PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tien Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Sichev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jaa
vs
Sichev

190 cm
22
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

207 cm
28
193 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tien Jaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yuri Sichev!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sichev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sichev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jaa sprawls well. Jaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sichev gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sichev.
Sichev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Sichev counters with a shoot takedown. Jaa fights it but they end up in guard.

Sichev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sichev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sichev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jaa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jaa has escaped and now he's on top!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sichev is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sichev throwing strikes but missing.

Sichev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sichev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sichev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sichev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sichev tries to free his leg and advance position but Jaa is retaining full guard.
Sichev throws a big right hand that misses.
Sichev looking to pass the guard.
Sichev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sichev lands a couple of digs.
Sichev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sichev working some strikes from top position.
Sichev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Sichev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sichev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sichev with a nice head shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sichev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sichev is looking to work some ground and pound but Jaa has wrist control.
Sichev throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev postures up in Jaa's guard and throws a big left but Jaa blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sichev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sichev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Sichev throws a big elbow that misses.
Sichev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jaa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sichev on the ground.
Jaa is breathing heavily.

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Jaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaa manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Jaa's guard.
Sichev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sichev.
Jaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sichev is in close to Jaa's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Jaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaa manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Jaa's guard.
Sichev scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sichev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sichev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Sichev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jaa stuffs the takedown.
Tien Jaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jaa closes the distance but Sichev moves to the side
and Sichev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sichev closes the distance and clinches up with Jaa, looking for a takedown. Sichev pushes Jaa against the cage but Jaa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tien Jaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Sichev.
Sichev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jaa manages to avoid it.
Sichev tries to clinch but Jaa moves out of range.
Sichev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jaa swivels and escapes.

Jaa clinches up against the cage.
Sichev wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sichev is working for takedown but Jaa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jaa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sichev is breathing heavily.
Jaa gets underhooks to prevent Sichev's takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Jaa.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Jaa obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jaa lands a good knee to the midsection. Sichev won't want to take too many of those.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jaa.
Sichev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jaa scores a nice knee to the body.
Jaa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Jaa slows down the pace here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jaa.
Jaa misses with a knee strike.
Jaa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jaa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Jaa lands a knee to the body.
Sichev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jaa is pushing Sichev up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Jaa landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jaa lands a nice knee to the body.
Sichev is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jaa to keep the fight standing.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jaa scores a nice knee to the body.
Jaa crunches a lovely knee into Sichev's ribcage.
Sichev wants to take the fight to the mat but Jaa manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jaa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sichev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sichev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Jaa landing knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev letting Jaa take a breather here.
Sichev takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jaa lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Jaa.
Jaa looking to throw knees to the head but Sichev is blocking nicely.
Jaa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Jaa scores with a knee to the head.
Jaa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sichev avoiding damage as Jaa throws knees to the body.
Jaa trying to land knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Jaa.
Jaa is pressed up against the cage. Sichev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jaa down to the mat. Jaa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jaa tries to clinch up but Sichev circles away and keeps his distance.
Jaa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa is looking to clinch.
Jaa wants to clinch.

Jaa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jaa stalls.
Jaa tries a knee to the head but Sichev blocks it.
Tien Jaa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sichev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jaa gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sichev tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jaa avoids it.
Jaa lands a good knee to the midsection. Sichev won't want to take too many of those.
The referee calls for Jaa to work.
Jaa avoiding damage as Sichev throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tien Jaa dominated that second round.
That's time! Jaa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Sichev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tien Jaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jaa tries to clinch but Sichev moves out of range.
Sichev tries to bum rush Jaa with a series of wild strikes but Jaa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sichev shoots in but no luck this time.

Jaa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sichev wants to pass the guard but Jaa is keeping the position.
Sichev throws a big right hand that misses.
Sichev throwing strikes from guard but Jaa blocks nicely.
Sichev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jaa trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Jaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaa manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Jaa's guard.
Sichev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Jaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaa manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Jaa's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sichev stands up over Jaa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sichev throws a big right hand that misses.
Sichev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sichev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Jaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaa manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Jaa's guard.

Sichev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sichev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Sichev drops back looking for a leg! Jaa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jaa manages to kick Sichev off! Sichev jumps back into Jaa's guard.
Sichev connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sichev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jaa's head.

Sichev has gone for a leg lock! Jaa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sichev's guard.
Jaa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sichev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jaa manages to get himself to full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Sichev 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Sichev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sichev 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Sichev!