PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Sidrovitch (ranked 6208 p4p, 478 weight class) and Gabrielius Nieves (ranked 24208 p4p, 535 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sidrovitch might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Panzerkampf. Vasily Sidrovitch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sidrovitch
vs
Nieves

180 cm
20
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vasily Sidrovitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabrielius Nieves!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jorge Garcia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nieves darts in and clinches Sidrovitch up against the cage.
Sidrovitch lands with a short shot to the head.
Sidrovitch dodges an elbow strike from Nieves.
Nieves tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sidrovitch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sidrovitch tries to land knees in the clinch but Nieves avoids the damage to the body.

Sidrovitch turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Nieves tries to improve position but can't.
Sidrovitch tries to stand but Nieves controls the position and pulls Sidrovitch into his guard.
Nieves wants to stand and escape but Sidrovitch is having none of it.
Nieves told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Nieves is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nieves being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieves keeping full guard, as Sidrovitch tries to pass.
Nieves can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sidrovitch controls the pace.
Sidrovitch throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nieves works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sidrovitch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Nieves rushes Sidrovitch and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sidrovitch effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sidrovitch lands with a left to the head.
Nieves blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sidrovitch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nieves tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nieves landing knees to the body.
Sidrovitch takes an elbow to the temple.
Nieves struggles to land a body shot inside as Sidrovitch controls his hands.
Nieves lands a knee to the head.
A short left from Nieves.
Nieves misses with the head strike.
Sidrovitch effectively controlling the action here.
Nieves is trying to maintain a safe position but Sidrovitch gets an underhook and turns Nieves into the cage.
Nieves will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sidrovitch up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Sidrovitch breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidrovitch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nieves moves away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nieves darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Sidrovitch has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nieves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nieves works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sidrovitch cracks Nieves with a nice body shot.
Nieves blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nieves slows down the pace here.
Sidrovitch is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Nieves is defending well.
Nieves connects with a knee to the head.
Sidrovitch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nieves's elbow.
Sidrovitch pressing his opponent against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nieves throws a punch but it's blocked by Sidrovitch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sidrovitch is working Nieves over against the cage.
Nieves tries to land a knee to the head but Sidrovitch blocks with his arms.
Nieves missing with knees to the body.
Good body shot from Sidrovitch.
Nieves tries to land a knee to the head but Sidrovitch blocks with his arms.

Sidrovitch pulls Nieves into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sidrovitch looking for a sweep. Not yet Sidrovitch, not yet.
Sidrovitch working a defensive guard here.

Sidrovitch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nieves is aware though and is defending well.
Nieves stopping the sweep attempt from Sidrovitch.

Sidrovitch has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nieves can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nieves pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sidrovitch is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabrielius Nieves will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sidrovitch takes the fight into the clinch.
Sidrovitch misses with a body punch.
Sidrovitch throws a punch but it's blocked by Nieves.
Nieves swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sidrovitch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sidrovitch manages to pull guard.
Sidrovitch pulls Nieves in to control the position.
Nieves seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nieves postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidrovitch can't keep his opponent in guard - Nieves advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nieves is looking to advance position but Sidrovitch won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sidrovitch missing with punches from the bottom.
Sidrovitch wants to get back to his feet.
Sidrovitch trying to hold on to Nieves's head to control him but Nieves postures up.
Nieves wants to control but Sidrovitch is keeping him busy.
Sidrovitch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nieves is working away from the top position though.
Sidrovitch is looking to improve his position.
Nieves looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Nieves is looking for a kimura here.
Sidrovitch is looking to improve his position.
Nieves is looking to advance position but Sidrovitch won't allow it.
Sidrovitch pushes Nieves off looking to stand but Nieves dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Nieves drives through and clinches with Sidrovitch against the cage.
Nieves is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Sidrovitch is keeping busy.
Nieves dodges an elbow strike from Sidrovitch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidrovitch wants to stall.
Sidrovitch dodges an elbow strike from Nieves.
Sidrovitch throws a punch but it's blocked by Nieves.
Nieves can't find room to land a body shot as Sidrovitch controls the action.
Sidrovitch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Sidrovitch.
Sidrovitch tries to work over Nieves's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nieves blocks a body shot from Sidrovitch.
Nieves is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sidrovitch is defending well for now.
Sidrovitch struggles to land a body shot inside as Nieves controls his hands.
Sidrovitch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nieves's elbow.
Nieves scores a nice knee to the body.
Sidrovitch goes for a takedown in the clinch but Nieves prevents it.
Nieves working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sidrovitch missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nieves throws an elbow that misses.
Sidrovitch wants to get back to striking at distance but Nieves won't allow it.
Nieves unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sidrovitch lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Sidrovitch tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gabrielius Nieves seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nieves lands an elbow just above Sidrovitch 's eye.
Nieves prevents a body shot from Sidrovitch.
Sidrovitch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasily Sidrovitch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nieves crunches a lovely knee into Sidrovitch's ribcage.
Nieves goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nieves lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nieves lands a good knee to the midsection. Sidrovitch won't want to take too many of those.
Nieves is looking to control Sidrovitch's arms but Sidrovitch gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nieves has his back to the cage.
Nieves landing knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nieves lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Sidrovitch or not.
Nieves utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Nieves.
Nieves lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabrielius Nieves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Sidrovitch blocks a head kick by Nieves.

Nieves darts in and clinches Sidrovitch up against the cage.
Sidrovitch tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nieves's elbow.
Nieves working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Nieves creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Nieves.
Nieves tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sidrovitch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nieves lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Sidrovitch successfully pulls guard.
Nieves engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nieves being controlled here momentarily.
Sidrovitch keeping moving, preventing Nieves from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sidrovitch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nieves defends it easily.
Nieves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sidrovitch has a closed guard, preventing Nieves from standing up.
Nieves wants to control from the top but Sidrovitch keeps moving.
Sidrovitch is striking off his back. Nieves thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Sidrovitch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Nieves trying to control the action but Sidrovitch is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Nieves decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Sidrovitch gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sidrovitch blocks a body shot from Nieves.
Nieves doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Sidrovitch.
Sidrovitch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Sidrovitch manages to pull guard.
Sidrovitch controls Nieves momentarily but Nieves frees himself.
Nieves trying to control the position from guard on top but Sidrovitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sidrovitch looking for a sweep. Not yet Sidrovitch, not yet.
Vasily Sidrovitch overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nieves trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sidrovitch striking off his back but it's not causing Nieves any problems.

Sidrovitch escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nieves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sidrovitch looking for a sweep. Not yet Sidrovitch, not yet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nieves wants to control from the top but Sidrovitch keeps moving.
Nieves slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Nieves tries to sprawl but Sidrovitch drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nieves has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sidrovitch is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sidrovitch is looking to advance position but Nieves won't allow it.
Sidrovitch not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sidrovitch prevents Nieves from improving his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nieves is looking to control Sidrovitch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nieves avoid being mounted?
Vasily Sidrovitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabrielius Nieves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sidrovitch slips a nice elbow through Nieves's hands, connecting with Nieves's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vasily Sidrovitch.
I think Nieves 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabrielius Nieves!