PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Osterberg (ranked 1882 p4p, 119 weight class) and Gun Seok Bak (ranked 2017 p4p, 128 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bak's choice of entrance music: Leader, Just Give Us Your Order!. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Osterberg
vs
Seok Bak

168 cm
27
139 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

165 cm
27
141 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Osterberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gun Seok Bak!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Osterberg takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Osterberg doesn't manage to clinch there - Bak circles away.
No luck for Osterberg with that takedown attempt.
Bak tries a quick counter leg kick but Osterberg is wise to it.
Osterberg tries for a takedown but Bak circles away easily
and Bak counters with a nice body shot.
Good exchange - Bak coming out on top.
A slow jab from Bak misses its intended target.
Bak has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Osterberg is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Osterberg with a poor takedown
enabling Bak to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Osterberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Osterberg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bak but Bak pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Osterberg throws a half hearted mid kick.
Osterberg shoots in for a takedown but Bak shows good takedown defense.
Bak throws a hook to the side of Osterberg's head but Osterberg sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bak tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Osterberg is able to avoid easily.
Bak lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osterberg shoots for a double leg takedown but Bak sprawls well. He's pushed Osterberg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bak throws a low kick but Osterberg moves out of range easily.
Osterberg ducks under a wild hook from Bak.
Bak thuds his shin into the meat of Osterberg's side.
Bak throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Osterberg sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bak misses with a left hand

and Osterberg counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Osterberg.
Bak looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bak keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Osterberg thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Osterberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bak avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Osterberg.
Osterberg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bak with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Osterberg looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Osterberg is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Osterberg is trying to control the action in half guard but Bak is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Osterberg is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Osterberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Osterberg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Osterberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bak's head.
Osterberg is nestled in close to Bak, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Osterberg throwing shots but Bak is blocking nicely.
Bak really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Osterberg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Osterberg thows a huge punch but Bak dodges it nicely.
Osterberg trying to pass the guard but Bak defending well.
Ground and pound from Osterberg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bak's head.
Osterberg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Osterberg looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Osterberg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bak regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Osterberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gun Seok Bak will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Osterberg tries to counter with a takedown but Bak is quick to defend against it.
Osterberg looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bak misses with an uppercut.
Osterberg tries to counter with a takedown but Bak is quick to defend against it.
Bak lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Osterberg at a distance.
Osterberg with a poor takedown
and Bak counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bak throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
James Osterberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bak swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Osterberg counters with a head kick.
Osterberg shoots for a double leg takedown but Bak sprawls well. He's pushed Osterberg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bak is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Osterberg with a body shot.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Osterberg crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bak - the referee stops the clock and Osterberg gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bak. Osterberg manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Osterberg walks forward, straight into a front kick from Bak.
Osterberg with a poor takedown
and Bak counters with a left and a right that stings Osterberg.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Osterberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Osterberg shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bak pinned against the cage. Bak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gun Seok Bak seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bak swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Osterberg shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Bak to counter with a crisp jab.
Osterberg tries for a takedown but Bak circles away easily
and Bak counters with a stiff right hand.
Bak looks to throw the jab but Osterberg is out of range.
Osterberg half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Osterberg.
Bak scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice defenses there by Osterberg.
Osterberg tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bak sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Osterberg somewhat.
Bak wants to counter with a clinch but Osterberg pushes him away.
Bak jabs Osterberg to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bak throws a body punch but Osterberg moves out of range.
Bak goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Osterberg moves out of range as Bak throws a body kick.
Bak slaps away a takedown attempt from Osterberg, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Osterberg tries for a takedown but Bak circles away easily
letting Bak counter with a right hand.

Osterberg scores with a takedown into Bak's guard.

Bak has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Osterberg off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bak throws a leg kick but Osterberg sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bak lands with an uppercut that bounces Osterberg off the cage and back into range.
Osterberg tries for a takedown but Bak sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Osterberg fails with the takedown.
Bak misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Osterberg.

Osterberg drives through with a takedown into Bak's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Bak scrambles and gets back to his feet.
James Osterberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Osterberg will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A leg kick checked by Osterberg.
Bak throws a looping overhand right but Osterberg ducks down to avoid it.
Osterberg lands a nice looking body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Osterberg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bak to the mat! Bak manages to get full guard.
Bak utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg wants to pass the guard but Bak is keeping the position.
Osterberg controls from within his opponent's guard.
Osterberg prevents Bak from getting back to his feet.
Bak keeping full guard, as Osterberg tries to pass.
Bak wants to stand but Osterberg is controlling the position.
Osterberg advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gun Seok Bak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Osterberg fails with a takedown attempt.
Bak thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Osterberg is defended easily by Bak.
Bak looks to land a body kick but Osterberg moved away.
Bak pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Osterberg changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bak misses the shot to the body.
Bak throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Osterberg counters with a single leg into guard. Bak didn't expect that.
Osterberg wants to pass the guard but Bak is keeping the position.
Osterberg looking to sit in guard and control but Bak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Osterberg looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bak passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Osterberg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bak pulls his head out easily.
Osterberg wants to get back to full guard.

Osterberg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bak pulls his head out easily.
Osterberg tries to get to full guard but Bak has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Bak decides to stand and escape the position.
Bak throws a leg kick which misses Osterberg's front leg but catches the back leg as Osterberg tries to avoid it.
Osterberg misses with a takedown attempt
and Bak makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Osterberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Osterberg misses with a takedown attempt

and Bak holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Osterberg is trying to break the clinch but Bak has him pressed against the cage.

Bak breaks from the clinch.
Bak keeps Osterberg at a distance using the push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Osterberg moves away from the strike by Bak.
Bak tries to land a front kick but Osterberg steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Osterberg takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Osterberg misses with a takedown attempt - Bak sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Osterberg on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bak. Bak obviously looking to wear him down.
Bak lands with a hook. Osterberg tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Osterberg or perhaps it was just good defense by Bak, which made it look bad.
No joy there for Bak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Osterberg changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bak.
Osterberg moves away from the strike by Bak.
Osterberg shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bak moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Osterberg fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Osterberg crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bak - the referee stops the clock and Osterberg gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bak. Osterberg manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Osterberg dodges the punch combination from Bak.
Osterberg closes the distance and clinches up with Bak, looking for a takedown. Osterberg pushes Bak against the cage but Bak circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Osterberg.
Bak tries to counter with a clinch but Osterberg shakes him off and moves away.
James Osterberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Osterberg takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Osterberg dives in and grabs Bak's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bak pushes down on Osterberg's head and hops out.
No luck for Osterberg with that takedown attempt.
As Osterberg backs off Bak throws a huge counter combo but Osterberg manages to avoid it all.
Bak works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gun Seok Bak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gun Seok Bak!
Gun Seok Bak thanked the fans post fight for their support.
James Osterberg spoke after the fight, saying 'No worries! Everyone knows that my opponent here has a bad habit of testing positive for PEDs and illegal recreational drugs, so I'm confident this fight will soon be ruled a "No Contest." Thanks everyone for continuing to support those of us who fight clean.'.