PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Warner Pickett (ranked 24782 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matheus Fernandes (ranked 7179 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Pickett
vs
Fernandes

174 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Warner Pickett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matheus Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Daniel Cesar and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pickett shoots in but Fernandes avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fernandes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pickett!

Fernandes stands up and beckons Pickett to his feet.
Fernandes stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fernandes wants it to stay on the feet.
Fernandes feints the counter takedown.

Fernandes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pickett is trying to defend but Fernandes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pickett wants to control but Fernandes is keeping busy.

Fernandes stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Fernandes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Pickett kicks Fernandes off and gets back to his feet.
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!

Fernandes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pickett to the mat! Pickett manages to get full guard.
Pickett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fernandes on the ground.

Pickett working for a triangle but Fernandes defends it easily.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Pickett is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fernandes is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickett trying to keep a closed guard but Fernandes is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pickett is working an open guard so Fernandes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Fernandes feints and as Pickett raises his hands in defense, Fernandes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fernandes wants to get up but he can't break Pickett's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pickett pulls Fernandes in close to prevent any damage.

Pickett is working an open guard so Fernandes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Fernandes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pickett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Fernandes stands up.

Fernandes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pickett to the mat! Pickett manages to get full guard.
Fernandes looks winded!
Fernandes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pickett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Fernandes gets a takedown into half guard.
Pickett controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Fernandes gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Fernandes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pickett sprawls well initially but Fernandes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fernandes wants to stand but Pickett has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pickett wants to get back to full guard.

Fernandes decides to stand and escape the position.

Pickett gets caught flat footed, as Fernandes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Pickett has his feet on Fernandes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Pickett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Fernandes is fending him off so far but Pickett persists. Nope, Fernandes circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Warner Pickett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fernandes looking to score a takedown here. Pickett is defending well but Fernandes drives through and ends up in Pickett's guard.
Pickett throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Fernandes stands up and waves to Pickett to follow him.
Pickett shoots in but Fernandes avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fernandes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fernandes lands in his opponent's guard.

Fernandes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickett fails with a takedown attempt.
Fernandes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Fernandes gets a double leg takedown into Pickett's guard.
Fernandes wants to get up but he can't break Pickett's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Pickett lands some strikes from the bottom.
Fernandes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Fernandes gets to his feet - Pickett follows without any prompting.

Fernandes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fernandes lands in his opponent's guard.
Pickett has a closed guard, preventing Fernandes from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Warner Pickett will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Fernandes gets tackled into the cage by Pickett. Pickett maintains the clinch.

Fernandes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Warner Pickett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Fernandes pushes Pickett off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Fernandes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Pickett throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pickett gets a clinch.
Pickett fails to pull guard.
Pickett is trying to drag Fernandes to the mat but Fernandes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pickett is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Fernandes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Warner Pickett. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickett is trying to drag Fernandes to the mat but Fernandes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Fernandes jumps guard.

Fernandes is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Pickett presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickett has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Fernandes is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Fernandes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fernandes pulls guard successfully.
Pickett won't allow Fernandes to get back to his feet.
Pickett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pickett throws a big right hand that misses.
Pickett wants to stand but Fernandes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Fernandes kicks Pickett off and gets to his feet.

Fernandes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fernandes lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pickett working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pickett striking off his back but it's not causing Fernandes any problems.
Fernandes preventing the sweep.

Fernandes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pickett, up you get!

Pickett tries to sprawl but Fernandes drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fernandes wants to stand up but Pickett has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Fernandes decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Fernandes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pickett quickly recovers to half guard.
Pickett throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Fernandes decides to stand and escape the position.
Fernandes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Fernandes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pickett's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Fernandes gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fernandes decides to take the fight back to the feet.
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!

Fernandes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pickett's guard.

Pickett working for a triangle but Fernandes defends it easily.

Pickett is working an open guard so Fernandes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Fernandes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fernandes wants to stand but Pickett has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pickett throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Pickett has a closed guard, preventing Fernandes from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matheus Fernandes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pickett gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Fernandes stands and steps away. Pickett gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A swing and a miss from Pickett.
Warner Pickett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pickett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Fernandes gets a takedown into half guard.
Pickett is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandes wants to stand but Pickett has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Pickett is positioning himself well to prevent Fernandes advancing to mount.
Fernandes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fernandes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Fernandes gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Pickett pushes Fernandes off and gets back to his feet.

Pickett scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Fernandes bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fernandes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pickett's guard.
Fernandes stopping the sweep attempt from Pickett.
Pickett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Fernandes gets to his feet. Pickett looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Pickett gets caught napping as Fernandes dives in and scores a takedown. Pickett manages to retain guard.
Pickett wants to sweep here but Fernandes controlling him for the moment.

Fernandes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Fernandes gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickett has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernandes is working away from the top position though.
Pickett is trying to get back to full guard.

Fernandes stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pickett to get to his feet.

Fernandes gets a double leg takedown into Pickett's guard.

Fernandes stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Fernandes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pickett did well to prevent Fernandes getting side control.

Fernandes postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Pickett to stand up.

Fernandes is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pickett's half guard.
Pickett trying to hold on to Fernandes's head to control him but Fernandes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Fernandes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Fernandes decides to stand back up.

Fernandes gets the takedown into side control.

Fernandes stands up.

Fernandes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pickett did well to prevent Fernandes getting side control.

Pickett manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Fernandes keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Fernandes jumps guard and drags Pickett to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Pickett presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Pickett can't get the takedown.

Fernandes decides to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pickett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Fernandes's head.
Pickett tries to stand but Fernandes is controlling from the bottom.

Fernandes manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Fernandes drags the fight down to the ground.
Pickett stops Fernandes from standing up.

Fernandes is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matheus Fernandes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fernandes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matheus Fernandes!