PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dick Pawlik (ranked 1070 p4p, 499 weight class) and Bart Cubbedge (ranked 135 p4p, 65 weight class). Dick Pawlik has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pawlik
vs
Cubbedge

172 cm
25
166
5 - 3 - 1

180 cm
28
166
15 - 12 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

SynCity Fightwear
KOMBAT KLOTHING

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dick Pawlik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bart Cubbedge !
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pawlik misses with a body shot.

Cubbedge fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pawlik, pushing him back against the cage.
Cubbedge fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Pawlik has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Cubbedge regains guard immediately.
Pawlik trying to control the position from guard on top but Cubbedge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pawlik working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pawlik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cubbedge swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pawlik stands up over Cubbedge , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pawlik postures up.
Cubbedge tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pawlik makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pawlik trying to control the position from guard on top but Cubbedge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pawlik is looking to pass into half guard but Cubbedge pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Cubbedge is in guard.

Cubbedge wants to control from the top but Pawlik keeps moving.
Pawlik is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pawlik is looking for a kimura but Cubbedge is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pawlik to get the leverage.
Pawlik sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cubbedge defending well though.
Pawlik is just content to waste time from the top position. Cubbedge takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Cubbedge keeping full guard, as Pawlik tries to pass.
Pawlik looking to sit in guard and control but Cubbedge gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik working a defensive guard here.
Pawlik is looking to sweep but instead, Cubbedge has passed into half guard.
Pawlik controlling the position for now.
Pawlik is looking to improve his position.
Pawlik gets full guard.
Pawlik 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.
Cubbedge looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik is trying to control the position but Cubbedge postures up.
Cubbedge trying to control but Pawlik is working from the bottom.
Pawlik is looking to sweep but instead, Cubbedge has passed into half guard.
Pawlik is trying to get back to full guard.
Pawlik gets full guard.
Pawlik wants to sweep but no luck.

Pawlik has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cubbedge is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Pawlik.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik holds on to Cubbedge 's head and controls the position momentarily.
Pawlik is trying to get back to half guard.
Cubbedge trying to control the action but Pawlik is working from the bottom.
Pawlik manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pawlik is looking to improve his position.
Cubbedge is stalling here. Pawlik is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Cubbedge seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pawlik has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Pawlik dominated that round.
That's time! Pawlik's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pawlik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Cubbedge closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pawlik quickly recovers to half guard.
Pawlik wants to sweep but Cubbedge has passed to side control!
Cubbedge is looking to take a break and control but Pawlik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
A control attempt from Pawlik but he's now mounted!
Cubbedge prevents Pawlik from getting the reversal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cubbedge manages to capitalize on a mistake by Pawlik to take his back!
Cubbedge avoiding Pawlik 's attempts to control his hands.
Cubbedge has the hooks in. Pawlik is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cubbedge patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cubbedge controlling well, preventing Pawlik from escaping the position.
Pawlik breaks Cubbedge 's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Cubbedge bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pawlik's guard.

Pawlik looking for a sweep. Not yet Pawlik, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cubbedge controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Pawlik tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pawlik throws his legs up looking for a submission but Cubbedge uses it to pass to side control.
Pawlik manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cubbedge uses his free foot to push down on Pawlik's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pawlik.
Cubbedge manages to capitalize on a mistake by Pawlik to take his back!
Cubbedge has the hooks in. Pawlik is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Pawlik trying to control the hands but Cubbedge won't let him.
Pawlik rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cubbedge trying to control the pace.
Pawlik tries to get to full guard but Cubbedge has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pawlik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cubbedge looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pawlik is looking for a sweep. Cubbedge is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pawlik is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cubbedge pulls his head out easily.
Pawlik wants to control but Cubbedge is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Pawlik has his hands clasped together around Cubbedge 's back. He's all about the action.
Pawlik wants to improve his position but Cubbedge is controlling well.
Pawlik won't allow Cubbedge to pass to mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cubbedge is looking for a kimura but Pawlik is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Cubbedge to get the leverage.
Pawlik holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Cubbedge 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!

Cubbedge moves into the clinch successfully.

Cubbedge is fighting off a takedown attempt but Pawlik is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Cubbedge to the mat. Cubbedge regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Pawlik is working Cubbedge over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pawlik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pawlik trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Cubbedge looking for a guillotine here but Pawlik defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pawlik throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cubbedge works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pawlik is looking to work some ground and pound but Cubbedge has wrist control.
Cubbedge keeping moving, preventing Pawlik from controlling successfully.
Pawlik tries to free his leg and advance position but Cubbedge is retaining full guard.
Pawlik trying to control the position from guard on top but Cubbedge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cubbedge keeping full guard, as Pawlik tries to pass.
Pawlik looking to sit in guard and control but Cubbedge gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cubbedge stopping the sweep attempt from Pawlik.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cubbedge sitting in guard here, content to control.

Pawlik looking for a guillotine here but Cubbedge defends easily.
Cubbedge tries to free his leg and advance position but Pawlik is retaining full guard.
Pawlik 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik tries to pass to full mount but Cubbedge defends it.
Pawlik is keen to just control but Cubbedge is a slippery customer.
Cubbedge 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.
Pawlik throws a strike but Cubbedge avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Pawlik passes into half guard.

Pawlik is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cubbedge defends it well.
Pawlik is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cubbedge !

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pawlik landing punches.
Pawlik throwing strikes here but Cubbedge is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Pawlik trying to control but Cubbedge is having none of it.
Cubbedge is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Cubbedge regains half guard.
Cubbedge trying to hold on to Pawlik's head to control him but Pawlik postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cubbedge moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Pawlik showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pawlik 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Pawlik!
An out of breath Dick Pawlik thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.