PBP Commentary

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

Pickett
vs
Upchuk

167 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Brad Pickett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lathem Upchuk!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Upchuk throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pickett holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pickett misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pickett landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pickett.
Upchuk tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pickett just stands there and leans against the cage.

Pickett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pickett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pickett throws a series of punches but Upchuk moves out of range.
Upchuk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Pickett moves into range and clinches up with Upchuk.
Upchuk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pickett crunches a lovely knee into Upchuk's ribcage.
Pickett will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Upchuk up against the cage.
Pickett holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upchuk can't break the clinch.
Pickett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Pickett breaks from the clinch.
Upchuk getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pickett misses with a body kick.
Pickett throws an off balance right hand
and Upchuk counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Pickett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Upchuk.
Pickett gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Upchuk counters with a two punch combo.
Upchuk dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Upchuk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pickett drives through and clinches with Upchuk against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A knee to the head by Pickett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pickett with a knee to the head.
Pickett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Upchuk in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Pickett misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pickett lands an elbow just above Upchuk 's eye.
Pickett keeps control of Upchuk as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pickett takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short body shot lands from Pickett as the two fighters clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pickett scores with a knee to the head.

Pickett manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Upchuk lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pickett misses with a straight left.
Pickett throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Upchuk counters with a series of strikes. Pickett will be more careful next time no doubt.
Upchuk looks to land a combination. Pickett sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Upchuk wants to clinch
and Pickett counters with a nice body shot.
Upchuk looks winded!

Pickett pushes Upchuk up against the cage in a clinch.
Pickett landing knees to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Upchuk can't break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Upchuk.
Upchuk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pickett smiles and moves away.
Pickett waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Upchuk.
Brad Pickett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pickett pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Upchuk blocks the body kick.
Upchuk fails to land with a series of punches.
Pickett swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pickett lands a nice looking kick to the body. Upchuk takes a step back to recover.
Upchuk keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Nice body kick from Pickett.
Upchuk throws a right hand that Pickett ducks under and follows up with a left that Pickett also avoids with ease.
Pickett misses with a hook.

Pickett darts in and clinches Upchuk up against the cage.
Pickett looking to throw knees to the head but Upchuk is blocking nicely.
Pickett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pickett scores with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Upchuk's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pickett tries to throw a body punch but Upchuk avoids it by throwing Pickett back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Upchuk scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pickett tries to clinch there but Upchuk circles away.
Pickett dodges the punch combination from Upchuk.
Pickett throws a push kick but Upchuk slaps the foot to one side.
Pickett falls off balance throwing a combination
and Upchuk counters with a two punch combo.
Upchuk throws a right hand that Pickett ducks under and follows up with a left that Pickett also avoids with ease.
Upchuk swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Upchuk lands a two punch combo.
Upchuk just misses with a punch to the body.
Upchuk blocks a head kick by Pickett.
Upchuk lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Upchuk takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pickett throws a predictable looking body shot
and Upchuk counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Upchuk throws a right hand that Pickett ducks under and follows up with a left that Pickett also avoids with ease.
As Upchuk looks to move away, Pickett throws a big counter combo but Upchuk just gets out of the way.
Upchuk fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pickett manages to avoid it.
Upchuk slips a straight right by Pickett.
A combination from Upchuk does no damage.
Upchuk is breathing heavily.
A cross from Upchuk lands.
Pickett connects with a solid leg kick.
A shot to the body from Pickett misses
letting Upchuk counter with a right hand.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pickett, right into the meat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Upchuk takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pickett content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pickett putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Upchuk in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Upchuk letting Pickett take a breather here.
Upchuk has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pickett.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pickett lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Upchuk or not.
Pickett lands a damaging elbow.
Pickett tries a body shot but Upchuk blocks it.
Upchuk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Upchuk working hard to break the clinch.
Upchuk has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pickett creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pickett landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pickett lands an elbow inside that Upchuk shrugs off.
Upchuk tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Pickett smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Upchuk will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pickett misses with a leg kick.
Upchuk unleashes a big counter combination but Pickett bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Upchuk throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pickett chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Upchuk misses with a wild combination.
Upchuk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Upchuk is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pickett chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Upchuk takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Pickett throws the left hand but Upchuk avoids the punch easily.
It seemed like Upchuk was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pickett misses with a few strikes there.
A good leg kick by Pickett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Upchuk throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pickett counters with a body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pickett scores with a head kick.
Pickett lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Upchuk is rocked!
Pickett scores with a push kick.
Upchuk is still on wobbly legs! Can Pickett finish him?

Pickett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pickett.
Pickett lands a right hand.
Pickett working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Upchuk takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pickett stalling.
Pickett lands a good knee to the midsection. Upchuk won't want to take too many of those.
Pickett scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pickett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Upchuk can do to turn this around?
Pickett lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pickett pressing his opponent against the cage.
Brad Pickett has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pickett lands an uppercut.
Pickett connects with a knee to the head.
Pickett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Upchuk looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pickett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Upchuk's face.
Upchuk wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Pickett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pickett is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Upchuk's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Upchuk misses with a wild body shot.
Pickett tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Upchuk manages to circle out of the way.
Pickett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pickett keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pickett thows a body kick. Upchuk tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Pickett pushes Upchuk away with a front kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pickett scores with a sloppy right hand. Upchuk should have avoided that one.
A jab lands there for Pickett.
Pickett scores with a jab. Upchuk acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Upchuk takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pickett throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Pickett looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pickett throws a nice inside leg kick.
Upchuk has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pickett.
Upchuk misses with a few strikes there.
Pickett connects with a single shot there.
Upchuk will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lathem Upchuk seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pickett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pickett wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Pickett dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pickett fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Upchuk.
Pickett does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Upchuk throws a right hand that Pickett ducks under and follows up with a left that Pickett also avoids with ease.
Pickett looks for the body kick but Upchuk saw that one coming.
Pickett fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Upchuk.
Brad Pickett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Upchuk scores with a nice strike.
Pickett tries to clinch up
and Upchuk counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pickett thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Upchuk throws a series of punches but Pickett avoids them all with ease.
Upchuk seems to have recovered his senses.
Upchuk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Upchuk throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pickett scores with a head kick. Upchuk tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Whack! Pickett lands a heavy head kick that drops Upchuk. The ref tackles Pickett to stop the fight - a great save by the referee because Upchuk was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Head Kick). Brad Pickett!