PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Crusty Pelican (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommi Sihoven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Pelican
vs
Sihoven

155 cm
21
132 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

164 cm
19
134 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Crusty Pelican!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tommi Sihoven!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Skip Squint and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pelican tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Sihoven changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pelican looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pelican is trying to get back to half guard.
Sihoven controlling from side mount.
Pelican tries to improve position but can't.
Sihoven looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pelican is avoiding damage well.
Pelican struggling a bit here.
Pelican tries to buck Sihoven off but Sihoven is having none of it.
Pelican wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sihoven throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pelican's waist but Pelican gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sihoven off to one side.
Pelican tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sihoven paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pelican moves in looking to clinch but Sihoven pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sihoven throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pelican tries to clinch up.

Pelican darts in and clinches Sihoven up against the cage.
Sihoven fails to pull guard.
Pelican is working for takedown but Sihoven is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sihoven tries for a takedown. No joy.
Crusty Pelican has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommi Sihoven.
Pelican tries to stall but Sihoven uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Pelican wants to break the clinch but can't.

Sihoven jumps into guard, dragging Pelican to the mat.
Pelican stays in close to Sihoven's body and controls the position.
Pelican chips away with some ground and pound.
Sihoven looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pelican is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pelican postures up and lands a big shot to Sihoven's brow.
Pelican trying to control the position from guard on top but Sihoven is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pelican 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.
Pelican with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pelican pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sihoven is keeping the position for now.
Sihoven keeping moving, preventing Pelican from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Sihoven drives through and clinches with Pelican against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sihoven escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Sihoven does no damage.
Danga de danga de dang - Sihoven scores with a four punch combination!

Sihoven fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pelican sprawls well initially but Sihoven persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sihoven looks gassed!
Pelican has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sihoven is working away from the top position though.
Pelican moves into full guard.
Sihoven wants to control from the top but Pelican keeps moving.

Pelican working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sihoven has passed into half guard!
Sihoven controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pelican has one foot on Sihoven's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Sihoven keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Sihoven throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pelican's waist but Pelican gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sihoven off to one side.

Sihoven fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pelican sprawls well initially but Sihoven persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Pelican flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Pelican wants to control but Sihoven is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Pelican with that takedown attempt.
Sihoven shoots and misses
and Pelican counters with a low kick, right behind Sihoven 's knee.
Nice takedown defense from Sihoven. No joy for Pelican on that attempt.
Tommi Sihoven seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pelican fails with an attempt to clinch.

Sihoven has Pelican up against the cage in a clinch.
Pelican fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crusty Pelican. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sihoven looking for a takedown.
Sihoven is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pelican pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pelican is working for takedown but Sihoven is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A knee to the head by Sihoven.
Pelican tries for a takedown but Sihoven manages to get underhooks.

Sihoven is trying to trip Pelican. He has hold of a leg but Pelican is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Sihoven persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sihoven has gone for a leg lock! Pelican slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sihoven's guard.
Sihoven manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Pelican keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pelican is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sihoven cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sihoven wants to control the pace but Pelican is squirming around nicely.
Sihoven controlling the position easily from mount.
Pelican is wriggling around trying to escape.

Sihoven has hold of Pelican's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Pelican manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Pelican tries to reverse the position but Sihoven maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pelican wants to control but Sihoven is having none of it.
Pelican really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pelican throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Sihoven content just to control the position here.
Pelican sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sihoven landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four 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.
Pelican is trying to maintain the position but Sihoven is very close to passing his half guard.
Pelican is looking for a sweep. Sihoven is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sihoven lands a nice short elbow.
Pelican wants to get back to full guard but Sihoven has passed into side control.
Pelican is desperately trying to improve his position but Sihoven has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Sihoven cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pelican tries to lock up and control but Sihoven gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sihoven trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sihoven looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Sihoven showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pelican fails with the takedown

and Sihoven counters by clinching up.
Sihoven landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Sihoven lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pelican or not.

Sihoven escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crusty Pelican is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sihoven throws a nice looking combination but Pelican bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sihoven doesn't manage to clinch there - Pelican circles away.
Sihoven misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sihoven tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pelican swivels and escapes.
Pelican looks to clinch

and Sihoven counters with a shoot takedown. Pelican fights it but they end up in guard.

Pelican looking for a guillotine here but Sihoven defends easily.
Sihoven thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pelican tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pelican looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sihoven working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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

Pelican is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sihoven trying to control the position from guard on top but Pelican is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Sihoven gets to his feet. Pelican looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pelican ducks right into an uppercut from Sihoven.
A punch combination from Sihoven misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pelican.
Pelican fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sihoven fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sihoven with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pelican counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Crusty Pelican has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommi Sihoven.
Pelican drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sihoven fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sihoven is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sihoven is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pelican pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Crusty Pelican has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sihoven managing to block the knees to the body from Pelican.
Sihoven is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Pelican has Sihoven pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Pelican pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Sihoven tumbling to the mat - Pelican dives into Sihoven's guard.
Sihoven keeping full guard, as Pelican tries to pass.
Pelican lands a couple of elbows.
Pelican trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pelican stopping the sweep attempt from Sihoven.
Pelican trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Pelican postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sihoven is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pelican, into his guard.
Sihoven controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sihoven stopping the sweep attempt from Pelican.
Tommi Sihoven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Pelican working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Sihoven has passed into half guard!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tommi Sihoven.
Well Sihoven has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommi Sihoven!