PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moses Sithole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Pacioretty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Sithole
vs
Pacioretty

187 cm
20
213 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
212 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Moses Sithole!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Pacioretty!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sithole works the jab nicely.

It looks like Max Pacioretty has been cut.
Pacioretty throws a shot to the body.
Horrible takedown by Pacioretty or perhaps it was just good defense by Sithole which made him look bad.
Pacioretty fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pacioretty has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Pacioretty moves in looking to clinch but Sithole pushes him off.
A punch combination from Sithole misses.
Pacioretty has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sithole changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pacioretty looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sithole misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pacioretty is trying to buck Sithole off.
Sithole cracks Pacioretty with a big elbow.
Sithole working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sithole looks up at the clock and then as Pacioretty takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sithole smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sithole working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole lands some shots froms side control.
Sithole working the ground and pound.
Sithole throws a strike aimed at the side of Pacioretty's head but Pacioretty avoids it well.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Sithole wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pacioretty keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pacioretty is looking to regain half guard here but Sithole keeps moving and retains side control.
Pacioretty holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Sithole is looking to take a break and control but Pacioretty is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sithole working the ground and pound but Pacioretty is defending the strikes.
Sithole has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Pacioretty!
Sithole breaks from Pacioretty's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pacioretty really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sithole. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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!
Pacioretty is in a horrible position here. Sithole smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sithole controlling the position easily from mount.
Sithole tries to control but Pacioretty wriggling away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pacioretty can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sithole scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Pacioretty?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sithole controlling the position easily from mount.
Sithole working the ground and pound effectively.
Sithole lands a couple of good shots and Pacioretty has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Even with his hooks in, Sithole manages to miss with strikes from the back.
The referee is taking a good look at Pacioretty as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Sithole!
Sithole 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.
Pacioretty is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sithole really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Pacioretty.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sithole connects with a big shot to the side of Pacioretty's head.
Sithole keeps control of the position as Pacioretty tries to break free.
Pacioretty looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Sithole has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Pacioretty's body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pacioretty is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Sithole dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Max Pacioretty's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pacioretty throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sithole throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Sithole looks for the body kick but Pacioretty saw that one coming.
Pacioretty throws a hook but Sithole avoids it easily.
Pacioretty lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sithole lands with a slapping head kick.
Sithole is looking to slow Pacioretty down with leg kicks.
Sithole throws a head kick that misses.
Sithole lands a nice looking body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pacioretty moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Sithole is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pacioretty can do to turn this around?
Sithole tries a low kick but Pacioretty avoids it.
Pacioretty on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sithole throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pacioretty sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A head kick misses from Sithole.
Sithole fails with a takedown attempt.
Sithole misses with a low kick as Pacioretty jumps back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacioretty dips to his left and cracks Sithole with an uppercut!
Pacioretty tries to clinch there but Sithole circles away.
Sithole throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pacioretty with a poor takedown
and Sithole counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pacioretty tries to clinch there but Sithole circles away.
Sithole scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pacioretty tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sithole manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pacioretty takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Max Pacioretty is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sithole keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pacioretty fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sithole misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sithole misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Sithole gets tackled into the cage by Pacioretty. Pacioretty maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sithole lands a takedown into guard.
Sithole not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Sithole wants to control from the top but Pacioretty keeps moving.
Sithole connects with a couple of short punches.
Pacioretty keeping moving, preventing Sithole from controlling successfully.
Sithole controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Moses Sithole wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sithole throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sithole shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sithole wants to control from the top but Pacioretty keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pacioretty is on top in guard.
Sithole seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pacioretty must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sithole keeping moving, preventing Pacioretty from controlling successfully.
Pacioretty trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sithole managing to control the position.
Sithole looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sithole controlling Pacioretty's posture.

We're going to have a standup here because Moses Sithole wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Sithole scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pacioretty drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sithole manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pacioretty manages to get himself to full guard.
Sithole postures up in Pacioretty's guard and throws a big left but Pacioretty blocks it.
Sithole controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sithole pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pacioretty is keeping the position for now.
Sithole trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacioretty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sithole landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Sithole dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Max Pacioretty's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pacioretty pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Sithole back to the cage. Pacioretty follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Sithole throws a hook but Pacioretty blocks it.
A clash of legs there as Pacioretty blocks the low kick.
Pacioretty is looking to clinch.
Pacioretty blocks a head kick by Sithole.
Pacioretty moves forwards but Sithole connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sithole lands with a hook. Pacioretty tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sithole tries for a takedown but Pacioretty sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sithole dives in and grabs Pacioretty's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pacioretty pushes down on Sithole's head and hops out.
Pacioretty throws a sloppy head kick and Sithole moves out of range easily.
Sithole lands a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good standup being displayed there by Sithole as he connects with a hook.
Sithole tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pacioretty swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moses Sithole. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pacioretty tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sithole paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pacioretty throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Pacioretty forces Sithole back against the cage and clinches.

Sithole jumps guard and drags Pacioretty to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Sithole utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pacioretty throws a big elbow that misses.
Pacioretty trying to control the position from guard on top but Sithole is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sithole pulls Pacioretty in close to prevent any damage.
Sithole keeping moving, preventing Pacioretty from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sithole tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sithole bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pacioretty's guard.
Sithole trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacioretty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sithole throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sithole distracts Pacioretty with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sithole is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pacioretty tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sithole slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sithole misses with an uppercut. Pacioretty saw that one coming.
No luck for Pacioretty with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sithole goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
It looks like Sithole has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Pacioretty tries to close the distance and clinch but Sithole swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pacioretty uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sithole.
Sithole misses the shot to the body.
Pacioretty throws a shot to the body.
Moses Sithole is winning the standup battle so far.
Sithole stuffs the takedown.
Sithole is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pacioretty sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sithole misses with a body punch
and Pacioretty counters with a right hand to the body.
Sithole pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pacioretty is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sithole scoring well with a low kick there.
Sithole throws the left hand but Pacioretty avoids the punch easily.
Sithole lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pacioretty throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sithole shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pacioretty defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Pacioretty.
Sithole is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pacioretty.
Sithole walks into a jab.
Pacioretty moves in looking to clinch but Sithole pushes him off.
Pacioretty misses with an uppercut.
Pacioretty takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pacioretty takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pacioretty missing with a left hand there. Sithole was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A leg kick checked by Pacioretty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moses Sithole clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Max Pacioretty's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pacioretty misses with a double jab
letting Sithole counter with a right hand.
Sithole uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pacioretty has time to react.
Pacioretty moves out of range of the body kick.
A big left from Sithole misses.
Pacioretty tries to clinch up.
Pacioretty lands with a right hand.

Pacioretty throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sithole tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Pacioretty is in Sithole's guard.
Sithole is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sithole working a defensive guard here.
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!
Pacioretty tries to free his leg and advance position but Sithole is retaining full guard.
Sithole bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pacioretty's guard.
Sithole controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sithole trying to control the position from guard on top but Pacioretty is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pacioretty controls Sithole momentarily but Sithole frees himself.
Sithole works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sithole is trying to control the action in half guard but Pacioretty is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sithole content to control rather than advance.

Pacioretty looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sithole passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sithole lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Pacioretty hang on?
Sithole scoring with strikes but Pacioretty is staying in there.
Sithole trying to control but Pacioretty is having none of it.
Sithole raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pacioretty is squirming around, avoiding Sithole's attempts to control the action.
Sithole avoids the attempt from Pacioretty to control.
Sithole trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pacioretty is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sithole punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sithole tries to control but Pacioretty wriggling away.
Sithole scoring with strikes but Pacioretty is staying in there.

Pacioretty is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sithole lands a big shot there that rocks Pacioretty but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pacioretty is still in real trouble! Can Sithole finish him?
Sithole drops a big elbow. That's hurt Pacioretty! More shots from Sithole and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Moses Sithole!
Moses Sithole retains his light heavyweight title!
Moses Sithole decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.