PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fred Claus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Pizel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Claus
vs
Pizel

172 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fred Claus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeremy Pizel!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Skip Squint and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pizel.
Claus misses with the combination.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Pizel.
Pizel is chipping away with strikes.
Pizel taking a break here but Claus is having none of it and regains half guard.
Pizel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Claus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pizel is thwarting Claus's attempts to control the position.
Pizel misses with a head shot. Claus uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus trying to control the position here.
Pizel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Claus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pizel postures up in Claus's guard and throws a big left but Claus blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Claus controlling Pizel's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pizel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Claus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pizel wants to get up but he can't break Claus's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pizel wants to control from the top but Claus keeps moving.
Pizel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Claus's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pizel prevents Claus from standing back up.
Pizel is keen to just control but Claus is a slippery customer.
Pizel wants to stand up but Claus manages to regain full guard.
Pizel throws a big right hand that misses.

Claus is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pizel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Claus wants to sweep but no luck.
Pizel trying to stand up but can't free himself from Claus's guard.
Claus trying to keep a closed guard but Pizel is proving a slippery customer.
Claus seems keen to control Pizel's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pizel trying to control but Claus is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Pizel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pizel tries to clinch there but Claus circles away.
Claus waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pizel.
Claus takes a kick to the side of the head.
Claus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Claus darts in trying to clinch
and Pizel counters with an outside leg kick.

Claus shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Claus was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pizel wants to hold on but Claus pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus looking to ground and pound but Pizel is blocking nicely.
Pizel tries to hold on but Claus postures up.

Claus goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Pizel is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pizel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pizel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Claus seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Claus could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Claus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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.
Pizel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pizel trying to control but Claus is working from the bottom.
Claus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pizel trying to control but Claus is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pizel looking to sit in guard and control but Claus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pizel looking for a sweep. Not yet Pizel, not yet.
Claus lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pizel working a defensive guard here.

Claus drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pizel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pizel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pizel!
Pizel tries to score with some ground and pound. Claus controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Claus wants to control but Pizel postures up.
Pizel throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Pizel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pizel wants to control but Claus is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeremy Pizel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pizel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Claus tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pizel ducks under a wild hook from Claus.
Pizel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Claus!

Pizel gets a takedown into half guard.
Claus won't allow Pizel to pass to mount.
Pizel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Claus trying to control here.
Claus controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Pizel is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Pizel is looking to take a break and control but Claus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pizel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Claus kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Claus keeping control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Claus misses with a hook.
Pizel shoots and misses
and Claus counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Claus closes the distance and pushes Pizel back into the cage.

Claus wants the takedown. Pizel is fighting it off but Claus persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Pizel's guard against the cage.
Claus lands a couple of elbows.
Claus wants to control from the top but Pizel keeps moving.
Claus not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Fred Claus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Claus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pizel's guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Claus connects with a nice short shot to Pizel's temple.
Claus passes to full mount!
Pizel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Claus avoids the attempt from Pizel to control.
Pizel tries to reverse the position but Claus maintains control.
Claus lands a nice shot to the head.
The referee warns Pizel that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Jeremy Pizel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Claus looking to isolate an arm here. Pizel doesn't see it coming and as Claus extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Claus!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fred Claus!