PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Velazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimas Pilik (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.

Velazquez
vs
Pilik

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Manuel Velazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dimas Pilik!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Thiago Cunha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pilik throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Velazquez was covering up waiting for the punch and Pilik finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pilik forces his way into half guard.

Pilik is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Velazquez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Velazquez is trying to maintain the position but Pilik is very close to passing his half guard.

Pilik is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Velazquez still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Velazquez has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Velazquez is looking to take a break and control but Pilik is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilik struggling a bit here.
Velazquez tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pilik is looking for a sweep.
Pilik is not content to let Velazquez control the position.
Pilik regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pilik is pressing down on Velazquez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pilik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Velazquez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pilik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Velazquez is really struggling to control Pilik but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Velazquez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pilik is keeping the position for now.
Pilik wants to improve his position but instead Velazquez has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to stand but can't do so whilst Pilik controls his leg.
Velazquez is trying to control. Pilik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pilik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Velazquez.
Pilik controlling the position for now.
Pilik is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Velazquez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Velazquez's back!
Pilik has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Velazquez.
Pilik doesn't have the hooks in and Velazquez manages to turn into his guard.
Velazquez trying to control but Pilik is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Velazquez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilik is controlling Velazquez's posture.

Pilik pushes Velazquez off and scrambles back to his feet.
Pilik shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pilik fails to land the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pilik gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Velazquez jumps guard but Pilik stands there with Velazquez around his waist. Velazquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Velazquez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pilik is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pilik misses with a body kick.
Pilik slips under a jab from Velazquez.
Pilik wants to clinch.
Pilik throws a lazy head kick
and Velazquez counters with a solid body kick.
Manuel Velazquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pilik tries to clinch up.
Pilik stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pilik wants it to stay on the feet.
Velazquez tries to clinch up
and Pilik counters with a nice body shot.
Pilik displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Velazquez.
Pilik fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Velazquez takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Velazquez stuffs the takedown.
Pilik shoots in for a takedown but Velazquez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Manuel Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dimas Pilik.
Velazquez tries to clinch but Pilik moves away
and Pilik counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pilik stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pilik rushes Velazquez and presses him up against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Velazquez obliges.
Pilik is looking to break free of the clinch but Velazquez has double underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pilik avoids it.
Velazquez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pilik smiles and moves away.
Pilik fails with a takedown attempt.
Velazquez throws a jab but it's blocked by Pilik.
Velazquez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pilik shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Velazquez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Pilik or perhaps it was just good defense by Velazquez which made him look bad.
Pilik shoots for a double leg takedown but Velazquez sprawls well. He's pushed Pilik's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Velazquez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pilik avoids it really well and circles away.
Velazquez misses with a body shot
and Pilik counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Velazquez thinking.
Pilik closes this distance looking for a takedown but Velazquez circles away.
Pilik throws a sloppy head kick and Velazquez moves out of range easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Velazquez.

Velazquez forces Pilik back against the cage and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pilik is defending well for now.
Pilik tries to pull guard but Velazquez won't allow it.

Velazquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Velazquez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Velazquez shoots in for a takedown but Pilik shows good takedown defense.
Velazquez closes the distance and clinches up with Pilik, looking for a takedown. Velazquez pushes Pilik against the cage but Pilik circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pilik shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Velazquez as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horrible takedown by Pilik or perhaps it was just good defense by Velazquez which made him look bad.
Pilik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dimas Pilik will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Velazquez has Pilik up against the cage in a clinch.
Velazquez jumps guard but Pilik turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Velazquez tries to pull guard but Pilik forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Pilik tries to circle away but Velazquez has him pinned against the cage.
Pilik fails to pull guard.
Pilik has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Velazquez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Velazquez manages to break the clinch.
Velazquez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pilik looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Velazquez is fending him off so far but Pilik persists. Nope, Velazquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Manuel Velazquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dimas Pilik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilik closes the distance and clinches up with Velazquez, looking for a takedown. Pilik pushes Velazquez against the cage but Velazquez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pilik takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Velazquez misses with a body kick.
Pilik shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Velazquez pinned against the cage. Velazquez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Velazquez rushes Pilik and presses him up against the cage.

Velazquez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pilik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pilik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Pilik gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Velazquez is trying to pull guard but Pilik turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Pilik can't get the takedown.
Velazquez prevents a body shot from Pilik.
Pilik can't get the takedown.
Pilik tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Velazquez tries to pull guard but Pilik holds him up against the cage and eventually Velazquez drops back down to his feet.

Velazquez gets control of Pilik's arms and successfully pulls guard. Velazquez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Velazquez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilik stopping the sweep attempt from Velazquez.
Pilik loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Velazquez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Pilik has passed into side control.
Velazquez is looking for a sweep.

Pilik tries for a kimura but Velazquez is defending well.
Dimas Pilik has got the better of the ground game so far.

Pilik has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Velazquez gets tackled into the cage by Pilik. Pilik maintains the clinch.
Pilik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Velazquez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Velazquez is trying to pull guard but Pilik turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Pilik drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pilik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Velazquez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dimas Pilik.
I've got Pilik winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dimas Pilik!