PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnathon Pickett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby Hirano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bobby Hirano will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pickett
vs
Hirano

210 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

194 cm
19
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnathon Pickett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bobby Hirano!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirano is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hirano swings for the body but Pickett moves out of range.
Hirano wants to clinch

and Pickett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hirano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hirano wants to break free but Pickett has control.
Hirano tries to score a body lock takedown but Pickett shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hirano tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hirano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pickett is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hirano is defending well for now.

Pickett decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pickett is keeping the position for now.
Pickett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hirano's guard.
Hirano looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Pickett thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Pickett drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pickett jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pickett throwing strikes but missing.
Pickett stopping the sweep attempt from Hirano.
Hirano managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pickett decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hirano, up you get!
Pickett stuffs the takedown attempt from Hirano. Hirano gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnathon Pickett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Hirano.
Hirano throws a sloppy head kick

and Pickett holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pickett is trying to break the clinch but Hirano is controlling him.
Hirano wants to take the fight to the mat but Pickett manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hirano drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pickett gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hirano jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pickett walks away with a smile on his face. Hirano gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pickett avoids it really well and circles away.
Hirano wants to clinch.
Pickett throws a head kick but Hirano moves out of range.
Pickett throws a body punch but Hirano moves out of range.

Pickett gets a takedown into half guard.
Pickett looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickett with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hirano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pickett is working away from the top position though.

Pickett is looking for a kimura but Hirano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pickett to get the leverage.
Pickett stalling.
Pickett wants to take a breather but Hirano is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pickett perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Pickett is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hirano is just riding it out for now. Pickett eventually gives up the hold.
Hirano tries to roll over but Pickett keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pickett is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hirano.

It looks like Johnathon Pickett has been cut.
Pickett keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hirano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pickett tries to avoid it but Hirano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pickett to the ground. Pickett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hirano goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pickett avoids the head kick by Hirano.
Pickett misses with a combination
and Hirano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hirano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnathon Pickett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Hirano.
Pickett tries to clinch but Hirano is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirano shoots in looking for a takedown. Pickett tries to sprawl out of it but Hirano keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pickett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pickett scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Pickett feints and as Hirano raises his hands in defense, Pickett changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hirano looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pickett sitting in guard here, content to control.

Hirano had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pickett defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hirano is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickett seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pickett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Johnathon Pickett just wasn't active enough.

Pickett closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pickett lands in his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pickett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pickett wants to control from the top but Hirano keeps moving.
Johnathon Pickett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hirano tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pickett trying to control but Hirano is working from the bottom.
Pickett landing some decent shots from guard.
Pickett trying to control but Hirano is working from the bottom.
Hirano can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pickett controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Johnathon Pickett.
Pickett takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pickett shoots for a double leg takedown but Hirano sprawls well. He's pushed Pickett's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hirano tries to clinch up but Pickett circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickett throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hirano.
Hirano lands a brutal head kick. Pickett looks out on his feet and Hirano throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:14 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Bobby Hirano!