PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lisandro Licha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sizzla Kalonji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Licha comes to the cage accompanied by In Bloom. Kalonji has chosen Rasta Man Don't Apologize to No Batty Boy 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 cage.

Licha
vs
Kalonji

181 cm
24
180 lbs
12 - 16 - 0

190 cm
25
183 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

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 12 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lisandro Licha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sizzla Kalonji!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A cross from Licha lands.
Kalonji pivots, looking for a leg kick but Licha is out of range and Kalonji settles back down.
Kalonji walks into a left hand.
Licha closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kalonji circles away.
Licha scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kalonji uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Licha.
Kalonji goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Licha misses with a few strikes there.
Licha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kalonji misses with a hook. Licha ducked under it nicely.
Lisandro Licha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Licha throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kalonji counters with a nice body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Licha will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lisandro Licha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kalonji wants to clinch.
Licha throws a lazy uppercut
and Kalonji makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Licha really felt that one!
Kalonji works the jab nicely.
Kalonji throws a front kick aimed at Licha's knee but Licha avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalonji keeps the fight on the outside.
Kalonji pivots, looking for a leg kick but Licha is out of range and Kalonji settles back down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kalonji looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Licha connects with a jab.
Licha throws a right hand that Kalonji ducks under and follows up with a left that Kalonji also avoids with ease.
Licha cracks Kalonji with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Licha tries to bum rush Kalonji with a series of wild strikes but Kalonji uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A looping hook to the body misses from Licha. Kalonji does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kalonji has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kalonji there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kalonji throws a front kick aimed at Licha's knee but Licha avoids it well.
Licha tries to clinch but Kalonji moves away
and Kalonji counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Licha thinking.

Kalonji gets caught napping as Licha dives in and scores a takedown. Kalonji manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kalonji can't keep his opponent in guard - Licha advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kalonji gets full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Licha sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kalonji's guard.
Kalonji controlling the position well.
Kalonji tries to kick Licha off but Licha keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kalonji is trying to control but can't.
Kalonji is looking for a sweep. Licha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Licha stops Kalonji from getting back to his feet.
Kalonji is pressing down on Licha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kalonji keeping full guard, as Licha tries to pass.
Kalonji looking to control but Licha passes into half guard.

Kalonji looking for a kimura from the bottom but Licha passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalonji tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kalonji is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kalonji gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Kalonji tries to lock up and control but Licha gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Licha working for a guillotine from mount but Kalonji is in no mood to give up.
Licha avoids the attempt from Kalonji to control.
Licha working the ground and pound effectively.
Licha scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licha dominating with strikes here.

Kalonji is rocked!

Licha looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kalonji is still in real trouble! Can Licha finish him?
Kalonji is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Licha working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Licha working for a guillotine from mount but Kalonji is in no mood to give up.
Kalonji is looking to get to half guard.

Licha has hold of Kalonji's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kalonji manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Licha looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Licha is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kalonji has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Kalonji seems to have recovered his senses.
Licha is breathing heavily.

Licha goes for an armbar but Kalonji turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kalonji.
Kalonji throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Licha works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Licha wants to get back to his feet but Kalonji is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Licha is trying to keep Kalonji in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Licha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kalonji misses with a low kick.
Licha fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kalonji feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Licha's calf.
Horrible takedown by Licha or perhaps it was just good defense by Kalonji which made him look bad.
Sizzla Kalonji seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A bone on bone clash there as Licha blocks the leg kick.
Licha shoots in but no luck this time.
Kalonji avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Licha shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lisandro Licha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kalonji throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Licha shoots in and drives through. Kalonji sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licha ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kalonji avoids the body shot from Licha.
Kalonji connects with a leg kick. Licha looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Licha gets tackled into the cage by Kalonji. Kalonji maintains the clinch.
Kalonji lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Licha tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kalonji utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kalonji utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kalonji unloads a knee to the mid-section. Licha lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kalonji utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Kalonji pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kalonji wants to clinch up but Licha keeps it at a distance.
Kalonji misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalonji scores with a sloppy right hand. Licha should have avoided that one.
Licha slips a jab from Kalonji.

Licha scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kalonji is looking to control Licha's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kalonji avoid being mounted?

Licha is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kalonji is pressing down on Licha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kalonji pulls Licha in close to his closed guard and prevents Licha from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kalonji is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licha pushes down on Kalonji's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kalonji is pressing down on Licha's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kalonji controls Licha momentarily but Licha frees himself.

Licha 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.

Kalonji has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Licha can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Licha wants to pass the guard but Kalonji is keeping the position.
Licha passes Kalonji's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Licha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalonji looks like he's trying to stand up.

Licha decides to stand and escape the position.
Licha connects with the punch.
Kalonji tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Licha was well out of range. Poor timing from Kalonji.
Kalonji misses with a low kick.
Licha has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kalonji.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kalonji connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kalonji circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kalonji makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Licha really felt that one!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sizzla Kalonji showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kalonji finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kalonji tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalonji throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Licha shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kalonji as he avoids it easily.
Licha misses with a looping right.
A jab from Licha misses.
Kalonji swats away the attempt to clinch by Licha.
Kalonji takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kalonji tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Licha is able to avoid easily.
Licha fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kalonji throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kalonji throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licha throws a combination that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A jab from Kalonji finds it's way through Licha's defenses.
Licha is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Licha avoids the head kick by Kalonji.
Kalonji throws a looping overhand right but Licha ducks down to avoid it.
Licha fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kalonji tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Licha was well out of range. Poor timing from Kalonji.
Licha shoots in for a takedown but Kalonji shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lisandro Licha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kalonji forces Licha back against the cage and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kalonji using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kalonji is pushing Licha up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licha goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kalonji prevents it.
Kalonji landing knees to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Kalonji.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Licha tightens his grip and picks Kalonji up, before dumping him to the ground. Kalonji manages to land in guard.
Kalonji working a defensive guard here.

Kalonji looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kalonji looking to hit a scissor sweep but Licha is one step ahead there.
Kalonji trying to control the position.
Licha throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licha forces his way into half guard.
Licha moves nicely into side control.
Kalonji pushes Licha away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Licha gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Kalonji is trying to get back to half guard.
Kalonji is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Licha is controlling him well.
Licha is chipping away with strikes.
Licha tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Licha wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kalonji, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Licha is trying to get an arm triangle but Kalonji is defending well.

Kalonji bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Licha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalonji pinned against the cage. Kalonji gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kalonji throws a low kick but Licha avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Licha shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalonji pinned against the cage. Kalonji gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sizzla Kalonji comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kalonji has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sizzla Kalonji!