PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rik Dzejms (ranked 4118 p4p, 443 weight class) and AJ Barakus (ranked 3070 p4p, 348 weight class). AJ Barakus is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Dzejms
vs
Barakus

172 cm
18
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
165 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rik Dzejms!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, AJ Barakus!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Chris Dean and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barakus misses with a body punch
and Dzejms counters with a two punch combo.
Barakus avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've been hearing reports that Dzejms has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dzejms throws a combination that misses

and Barakus counters by clinching up.
Barakus is trying to stall.
Dzejms stalling the fight.
Barakus misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dzejms works on Barakus's body with a couple of short punches.
Dzejms blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Barakus.
Dzejms lands a body shot in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dzejms throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barakus.
Barakus misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dzejms is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barakus is keeping busy.
Dzejms blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakus leaning against his opponent.
Barakus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Barakus misses with a hook from the clinch.

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

Barakus clinches up with Dzejms and pushes him back against the cage.
Barakus wants a takedown.
Dzejms throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Barakus has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Dzejms misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dzejms lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Barakus or not.
Dzejms lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Barakus gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Barakus looks winded!
The fighters are battling for position here. Dzejms manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dzejms trying to control the position here.
Dzejms bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barakus's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Barakus looking for subs off his back but Dzejms has passed one foot through into half guard.

Barakus pushes Dzejms off and gets back to his feet.
Dzejms is looking to score with low kicks.

Dzejms gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Barakus to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Dzejms wriggles free and stands up.
Barakus fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Barakus.
As Barakus backs away, Dzejms returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Dzejms blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Barakus has Dzejms up against the cage in a clinch.
Dzejms lands a right hand.
Dzejms lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Barakus backwards.
Barakus prevents a body shot from Dzejms.
Barakus is looking to take this one to the mat.
Barakus is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dzejms is keeping busy.
Barakus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rik Dzejms has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Barakus.

Dzejms escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dzejms pushes Barakus up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dzejms as Barakus tries to tie him up.
Dzejms misses with some punches.
Barakus lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dzejms misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Barakus jumps guard but Dzejms turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Barakus goes for a takedown attempt but Dzejms pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Barakus wants to clinch up but Dzejms keeps it at a distance.

Dzejms has closed the distance and engaged Barakus in a clinch.
Dzejms has Barakus pushed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Dzejms.
A frustrated look appears on Dzejms's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Barakus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barakus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dzejms swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Barakus has closed the distance and engaged Dzejms in a clinch.
Dzejms tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Barakus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Barakus is looking to clinch.
Barakus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik Dzejms dominated that 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.

Dzejms throws a right hand that Barakus ducks under and follows up with a left that Barakus also avoids with ease.
Rik Dzejms is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dzejms clinches up with Barakus and pushes him back against the cage.
Dzejms is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barakus can do to turn this around?

Dzejms breaks the clinch.

Barakus shoots in and bounces Dzejms off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barakus throws a strike but Dzejms rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Barakus working for a triangle but Dzejms defends it easily.
AJ Barakus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Barakus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dzejms can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Barakus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dzejms doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dzejms manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barakus looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Dzejms passes into side control.
Barakus is breathing heavily.
Barakus tries to improve position but can't.
Dzejms is looking to take a break and control but Barakus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barakus tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dzejms wants to take a breather but Barakus manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Dzejms.
Dzejms engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Barakus looking for subs off his back but Dzejms has passed one foot through into half guard.

Barakus looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barakus tries to get to full guard but Dzejms has control of the leg.

Barakus is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dzejms pulls his head out easily.
Dzejms looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Barakus looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Dzejms pushes past his half guard into mount!
Dzejms sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dzejms continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barakus is desperately trying to improve his position but Dzejms has a good base and remains in mount.
Dzejms content just to control the position here.
Barakus sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Barakus actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Dzejms seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rik Dzejms dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Barakus moves into the clinch.
Dzejms throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dzejms misses with the head strike.
Dzejms throws a punch but it's blocked by Barakus.
Dzejms goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Barakus misses with a punch to the body.
Barakus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dzejms gets underhooks to prevent Barakus's takedown attempt.
Dzejms cracks Barakus with a nice body shot.
Dzejms swings wildly with an uppercut but Barakus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Barakus is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dzejms.
Barakus can't get the takedown.
Rik Dzejms has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of AJ Barakus.
Dzejms lands a body shot.
Barakus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dzejms connects with a nasty looking knee right to Barakus's face.
Dzejms scores with a shoulder strike.
A short left from Dzejms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barakus struggles to land a body shot inside as Dzejms controls his hands.
Dzejms slows down the pace here.
Dzejms tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dzejms lands a left hand.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Barakus.
Barakus can't get the takedown.
Dzejms scores with a nice hook to the head.
Barakus tries to circle away but Dzejms has him pinned against the cage.
Dzejms misses with the head strike.
A knee to the head by Dzejms.

Barakus is rocked!
Dzejms lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Barakus is still on wobbly legs! Can Dzejms finish him?
Dzejms is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Barakus is keeping busy.
Barakus seems to have recovered his senses.
Dzejms blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dzejms's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barakus doesn't manage to clinch there - Dzejms circles away.

Dzejms moves into the clinch.
Dzejms stalling.
Rik Dzejms has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barakus tries to score a body lock takedown but Dzejms shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dzejms is pushing Barakus up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Barakus scores with a shot to the side of Dzejms's head.
Dzejms misses with a hook to the ribs.
Barakus holding his opponent close, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dzejms tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Barakus's elbow.

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

Dzejms rushes Barakus and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barakus breaks from the clinch.

Dzejms clinches with his opponent.
Barakus is looking to break free of the clinch but Dzejms has double underhooks.
Dzejms lands a shoulder strike.
Dzejms tries to land a knee to the head but Barakus blocks with his arms.
Dzejms tries a body shot but Barakus blocks it.
Barakus taking a breather.
Barakus tries to throw a body punch but Dzejms avoids it by throwing Barakus back against the cage.
AJ Barakus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rik Dzejms is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dzejms looking to throw knees to the head but Barakus is blocking nicely.

Barakus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dzejms throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dzejms doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Barakus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dzejms paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dzejms doesn't manage to clinch there - Barakus circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barakus loads up on a big right hand but Dzejms slips the punch.
Barakus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dzejms circles away.

Dzejms darts in and clinches Barakus up against the cage.
Dzejms has a couple of punches blocked by Barakus.
A body shot lands from Dzejms.
Dzejms misses with a body punch.
Barakus trying to stall but Dzejms improves his position.
Dzejms digs a right hand underneath Barakus's ribcage. Barakus let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barakus working aggressively here.
Barakus tries to throw a body punch but Dzejms avoids it by throwing Barakus back against the cage.
Barakus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dzejms gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Dzejms escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dzejms moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rik Dzejms showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dzejms, 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rik Dzejms!