PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between derek Sherinian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hada Pija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hada Pija will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sherinian
vs
Pija

153 cm
23
134 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

172 cm
25
131 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, derek Sherinian!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hada Pija!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherinian closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pija did well to prevent Sherinian getting side control.
Sherinian looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sherinian not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sherinian sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pija defending well though.
Sherinian throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherinian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sherinian missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pija avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sherinian.
Pija is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sherinian looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pija is fending him off so far but Sherinian persists. Nope, Pija circles away and we're back to standing.

Sherinian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pija napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pija looks gassed!
Pija is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Sherinian asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Sherinian landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sherinian wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pija, who protects the arm well.
Sherinian throwing strikes but Pija manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Sherinian might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sherinian manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pija's best efforts.

Pija escapes and gets back to his feet.
Sherinian shoots in for a double leg but Pija sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Sherinian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pija napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sherinian misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Pija's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sherinian working the ground and pound.
Sherinian working the body and head with strikes.
Pija is trying to get back to half guard.
Sherinian working the body and head with strikes.
Sherinian lands an elbow.
Pija is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sherinian connects with a decent elbow.
Sherinian 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.
Pija takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sherinian in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherinian landing strikes.
Check out the look on Sherinian's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sherinian working the ground and pound.
Sherinian in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sherinian is putting a hurting on Pija here, landing some big shots from side control.

Sherinian wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pija, who protects the arm well.
Sherinian creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pija sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Sherinian misses with the ground and pound.
Sherinian is chipping away with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pija is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Sherinian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sloppy strikes there by Sherinian.
An elbow from Sherinian crashes against the mat.
Sherinian has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Pija!
Sherinian with good strikes from the mount here!
Sherinian lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sherinian 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.

derek Sherinian dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pija gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Sherinian to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Sherinian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pija can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sherinian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pija avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sherinian working some strikes from top position.
Sherinian thows a big elbow that misses.
Sherinian is working Pija over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sherinian lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sherinian postures up and lands a big shot to Pija's brow.
Sherinian in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sherinian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sherinian throws a big right hand that misses.
Sherinian works over Pija with some ground and pound from guard.
Sherinian with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sherinian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sherinian lands a couple of digs.
Sherinian is in close to Pija's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sherinian missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sherinian postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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.
Sherinian works over Pija with some ground and pound from guard.
Sherinian scoring with some ground and pound.
Sherinian with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sherinian scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pija avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pija looking to control.
Sherinian postures up and lands a big shot to Pija's brow.
Sherinian scoring with some ground and pound.
Sherinian working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pija's head.
Pija wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherinian keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pija's head.
Sherinian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sherinian throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sherinian trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pija working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sherinian.
Sherinian tries to free his leg and advance position but Pija is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pija stuffs the takedown.
derek Sherinian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pija instigates a clinch.
Sherinian is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pija gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Pija's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pija stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for derek Sherinian. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four 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.
Sherinian shoots for a double leg takedown but Pija sprawls well. He's pushed Sherinian's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sherinian shoots in looking for a takedown. Pija tries to sprawl out of it but Sherinian keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pija manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pija closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sherinian tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Pija easily slips into full mount!
Sherinian tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pija throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Sherinian is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sherinian misses with a takedown attempt

and Pija counters by clinching up.

Sherinian turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sherinian manages to end up in side control.
Sherinian lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Pija down.
Pija wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sherinian works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Sherinian scoring with punches and elbows.
Pija tries to escape but Sherinian is in control.
Pija on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
derek Sherinian overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sherinian is working Pija over with some ground and pound from side control.
Sherinian working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pija takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sherinian working the ground and pound from side control.
Sherinian scoring with punches from side control.
Sherinian working away.
Pija is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sherinian's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pija is trying to stand.

Pija is defending against the submission attempts here by Sherinian.

Sherinian seems to be working for a kimura but Pija defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pija is trying to get back to full guard.
Still in half guard, Sherinian seems content to control.
Sherinian working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pija taking some punishment here, with Sherinian in his half guard.
Sherinian missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sherinian thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherinian working over Pija with some ground and pound. Pija looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pija keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sherinian lands a nice short elbow.
Sherinian scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pija is trying to stand back up but Sherinian is controlling him
Pija is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sherinian scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pija is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sherinian scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pija trying to control but Sherinian postures up.
Pija is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sherinian scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sherinian thows a huge punch but Pija dodges it nicely.

That's four 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.
Sherinian lands strikes from half guard.
Pija has hold of Sherinian's hands but Sherinian slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Sherinian working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pija keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sherinian lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sherinian working over Pija with some ground and pound. Pija looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Sherinian looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pija with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pija wants to improve his position but Sherinian is controlling well.
Sherinian lands strikes from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
derek Sherinian showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sherinian, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... derek Sherinian!