PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Dikoume (ranked 6048 p4p, 555 weight class) and Padraig Pearse (ranked 23003 p4p, 624 weight class). Padraig Pearse will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dikoume
vs
Pearse

184 cm
26
180 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

200 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 7 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Determined

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcel Dikoume!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Padraig Pearse!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Paul Tew and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearse tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dikoume counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dikoume.
Dikoume missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dikoume cracks Pearse with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dikoume wants to control from the top but Pearse keeps moving.
Dikoume controlling from the top position.
Pearse trying to keep a closed guard but Dikoume is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dikoume scoring with some ground and pound.
Dikoume stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pearse swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Pearse manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Dikoume is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dikoume is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pearse gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Pearse working Dikoume over with knees to the body.
Dikoume is breathing heavily.
Pearse crunches a lovely knee into Dikoume's ribcage.

Pearse manages to break the clinch.

Pearse clinches up with Dikoume and pushes him back against the cage.
Dikoume takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Marcel Dikoume has been cut.
Pearse lands a knee to the body.
Pearse landing knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pearse lands a good knee to the midsection. Dikoume won't want to take too many of those.
Pearse is pushing Dikoume up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pearse obliges.
Pearse with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pearse obliges.

Pearse gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dikoume regains guard.
Dikoume keeping moving, preventing Pearse from controlling successfully.
Dikoume trying to control the position.
Dikoume might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pearse pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dikoume is keeping the position for now.
Pearse wants to stand but Dikoume has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dikoume keeping moving, preventing Pearse from controlling successfully.
Pearse forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dikoume is not content to let Pearse control the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pearse working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Dikoume is looking to improve his position.
Pearse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dikoume. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dikoume wants to sweep but Pearse has passed to side control!
Dikoume is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Dikoume is trying to maintain the position but Pearse is very close to passing his half guard.
Pearse trying to pass the guard but Dikoume defending well.
Pearse is trying to control the action in half guard but Dikoume is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dikoume is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pearse pulls his head out easily.

Dikoume actively working from the bottom here.
Pearse passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dikoume!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pearse is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Dikoume has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Pearse is working for a guillotine from mount but Dikoume frees his head quite easily.
Dikoume is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pearse wants to take Dikoume's back here but Dikoume is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Dikoume is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pearse trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dikoume regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pearse is working for a kimura but Dikoume is defending it quite comfortably.
Dikoume flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Padraig Pearse dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcel Dikoume's cut.
That's time! Dikoume's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pearse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dikoume circles away.
Pearse is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pearse closes the distance and clinches up with Dikoume, looking for a takedown. Pearse pushes Dikoume against the cage but Dikoume circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dikoume half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Dikoume gets tackled into the cage by Pearse. Pearse maintains the clinch.
Pearse landing knees to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Pearse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Pearse gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dikoume is trying to drag Pearse to the mat but Pearse just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pearse lands a nice knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dikoume wants to take the fight to the mat but Pearse manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dikoume tries for a takedown but Pearse manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcel Dikoume. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pearse lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pearse obliges.

Pearse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pearse clinches up against the cage.
Pearse stalling the fight.
Pearse prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pearse obliges.
Pearse lands a knee to the head.

Pearse has clasped his hands together around Dikoume's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Pearse working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Dikoume's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pearse tries to stand but Dikoume is controlling his head.
Pearse tries to move to mount but Dikoume blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dikoume is trying to improve his position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Pearse looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Dikoume tries to improve position but can't.
Pearse trying to control the action but Dikoume is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pearse working away.
Pearse tries to stand but Dikoume is controlling his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dikoume is looking for a sweep.

Pearse is trying to get an arm triangle but Dikoume is defending well.
Dikoume gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dikoume works his way to full guard. Good work.

Dikoume looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pearse trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pearse stands and throws Dikoume's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pearse has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Dikoume!
Pearse tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Dikoume is looking to improve his position but Pearse isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dikoume wants to hold on but Pearse pushes him away.
Pearse has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pearse seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Dikoume is holding on tight.
Padraig Pearse has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pearse tries to control but Dikoume wriggling away.
Dikoume is looking to improve his position but Pearse isn't that keen on the idea.
Pearse controlling the position easily from mount.
Dikoume is working to get back to half guard.
Pearse trying to control but Dikoume is having none of it.
Dikoume can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Padraig Pearse showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marcel Dikoume's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dikoume stuffs the takedown.

Pearse closes the distance and clinches.
Pearse lands a knee to the body.
Pearse with a knee to the head.

Pearse's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Pearse gets a clinch.
Pearse lands a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pearse.
Padraig Pearse seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Pearse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pearse clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dikoume drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pearse pulls his leg out and moves away.

Pearse instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearse stops a takedown attempt from Dikoume.

Pearse has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Dikoume clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I really don't envy Dikoume right now.

Pearse looking for the choke from the back.
Pearse trying to control.
Dikoume wants to escape the position.
Dikoume just trying to survive but Pearse is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Dikoume is keeping busy.
Dikoume trying to control but not successfully.

Dikoume showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pearse working for the choke.
Dikoume turns into Pearse and is now in his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dikoume slips nicely into half guard.
Pearse is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dikoume lands with a punch from half guard.
Pearse trying to control but Dikoume postures up.

Dikoume is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dikoume seems to be working for a kimura but Pearse defends the submission attempt.
Pearse is trying to maintain the position but Dikoume is very close to passing his half guard.

Dikoume is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Pearse as he works his way to full guard.
Dikoume looking to sit in guard and control but Pearse gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearse has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dikoume is proving hard to escape from.
Dikoume looking for a sweep. Not yet Dikoume, not yet.
Dikoume is trying to keep Pearse in close.
Pearse stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dikoume swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pearse is stalling in the full guard.
Dikoume keeping moving, preventing Pearse from controlling successfully.
Marcel Dikoume has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Padraig Pearse is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Dikoume working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pearse doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Dikoume is tightening it up a little... Pearse has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Pearse reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Pearse taps out! Nice BJJ there by Dikoume!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Marcel Dikoume!