but Rash just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rash digs a right hand into Siciliano's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Siciliano's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rash is leaning against Siciliano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Rash blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Siciliano goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rash prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Siciliano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rash is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rash misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rash taking a breather.
Rash stalling against the cage.
Siciliano is working for takedown but Rash is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rash avoids the elbow strike from Siciliano, against the cage.
Siciliano missing with knees to the body.
Rash is pressed up against the cage. Siciliano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rash down to the mat. Rash avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Siciliano doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Rash shoots in and bounces Siciliano off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rash must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Siciliano wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rash with a nice head shot there.
Siciliano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rash controlling from the top position.
Siciliano working a defensive guard here.
Siciliano keeping moving, preventing Rash from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rash postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Fred Siciliano wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rash scores with a body shot.
Rash misses with a body shot.

Rash looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Siciliano misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Rash not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rash really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Siciliano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Siciliano trying to control here.
Siciliano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rash missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano looking for a sweep. Not yet Siciliano, not yet.
Rash is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rash trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rash being controlled here momentarily.
Siciliano looking to control.
Siciliano wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rash tries to sprawl but Siciliano drives through with a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Siciliano is looking to clinch.
Siciliano tries to clinch but Rash moves away
and Rash makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Siciliano tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rash counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Siciliano tries to clinch but Rash moves away
and Rash counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rash fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Siciliano tries to close the distance and clinch but Rash swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rash is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Siciliano rather than just go for the knockout.
Rash leaves Siciliano with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rash lands with a shot to the body.
Rash throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rash throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Decent striking displayed by Rash there.
Nice straight punches there by Rash. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rash.
Siciliano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Siciliano tries to close the distance and clinch but Rash swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rash scores with a shot to the body.
Siciliano moves to clinch but Rash breaks away
and Rash counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rash connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Siciliano tries to clinch but Rash moves away
and Siciliano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Rash looking to score a takedown here. Siciliano is defending well but Rash drives through and ends up in Siciliano's guard.
Rash looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Siciliano is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Siciliano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano is keen to just control but Rash is a slippery customer.
Siciliano is looking to advance position but Rash won't allow it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Siciliano connects with a nice short shot to Rash's temple.
Siciliano trying to pass the guard but Rash defending well.
Rash controlling the position for now.
Siciliano throwing shots but Rash is blocking nicely.

Siciliano is looking for a kimura but Rash is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Siciliano to get the leverage.
Rash is looking to control Siciliano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rash avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Rash manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano won't allow Rash to sweep him here.

Siciliano is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rash is trying to keep Siciliano in close.
Siciliano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Siciliano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rash tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rash working a defensive guard here.
Siciliano is fighting to break Rash's control of his arms but Rash is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Siciliano drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Siciliano jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rash looking to control.
Rash is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Siciliano works over Rash with some ground and pound from guard.

Siciliano is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rash is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rash has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rash content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Rash dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Siciliano moves to clinch but Rash breaks away
and Siciliano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Siciliano wants to clinch.
Siciliano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Siciliano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Siciliano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Siciliano tries for a takedown but Rash sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fred Siciliano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rash, as that shot connected.
Rash scores with a jab to the body.
Rash avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Siciliano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Siciliano looks to clinch
and Rash counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Siciliano takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Siciliano shoots and misses
and Rash makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rash throws a shot to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Rash fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Rash thuds a left hand into Siciliano's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Rash.
Siciliano takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A shot to the liver by Rash. Beautiful body shot.
Siciliano takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rash stuns Siciliano with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Rash changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Rash digs a good hook to Siciliano's body.

Rash gets a takedown into half guard.
Rash seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rash is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Siciliano is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Rash seems content to control.
Fred Siciliano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano tries to get to full guard but Rash has control of the leg.
Siciliano is trying to maintain the position but Rash is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rash seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Siciliano does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rash controlling the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Rash was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Siciliano instigates a clinch.
Rash avoiding damage as Siciliano throws knees to the body.
Rash managing to block the knees to the body from Siciliano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siciliano tries to land knees in the clinch but Rash avoids the damage to the body.
Siciliano has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rash is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Siciliano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rash just stands there and leans against the cage.
Siciliano throws an elbow but it misses.
Siciliano tries to land knees in the clinch but Rash avoids the damage to the body.
Siciliano looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rash can't find room to land a body shot as Siciliano controls the action.
Rash gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Siciliano.
Rash lands a body shot.
Rash dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Siciliano throws an elbow but it misses.
Rash goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Siciliano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Siciliano has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rash avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rash avoiding damage as Siciliano throws knees to the body.
Rash is working Siciliano over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rash lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Siciliano.
Rash throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rash presses Siciliano against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rash pushes Siciliano back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short body shot lands from Rash as the two fighters clinch.
Rash digs a right hand underneath Siciliano's ribcage. Siciliano let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rash.
Rash stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Rash lands with a short head shot on the inside.
The referee calls for Rash to work.
Rash presses Siciliano against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Siciliano letting Rash take a breather here.
Siciliano throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Siciliano prevents a body shot from Rash.
Rash wants to stall.
Siciliano misses with a hook from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Rash comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rash has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 45:50
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 45:50
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Rash!
Matt Rash is the new middleweight champion!