PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Sidebar (ranked 1970 p4p, 3734 weight class) and JJ Moss (ranked 267 p4p, 453 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Sidebar
vs
Moss

188 cm
23
205
7 - 7 - 0

177 cm
26
175
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

EFC Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruce Sidebar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, JJ Moss!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sidebar lands with a right hand.
Sidebar throws a nice outside leg kick.

Sidebar shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Moss's guard.
Sidebar trying to control but Moss is working from the bottom.
Sidebar postures up in Moss's guard and throws a big left but Moss blocks it.
Moss keeping moving, preventing Sidebar from controlling successfully.
Sidebar won't allow Moss to sweep him here.
Moss trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidebar is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Moss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sidebar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sidebar trying to control the position from guard on top but Moss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moss is trying to keep Sidebar in close.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sidebar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sidebar drops an elbow to the side of Moss's head.
Sidebar looks to land a strike but Moss avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Sidebar throws a strike but Moss rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sidebar scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar connects with a body shot that sends Moss's belly button to the back.
Sidebar dips to his left and cracks Moss with an uppercut!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sidebar swings for the body but Moss moves out of range.
Moss shapes to counter with a head kick.
Sidebar fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sidebar throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Moss stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sidebar paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Moss drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sidebar tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Moss punching from mount but Sidebar doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moss tries to control but Sidebar wriggling away.
Moss unloads with some shots from mount but Sidebar bucks and avoids them well.
Sidebar working to try and regain half guard.
Moss fails to take his opponent's back.
Moss in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Moss lands a couple of good shots and Sidebar has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
I really don't envy Sidebar right now.

Moss is looking for the choke from the back position but Sidebar is controlling his hands well.
Sidebar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Sidebar is trying to control but Moss passes into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moss is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sidebar has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sidebar wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sidebar manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moss is looking to control Sidebar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Moss avoid being mounted?
Sidebar lands strikes from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Sidebar dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sidebar shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Moss is trying to defend but Sidebar finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sidebar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Moss is trying to get back to full guard.
Sidebar lands strikes from half guard.

Moss looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sidebar performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moss trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moss is refusing to be controlled, as Sidebar sits in half guard.
Sidebar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Moss is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Sidebar thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Moss's head.
Sidebar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Moss can do to turn this around?
Moss has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sidebar is working away from the top position though.
Sidebar is trying to control. Moss wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Moss has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Cali Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Sidebar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sidebar stalling away here and it's allowed Moss to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Sidebar would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Moss working for submissions but it's allowed Sidebar to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sidebar is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Moss is just riding it out for now. Sidebar eventually gives up the hold.
Moss is looking to control Sidebar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Moss avoid being mounted?
The fighters are battling for position here. Moss manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Moss utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sidebar trying to control but Moss is working from the bottom.
Sidebar passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Moss is trying to control Sidebar's posture but Sidebar avoids it.
Sidebar fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Moss wants to control but Sidebar postures up.

Sidebar looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sidebar trying to control the position but Moss is working away.

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.
Moss is looking for a sweep.
The strikes coming from Sidebar are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Sidebar seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sidebar throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Moss tries to bench press Sidebar off him but Sidebar keeps the position.
Sidebar wants to take a breather but Moss manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Sidebar.
Sidebar trying to control but Moss is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sidebar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Moss works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Sidebar dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sidebar ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bruce Sidebar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Moss moves out of range as Sidebar throws a body kick.
Sidebar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Moss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Sidebar has managed to clinch.

Moss pulls guard effortlessly.
Sidebar trying to control the position from guard on top but Moss is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moss is trying to keep Sidebar in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sidebar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sidebar wants to control from the top but Moss keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moss 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.
Sidebar with a nice head shot there.
Sidebar 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.
Sidebar throwing strikes but missing.
Sidebar's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Moss preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Moss has his foot on Sidebar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sidebar works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sidebar wants to pass the guard but Moss is keeping the position.

Moss is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sidebar defends well.

Moss is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sidebar throws a big right hand that misses.
Sidebar is pushing down on Moss's leg trying to pass to half guard. Moss is fighting to maintain full guard but Sidebar has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sidebar trying to control the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moss trying to control but Sidebar postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sidebar is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Moss has managed to free his arm - good work.
Moss is looking for a sweep. Sidebar is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Moss keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Sidebar stands up from half guard.
Sidebar slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sidebar looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Moss fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sidebar avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moss moves out of range of the body kick.
A jab from Sidebar does it's job there.
Sidebar is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Moss tries a head kick but it misses.
Sidebar takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bruce Sidebar is winning the standup battle so far.
Moss stuffs the takedown attempt from Sidebar. Sidebar gets slowly back to his feet.
Sidebar with a nice cross.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sidebar changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Sidebar bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Sidebar clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sidebar scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sidebar throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sidebar bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sidebar throws a push kick but Moss slaps the foot to one side.
Moss swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sidebar connects with a body shot that sends Moss's belly button to the back.
Sidebar misses with a body kick.
Sidebar dives in for a single leg takedown but Moss sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sidebar is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Moss fails to pull the fight into his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sidebar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sidebar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Danga de danga de dang - Sidebar scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sidebar scores with a jab to the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sidebar tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Moss's elbow.

Moss jumps guard.
Sidebar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sidebar wants to control from the top but Moss keeps moving.

Sidebar is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bruce Sidebar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Moss throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moss has his foot on Sidebar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sidebar works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sidebar postures up in Moss's guard and throws a big left but Moss blocks it.

Moss looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Sidebar is defending well. Moss quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Sidebar has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Moss celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). JJ Moss!
JJ Moss managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, EFC Threads, into his post fight interview.