PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between kurt pike (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franjo Schwager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Schwager has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

pike
vs
Schwager

190 cm
22
165 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, kurt pike!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Franjo Schwager!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
pike fails in his attempt to clinch.
Schwager looks gassed!

pike drives through with a takedown into guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Schwager can do anything to dispel that myth.
pike is working Schwager over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

pike gets to his feet. Schwager looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
pike really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

pike has managed to clinch.

pike breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

pike closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Schwager to the mat! Schwager manages to get full guard.
pike postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
pike with a flurry of punches that miss.
pike prevents Schwager from getting back to his feet.
pike wants to control from the top but Schwager keeps moving.
Schwager really doesn't want to stay on the ground with pike. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
pike trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schwager is working an open guard so pike takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
pike throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Franjo Schwager has been cut.

pike fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Schwager, pushing him back against the cage.

pike pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

pike closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - pike lands in his opponent's guard.
pike has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
pike looking to pass the guard.
Schwager being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
pike throwing strikes but missing.
pike cracks Schwager with a solid left hand.
pike will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
pike passes easily into side control. Nice work.

pike stands up and beckons Schwager to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schwager throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and pike moves into the clinch.

pike tightens his grip and picks Schwager up, before dumping him to the ground. Schwager manages to land in guard.
pike lands a couple of decent looking shots.
pike is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
pike's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Schwager keeping moving, preventing pike from controlling successfully.
pike missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because kurt pike just wasn't active enough.
pike wants to clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Schwager dodges the punch combination from pike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

kurt pike dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Franjo Schwager's cut.
That's time! pike's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

pike fails with an attempt to clinch.

pike closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
pike lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Schwager down.
Schwager dodges the ground and pound from pike.
pike trying to control the position but Schwager is working away.
pike in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Schwager is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pike trying to control the position but Schwager is working away.

pike stands up and beckons Schwager to his feet.
Schwager avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

pike closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Schwager quickly recovers to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
pike works his way into full mount!
pike lands a big elbow.
pike working the ground and pound effectively.
pike looking to finish Schwager with some ground and pound. This is bad for Schwager!
Schwager is in a horrible position here. pike smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pike breaks from Schwager's wrist control and lands an elbow.
pike lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Schwager hang on?
pike looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schwager is squirming around, avoiding pike's attempts to control the action.
BOOM! pike connects with a massive shot to the dome!
pike lands a heavy elbow.
Schwager is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

kurt pike dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Franjo Schwager's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

pike misses with a few strikes there.
No joy there for pike, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

pike shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
pike sitting and controlling from the half guard.
pike thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Schwager's head.
pike not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Schwager takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pike slows the pace down in half guard.
pike looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
pike thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Schwager's head.
Schwager pushes pike off looking to stand but pike dives back in and keeps control.
pike trying to mount his opponent but Schwager defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, pike seems content to control.

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.
pike is looking to advance position but Schwager won't allow it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
pike not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
pike takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. kurt pike wasn't doing enough on the ground.

pike closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
pike remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pike throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

pike has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
pike shoots in but Schwager avoids the takedown attempt easily.
pike bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
pike lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

pike scores with a takedown into Schwager's guard.
pike stands up over Schwager, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
pike is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Franjo Schwager has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
pike lands a couple of decent looking shots.
pike is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
pike slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
kurt pike showed his dominance in that final round.
Well pike has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:25
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:25
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... kurt pike!