PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Radu Dracul (ranked 1171 p4p, 2691 weight class) and Bruce Sidebar (ranked 156 p4p, 354 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Dracul
vs
Sidebar

190 cm
25
202
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
205
8 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Radu Dracul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Sidebar!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circle momentarily. Sidebar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've been hearing reports that Dracul has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sidebar tries to land a body kick

and Dracul counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dracul preventing the sweep.

Sidebar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dracul doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dracul manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dracul tries to free his leg and advance position but Sidebar is retaining full guard.
Sidebar is trying to control the position but Dracul postures up.
Dracul trying to control the position from guard on top but Sidebar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dracul throws a big elbow that misses.
Dracul lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dracul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dracul looking to pass the guard.
Dracul throws a big right hand that misses.
Sidebar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sidebar looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sidebar working for a triangle but Dracul defends it easily.
Dracul works over Sidebar with some ground and pound from guard.
Dracul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dracul's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Dracul throws a big right hand that misses.
Dracul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dracul postures up in Sidebar's guard and throws a big left but Sidebar blocks it.
Dracul lands a couple of elbows.

Sidebar working for a triangle but Dracul defends it easily.
Sidebar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dracul manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sidebar won't allow Dracul to sweep him here.
Dracul lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sidebar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dracul is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Dracul working some strikes from top position.
Dracul wants to control from the top but Sidebar keeps moving.
Dracul is really struggling to control Sidebar but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sidebar's head.

Sidebar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dracul postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dracul throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sidebar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dracul chips away with some ground and pound.
Sidebar wants to sweep here but Dracul controlling him for the moment.
Dracul controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dracul's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Dracul cracks Sidebar with a solid left hand.
Sidebar keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Dracul working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sidebar's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar wants to sweep but no luck.
Sidebar is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dracul is controlling him.
Sidebar keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Dracul stands and throws Sidebar's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sidebar takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sidebar is trying to control Dracul's posture but Dracul avoids it.
Dracul is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sidebar's shoulder. That is not cool.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dracul has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Sidebar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Radu Dracul dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dracul blocks a head kick by Sidebar.
Dracul half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Sidebar scores with a hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Sidebar.
Dracul is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sidebar is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Dracul 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.
Dracul is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dracul holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sidebar tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Dracul wants to hold on but Sidebar pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dracul is desperately trying to improve his position but Sidebar has a good base and remains in mount.
Dracul slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Sidebar is trying to work for a kimura but Dracul is defending well.
Dracul missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dracul wants to get back to full guard.
Sidebar lands with a punch from half guard.

Sidebar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dracul defends it well.
Dracul gets back to full guard.
Dracul trying to strike off his back.
Sidebar throws a big elbow that misses.
Dracul is looking to sweep but instead, Sidebar has passed into half guard.
Dracul is looking to improve his position.
Dracul manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dracul looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sidebar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dracul moves into full guard.
Dracul wants to sweep here but Sidebar controlling him for the moment.
Dracul wants to hit a sweep here but Sidebar passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Dracul there!
Sidebar thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Dracul sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dracul manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dracul lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dracul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sidebar is on top in guard.

Dracul has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sidebar has passed into side control.
Dracul wants to control but Sidebar postures up.
Dracul gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dracul tries to get to full guard but Sidebar has control of the leg.
Sidebar is trying to control the action in half guard but Dracul is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar prevents Dracul from improving his position.
Dracul is looking to control Sidebar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dracul avoid being mounted?
Dracul slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Dracul is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dracul wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sidebar throwing strikes but missing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Sidebar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sidebar throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sidebar throws a right hand that misses

and Dracul counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Dracul working Sidebar over with strikes.
Sidebar is trying to get back to full guard.
Sidebar is trying to control but can't.
Sidebar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sidebar manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dracul stands up over Sidebar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dracul stands up over Sidebar, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dracul throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sidebar keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Radu Dracul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dracul chips away with some ground and pound.
Dracul postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sidebar wants to sweep here but Dracul controlling him for the moment.
Dracul trying to control but Sidebar is working from the bottom.
Dracul's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Sidebar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dracul throwing strikes but missing.
Dracul is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sidebar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dracul with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dracul is working Sidebar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dracul is stalling in the full guard.

Dracul got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sidebar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dracul has managed to get both his arms back between Sidebar's legs - danger averted.
Dracul postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dracul trying to control the position from guard on top but Sidebar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sidebar wants to sweep here but Dracul controlling him for the moment.
Sidebar keeping full guard, as Dracul tries to pass.
Sidebar keeping moving, preventing Dracul from controlling successfully.
Dracul lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dracul working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sidebar's head.
Dracul preventing the sweep.
Dracul distracts Sidebar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Sidebar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dracul postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dracul pushes down on Sidebar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dracul trying to control from half guard but Sidebar is working away.
Dracul wants to free his trapped foot but Sidebar is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Sidebar has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Dracul working the head and body with strikes.
Sidebar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sidebar trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dracul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sidebar keeps working.
Sidebar wants to get back to his feet.
Dracul lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sidebar on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dracul is looking to take a break and control but Sidebar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Dracul 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.
Dracul working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dracul lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Radu Dracul showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dracul 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Radu Dracul!