PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Bianchi (ranked 5571 p4p, 12732 weight class) and Bruce Sidebar (ranked 607 p4p, 694 weight class). Bruce Sidebar is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bianchi
vs
Sidebar

185 cm
19
203
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
205
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Lorenzo Bianchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Sidebar!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sidebar darts in trying to clinch
and Sidebar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sidebar keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bianchi.
Sidebar throws a hook but Bianchi avoids it easily.
Bianchi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bianchi looks to land a right hand but Sidebar moved out of range.
That kick from Bianchi tenderised Sidebar's leg. Sidebar is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sidebar steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bianchi.
Sidebar lands with a good body shot.
Bianchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bianchi misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bianchi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A low kick lands for Bianchi.
Sidebar on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bianchi. Bianchi obviously looking to wear him down.
Bianchi throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sidebar 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.
Bianchi seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sidebar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bianchi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As Sidebar backs away, Bianchi returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sidebar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bianchi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Bianchi scores with a spinning back kick!
Sidebar tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sidebar gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Bianchi counters with a stiff right hand.
Bianchi throws a hook to the side of Sidebar's head but Sidebar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sidebar now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Sidebar 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.
Sidebar misses with a hook
enabling Bianchi to counter with a crisp jab.
Sidebar throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Bianchi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A nice leg kick from Bianchi, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bianchi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sidebar looks for the body kick but Bianchi saw that one coming.

Sidebar shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sidebar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bianchi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sidebar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Sidebar is working for a submission of some sort.
Bianchi trying to control here.

Sidebar is working for a kimura but Bianchi is defending it quite comfortably.
Bianchi is looking for a sweep. Sidebar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sidebar is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bianchi has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Sidebar escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Sidebar!
Sidebar in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bianchi can't do much from the bottom here.
Sidebar prevents Bianchi from escaping the position.

That's four 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.
Bianchi tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Bianchi is looking to improve his position but Sidebar isn't that keen on the idea.
Bianchi tries to lock up and control but Sidebar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sidebar looking to ground and pound but Bianchi is blocking nicely.
Bianchi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Bianchi tries to lock up and control but Sidebar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sidebar misses with a head shot.
Sidebar trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sidebar looking to finish with strikes here!
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 Lorenzo Bianchi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sidebar throws a jab when Bianchi was well out of range.
Sidebar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
An attempted straight right counter from Bianchi misses the target.
Sidebar wants to clinch.
Bianchi connects with a leg kick.
Sidebar blocks the body kick.
Sidebar is looking to clinch.
Bianchi lands a leg kick that knocks Sidebar off balance momentarily.
Sidebar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bianchi tries to avoid it but Sidebar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bianchi to the ground. Bianchi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sidebar is defended easily by Bianchi.
Bianchi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sidebar tries to clinch there but Bianchi circles away.
Bianchi swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sidebar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bianchi moves away.
Bianchi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bianchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sidebar.
Bianchi throws a head kick but Sidebar moves out of range.
Sidebar misses with a head kick.
Bianchi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bianchi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sidebar has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bianchi.
Bianchi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lorenzo Bianchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bianchi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bianchi slips under a jab from Sidebar.
Sidebar dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sidebar looks for the body kick but Bianchi saw that one coming.
Sidebar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sidebar tries to clinch up but Bianchi circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi feints and then cracks Sidebar's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sidebar down.
Sidebar's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Bianchi - that will leave a mark!
Sidebar throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bianchi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Good leg kick by Bianchi.
Bianchi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sidebar checks it well.
A low kick lands for Bianchi.

Sidebar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bruce Sidebar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sidebar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bianchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sidebar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sidebar throwing strikes but missing.
Sidebar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Bianchi has an active guard here but Sidebar has managed to pass into half guard.
Sidebar throwing shots but Bianchi is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Sidebar looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bianchi is trying to maintain the position but Sidebar is very close to passing his half guard.

Bianchi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sidebar pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sidebar is thwarting Bianchi's attempts to control the position.
Bianchi moves into full guard.
Sidebar trying to control the position from guard on top but Bianchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sidebar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sidebar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bianchi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bianchi is looking for a triangle but Sidebar pushes his legs off easily.
Sidebar passes into half guard.
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 Lorenzo Bianchi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A low kick from Bianchi is predictable there
and Sidebar cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sidebar misses with a body kick.
Sidebar looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bianchi looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

Sidebar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bianchi sprawls well initially but Sidebar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bianchi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sidebar is working away from the top position though.

Bianchi actively working from the bottom here.

Bianchi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidebar wants to take a breather but Bianchi is having none of it.
Bianchi regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bianchi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sidebar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Bianchi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Bianchi has an active guard here but Sidebar has managed to pass into half guard.
Sidebar tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Bianchi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sidebar trying to control from half guard but Bianchi is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Sidebar is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Bianchi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sidebar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bianchi keeps working.

Bianchi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sidebar pulls his head out easily.
Sidebar slips a nice elbow through Bianchi's hands, connecting with Bianchi's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar lands with a punch from half guard.
Bianchi is refusing to be controlled, as Sidebar sits in half guard.

Bianchi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Sidebar is working for a submission of some sort.
Bruce Sidebar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice strikes from Sidebar there.
Sidebar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Bianchi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bianchi trying to control from the bottom.
Lorenzo Bianchi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sidebar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sidebar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bianchi wants to control but Sidebar is keeping busy.
Bianchi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sidebar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bianchi keeping control of the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Sidebar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bianchi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenzo Bianchi!