PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Warner Pickett (ranked 24741 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uresteler DaBaea (ranked 5780 p4p, 0 weight class). DaBaea has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Uresteler DaBaea acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Pickett
vs
DaBaea

174 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

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 - 6 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Uresteler DaBaea!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pickett dives in for a single leg takedown but DaBaea sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
DaBaea is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Pickett with a body shot.
DaBaea looks winded!

DaBaea closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pickett wants to control but DaBaea postures up.
Pickett has one of DaBaea's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
You can see the frustration on Pickett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pickett stops DaBaea from passing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pickett can't do much from the bottom here.
Pickett sneaks back into half guard.
Pickett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pickett is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickett is working hard here to advance position.
Pickett wants to control but DaBaea is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pickett tries to roll over but DaBaea keeps him under control.
Pickett trying to control from the bottom.
DaBaea prevents Pickett from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pickett wants to control but DaBaea is keeping busy.
DaBaea wants to control but Pickett is keeping him busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pickett trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pickett dives in and grabs DaBaea's left leg, looking for a takedown. DaBaea pushes down on Pickett's head and hops out.

Pickett feints and as DaBaea raises his hands in defense, Pickett changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
DaBaea thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
DaBaea is trying to control the position but Pickett postures up.
Pickett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
DaBaea looking to control but Pickett passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DaBaea wants to get back to full guard but Pickett has passed into side control.
DaBaea can't do much from the bottom here.
DaBaea is not content to let Pickett control the position.
DaBaea struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pickett landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on DaBaea's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pickett scores with a couple of short elbows.
Pickett fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
DaBaea is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pickett connects with a decent elbow.
The ground and pound from Pickett seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warner Pickett dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pickett drives through with a takedown into DaBaea's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
DaBaea keeping moving, preventing Pickett from controlling successfully.
Pickett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pickett throwing strikes but missing.
Pickett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

DaBaea has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Pickett is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for DaBaea.
DaBaea is breathing heavily.
Pickett is working DaBaea over with some ground and pound from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if DaBaea can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickett tries to stand but DaBaea is controlling his head.
Pickett working away.
Pickett is looking to take a break and control but DaBaea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
DaBaea parries the strikes from Pickett easily there. Pickett is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable DaBaea to escape.
Warner Pickett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee asks Pickett politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Pickett prefers to stall for the moment though.
The strikes coming from Pickett are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Pickett is looking to take a break and control but DaBaea is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pickett creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pickett working the body and head with strikes.
DaBaea tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Pickett easily slips into full mount!
Pickett looking to control but DaBaea is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DaBaea is bucking up trying to escape but Pickett cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pickett has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of DaBaea's face.
Pickett is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. DaBaea can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
DaBaea wants to try and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DaBaea is looking to get to half guard.
Pickett with shots to the head and body - DaBaea looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickett trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pickett looking to finish DaBaea with some ground and pound. This is bad for DaBaea!
DaBaea tries to hold on but Pickett pushes him away.
DaBaea is trying to stand up.
Pickett raining down hammerfists from mount.
Pickett thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
DaBaea really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pickett raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Warner Pickett dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Pickett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but DaBaea paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pickett decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
DaBaea is refusing to be controlled, as Pickett sits in half guard.
Pickett not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pickett is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
DaBaea is trying to get back to full guard.
DaBaea takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pickett missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickett wants to stand up but DaBaea has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Pickett there.
DaBaea wants to improve his position but Pickett is controlling well.
Pickett working the head and body with strikes.
Pickett working the head and body with strikes.
Pickett throwing shots but DaBaea is blocking nicely.
Pickett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that DaBaea can do to turn this around?
Pickett landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickett trying to control the action but DaBaea is working from the bottom.
Pickett performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Pickett wants to take a breather but DaBaea is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pickett is defended easily by DaBaea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pickett darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pickett is taking a breather. DaBaea says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Pickett drops an elbow to the side of DaBaea's head.
Pickett is nestled in close to DaBaea, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickett lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
DaBaea is looking for a sweep. Pickett is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

DaBaea is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pickett pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pickett lands a nice short elbow.
Pickett lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
DaBaea regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pickett wants to control from the top but DaBaea keeps moving.
Uresteler DaBaea has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Warner Pickett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Warner Pickett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pickett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Warner Pickett!