PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kuba Pedzich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sak Mai Dik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Kuba Pedzich has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Pedzich
vs
Mai Dik

169 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kuba Pedzich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sak Mai Dik!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dik looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dik is looking to take a break and control but Pedzich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dik with the ground and pound but Pedzich uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dik slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dik with a nice head shot there.
Pedzich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dik controls the pace.
Dik wants to control from the top but Pedzich keeps moving.
Dik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dik connects with a couple of short punches.
Dik works over Pedzich with some ground and pound from guard.
Dik trying to control but Pedzich is working from the bottom.
Pedzich can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dik controls the pace.
Pedzich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dik trying to control but Pedzich is working from the bottom.
Dik throws and elbow that misses. Pedzich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dik's guard. Nice move by Pedzich!

Dik is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pedzich is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dik is pulling down on Pedzich's head to control his posture.
Pedzich wants to control from the top but Dik keeps moving.
Dik seems keen to control Pedzich's posture.
Dik is looking to sweep but instead, Pedzich has passed into half guard.

Dik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dik works his way to full guard. Good work.
Pedzich is breathing heavily.
Dik 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.

Dik had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pedzich defends it easily.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dik working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pedzich doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pedzich manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pedzich avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dik working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pedzich has passed into half guard!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dik is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sak Mai Dik dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pedzich stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pedzich wants it to stay on the feet.

Pedzich gets caught flat footed, as Dik shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pedzich wants to sweep here but Dik controlling him for the moment.
Dik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Dik looking to pass the guard.
Pedzich keeping moving, preventing Dik from controlling successfully.
Pedzich 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.
Dik is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dik scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dik throws a big right hand that misses.
Dik wants to control from the top but Pedzich keeps moving.
Pedzich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dik working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pedzich's head.
Dik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dik is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dik wants to control from the top but Pedzich keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pedzich preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dik works over Pedzich with some ground and pound from guard.
Dik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pedzich trying to control the position.
Dik makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dik must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pedzich is keeping the position for now.
Pedzich has momentary wrist control but Dik slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dik is working Pedzich over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dik connects with a couple of short punches.
Dik postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dik distracts Pedzich with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dik lands a couple of digs.
Dik working some strikes from top position.
Sak Mai Dik has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dik distracts Pedzich with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dik landing with the ground and pound.
Dik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dik chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dik working some strikes from top position.
Dik is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dik cracks Pedzich with a solid left hand.
Dik throws a big right hand that misses.
Dik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dik postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dik with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dik wants to pass the guard but Pedzich is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sak Mai Dik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dik shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pedzich as he jumps to the side.

Pedzich gets caught flat footed, as Dik shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dik postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dik is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dik throws a big right hand that misses.
Dik trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dik controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dik trying to control the position from guard on top but Pedzich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dik throws and elbow that misses. Pedzich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dik's guard. Nice move by Pedzich!
Dik keeping moving, preventing Pedzich from controlling successfully.

Dik had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pedzich defends it easily.

Dik isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Pedzich stacks Dik on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Pedzich!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dik gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dik trying to control here.
Dik wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dik actively working from the bottom here.

Dik looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dik wants to control but Pedzich is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dik moves into full guard.
Sak Mai Dik is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pedzich being controlled here momentarily.
Dik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pedzich's guard.
Dik has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dik looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dik really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pedzich. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dik's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sak Mai Dik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dik has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sak Mai Dik!