PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jean Sibelius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Hart (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.

Sibelius
vs
Hart

175 cm
34
165 lbs
33 - 12 - 0

176 cm
32
155 lbs
25 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Heisenberg

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 33 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Sibelius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Hart!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hart throws a sloppy head kick and Sibelius moves out of range easily.

Sibelius gets the takedown into side control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sibelius is chipping away with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hart manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sibelius's best efforts.
Hart is trying to get back to full guard.
Sibelius wants to control but Hart is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hart is trying to maintain the position but Sibelius is very close to passing his half guard.
Sibelius is pressing down on Hart's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hart is holding on for now.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hart manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hart avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sibelius stands up out of Hart's guard for a moment - Hart manages to land a nice upkick.
Hart tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sibelius throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hart works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sibelius scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibelius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sibelius in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sibelius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sibelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Hart is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hart keeping full guard, as Sibelius tries to pass.
Hart is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sibelius throws a big elbow that misses.
Sibelius preventing the sweep.
Hart is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sibelius is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
My spies in Bricktop's House of Hard Knocks inform me that Hart has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Sibelius looking for submissions off his back.

Hart is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sibelius gets full guard.
Hart postures up.
Hart tries to free his leg and advance position but Sibelius is retaining full guard.
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!
Sibelius trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hart has passed into side control.
Hart taking a breather here.
Hart wants to control but Sibelius is keeping him busy.
Sibelius is letting Hart control him for a moment.
Hart wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sibelius keeps working.
Hart cracks Sibelius with a big right hand but Sibelius just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Hart is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sibelius has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hart's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hart is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hart landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sibelius is trying to get back to full guard.
Hart is trying to control the action in half guard but Sibelius is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hart is nestled in close to Sibelius, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sibelius wants to control but Hart is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sibelius is looking for a sweep. Hart is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sibelius keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sibelius is trying to get back to full guard.
Sibelius is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hart's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hart's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jean Sibelius will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sibelius's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hart scores with a leg kick.
Hart misses with a kick to the body
and Sibelius cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hart throws a sloppy head kick and Sibelius moves out of range easily.
Sibelius keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hart shoots in but Sibelius avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hart throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sibelius.
A cross from Sibelius lands.
Hart pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hart is looking to land body kicks.
Sibelius misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sibelius fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hart manages to avoid it.

Hart shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart tries to free his leg and advance position but Sibelius is retaining full guard.
Hart working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sibelius bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hart's guard.
Hart looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sibelius is one step ahead there.

Hart working for submissions but it's allowed Sibelius to get to half guard.
Sibelius prevents Hart from improving his position.
Hart has hold of Sibelius's hands but Sibelius slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Jean Sibelius overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sibelius not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hart wants to improve his position but Sibelius is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart is trying to maintain the position but Sibelius is very close to passing his half guard.
Hart wants to get back to full guard.
Hart wants to control but Sibelius is keeping busy.
Hart is trying to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sibelius seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hart does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hart tries a head kick but it misses.
Hart misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sibelius.

Sibelius closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sibelius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hart keeps working.
Sibelius connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hart some visible discomfort.

Sibelius looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sibelius working away.
Sibelius is looking to take a break and control but Hart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart tries to bench press Sibelius off him but Sibelius keeps the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Sibelius.
Hart wants to control but Sibelius postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hart manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hart wants to get back to full guard.
Sibelius with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Sibelius is looking for a kimura but Hart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Sibelius to get the leverage.
Hart blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sibelius.
Sibelius tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hart knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hart works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hart preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jean Sibelius will probably get the nod.
That's time! Sibelius's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Hart throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sibelius. Hart does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sam Hart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hart slips a straight right by Sibelius.
Sibelius darts in looking for a takedown but Hart gets double underhooks and turns Sibelius into the cage.

Sibelius breaks from the clinch.
Hart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sibelius sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hart somewhat.
A shot to the liver by Sibelius. Beautiful body shot.
Hart is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hart thumps Sibelius with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sibelius misses with a body shot.
Hart is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
An inside leg kick lands from Hart.
Hart buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sibelius lands with a straight right. Hart didn't see that one coming.
Hart lands a leg kick that knocks Sibelius off balance momentarily.
Sibelius is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sibelius tries to bum rush Hart with a series of wild strikes but Hart uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hart connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A solid body kick from Hart.
Sibelius throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hart sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hart defending well as Sibelius loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart misses with a low kick as Sibelius jumps back.
Crunch! Hart slams his shin into Sibelius's torso.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hart lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sibelius's sensitive parts.
Sibelius chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hart can pounce on him.
Sibelius thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sibelius moves away from the strike by Hart.
It looks like Sibelius has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Sibelius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hart.
A swing and a miss from Sibelius.
A lazy left from Sibelius finds it's target.
Sibelius checks a leg kick.
Hart pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hart looking to score a takedown here. Sibelius is defending well but Hart drives through and ends up in Sibelius's guard.
Hart postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sibelius trying to keep a closed guard but Hart is proving a slippery customer.
Sibelius manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sibelius cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sam Hart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jean Sibelius is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sibelius controlling his opponent.
Sibelius trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sibelius content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sibelius trying to control but Hart is having none of it.
Sibelius content just to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hart is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jean Sibelius has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hart closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hart goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sibelius scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Sibelius showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sibelius has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Sibelius!
An out of breath Jean Sibelius thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.