PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Misak Grigorian (ranked 4233 p4p, 3162 weight class) and Bruce Sidebar (ranked 527 p4p, 402 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Grigorian
vs
Sidebar

193 cm
25
216
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
25
205
8 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Misak Grigorian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Sidebar!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sidebar throws a big shot that misses.
Sidebar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Grigorian defends well and Sidebar ends up having to push Grigorian into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Grigorian missing with a left hand there. Sidebar was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sidebar steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Grigorian ducks under a wild hook from Sidebar.
Grigorian thuds his right hand into Sidebar's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Sidebar throws a combination that misses
and Grigorian makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Sidebar misses with a two punch combination.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Grigorian.
Grigorian misses with a hook. Sidebar ducked under it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidebar shoots in for a takedown but Grigorian shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Grigorian is looking to counter with head kicks.
Sidebar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Grigorian has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Misak Grigorian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Sidebar.
Sidebar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Grigorian counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Grigorian misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sidebar tries to clinch up
and Sidebar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sidebar throws a body kick that misses
and Grigorian counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sidebar throws a lazy uppercut
and Sidebar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Grigorian lands with a nice body punch.
Sidebar wants to clinch up but Grigorian keeps it at a distance.
Sidebar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Grigorian avoids it really well and circles away.
Grigorian swats away the attempt to clinch by Sidebar.
Grigorian takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Misak Grigorian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Grigorian scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Grigorian ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sidebar moves away.
Sidebar lands a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sidebar looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sidebar throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Grigorian.
Grigorian throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sidebar sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Sidebar! But no joy.
A big left from Grigorian misses.
Grigorian pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Grigorian connects with an inside leg kick.
Sidebar misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sidebar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Grigorian sprawls well initially but Sidebar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Grigorian is trying to maintain the position but Sidebar is very close to passing his half guard.
Grigorian is looking to escape.
Grigorian is looking for a sweep. Sidebar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sidebar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Grigorian wants to get back to full guard.
Grigorian keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sidebar is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sidebar prevents Grigorian from improving his position.
Grigorian is holding on to half guard well.
Grigorian is pressing down on Sidebar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Grigorian pulls Sidebar in close to prevent any damage.
Sidebar with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Misak Grigorian dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A lazy body kick from Sidebar
and Grigorian counters with a straight right hand.
Grigorian lands an overhand right.
Sidebar tries to clinch but Grigorian moves out of range.
Grigorian looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Grigorian misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Sidebar on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Grigorian is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sidebar can do to turn this around?
Sidebar misses with a hook.
Sidebar chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Grigorian can pounce on him.
Grigorian takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A cross from Grigorian lands.
Jab, jab by Sidebar - just one landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidebar lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Grigorian.
Sidebar throws a lazy right hand but Grigorian sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sidebar bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?

Sidebar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Grigorian, who protects the arm well.
Sidebar working away.
Sidebar in side control, throwing shots but Grigorian defends.
Grigorian is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Grigorian is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Sidebar throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Grigorian tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sidebar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Grigorian is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Grigorian's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sidebar throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian struggling a bit here.
Grigorian isn't going anywhere.
An elbow from Sidebar crashes against the mat.
Grigorian is looking to regain half guard here but Sidebar keeps moving and retains side control.
Grigorian knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sidebar on the ground.
A control attempt from Grigorian but he's now mounted!
Grigorian on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Grigorian tries to get out of the position.
Sidebar unloads with some shots from mount but Grigorian bucks and avoids them well.
Sidebar has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian can't escape the position.
Sidebar controlling his opponent.
Grigorian blocking the ground and pound.
Sidebar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Grigorian avoids a series of strikes thrown by Sidebar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sidebar with shots to the head and body - Grigorian looks very uncomfortable down there.

It looks like Misak Grigorian has been cut.
Grigorian holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sidebar tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Sidebar has control of Grigorian's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Grigorian regains control of the situation pretty easily.
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 cut man is working on Misak Grigorian's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Sidebar motions for Grigorian to come forward. Sidebar throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sidebar slips a jab from Grigorian.
Sidebar showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Grigorian.
Sidebar looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Grigorian moves out of range of the body kick from Sidebar.
An attempted straight right counter from Grigorian misses the target.
Sidebar tries to clinch up but Grigorian circles away and keeps his distance.
Sidebar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grigorian moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidebar displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Grigorian throws out the jab.
Sidebar fails with a takedown attempt.
Grigorian looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grigorian lands a jab.
Bruce Sidebar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sidebar swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sidebar.
Grigorian fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sidebar manages to avoid it.
Sidebar lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Sidebar tries to clinch up.
Grigorian connects with a body shot.
Sidebar throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Grigorian counters with a nice uppercut.
Grigorian connects with a jab.
A cross from Sidebar lands.
Grigorian lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorian moves out of range as Sidebar throws a body kick.
Grigorian swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Grigorian throws the left hand but Sidebar avoids the punch easily.
Sidebar throws a wild body kick that Grigorian sees coming a mile off.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sidebar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sidebar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sidebar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sidebar tries for a takedown but Grigorian sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grigorian half committed to a counter leg kick.
Misak Grigorian has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruce Sidebar.
Grigorian throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sidebar throws a good cross that connects.
Grigorian avoids the body shot from Sidebar.
A little feinted left hand from Grigorian on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sidebar is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Grigorian lands with a kick to the temple. Sidebar shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar throws a push kick but Grigorian slaps the foot to one side.
A big left from Grigorian misses.
Sidebar blocks a jab.
Sidebar throws a hook but Grigorian blocks it.
Nice defenses there by Sidebar.
Sidebar bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Grigorian's head.
Sidebar throws a series of strikes that have Grigorian backpedaling.

Grigorian is rocked!
Sidebar goes for a double leg but Grigorian avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Grigorian continues to drive forward.
Oh Grigorian is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sidebar tries to clinch
and Grigorian cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Grigorian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Grigorian seems to have got his legs back now.
Sidebar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sidebar throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Grigorian counters with a stiff right hand.
Sidebar misses with the body kick
and Grigorian counters with a solid body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar misses with a right hand
and Grigorian connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice takedown defense from Grigorian. No joy for Sidebar on that attempt.
Sidebar misses with an uppercut. Grigorian saw that one coming.
Grigorian lands a nice shot to the body.
Sidebar tries to land a body kick
and Sidebar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sidebar takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Grigorian slaps away a takedown attempt from Sidebar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Grigorian lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sidebar at a distance.
Sidebar misses with a jab to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Misak Grigorian showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Grigorian 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Misak Grigorian!
Misak Grigorian decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.