PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bekithemba Seme (ranked 3103 p4p, 152 weight class) and Moses Pickart (ranked 5464 p4p, 231 weight class). 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.

Seme
vs
Pickart

174 cm
25
141 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

168 cm
25
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bekithemba Seme!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Moses Pickart!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pickart sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Pickart has closed the distance and engaged Seme in a clinch.
Seme tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pickart's elbow.
Seme is looking to break free of the clinch but Pickart has double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pickart.
Seme throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pickarts head.
Seme swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Seme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Seme takes a jab right on the kisser.
Pickart lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Seme is rocked!
Pickart throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Seme sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Seme throws a wild body kick that Pickart sees coming a mile off.
Pickart is looking to clinch.
Pickart scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Oh Seme is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Seme tries a body shot but Pickart blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seme misses with a hook from the clinch.
Seme seems to have got his legs back now.
Seme working aggressively here.

Seme's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Seme lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Pickart lands with a right hand.
Pickart avoids the head kick by Seme.
Pickart rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Seme moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pickart tries to clinch up but Seme circles away and keeps his distance.
Seme lands with a shot to the body.
Pickart dodges the punch combination from Seme.
Seme throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Pickart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Seme.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickart throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Seme counters with an inside leg kick.

Pickart moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Seme breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Seme tried to score with a low kick but Pickart checks it.
An inside leg kick lands from Seme.
Seme lands a head kick. Pickart smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Moses Pickart has been cut.
Seme keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pickart misses the shot to the body.

Pickart gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pickart tries to throw a body punch but Seme avoids it by throwing Pickart back against the cage.
Seme blocks an uppercut.

Seme escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Seme looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Seme throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pickart.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seme buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Seme keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pickart closes the distance but Seme moves to the side
and Seme counters with a stiff right hand.
Seme misses with a wild body shot.
Seme pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pickart looks to clinch
and Seme counters with a head kick. That will keep Pickart thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Pickart connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Seme momentarily.
Pickart tries to clinch there but Seme circles away.
Seme connects with a high kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Seme.
Pickart moves in looking to clinch but Seme pushes him off.
Pickart doesn't manage to clinch there - Seme circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Seme circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickart fails in his attempt to clinch.
Seme definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Seme listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Seme bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Pickart pushes Seme up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Seme.
Seme blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Seme tries to work over Pickart's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Seme tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pickart's elbow.

Seme breaks the clinch.
Seme throws a nice head kick!
Seme wants to slow Pickart down by chopping away at his legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Seme scores with a kick to the midsection.
Seme waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pickart.

Pickart closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bekithemba Seme dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Moses Pickart's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Seme moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Seme throws a hook to the side of Pickart's head but Pickart sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Seme uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pickart.
Seme changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Seme displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Pickart thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pickart is looking to clinch.
Seme is looking to counter with a body kick.
Pickart swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pickart swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Pickart throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Seme stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pickart connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Good leg kick by Seme there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Seme throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pickart.
Seme tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pickart was well out of range. Poor timing from Seme.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickart lands a head shot.
Pickart is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Pickart 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Seme tries to move into range but Pickart moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pickart bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Seme misses with a looping right.

Pickart closes the distance and clinches.
Seme is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pickart is keeping busy.
Pickart scores with a shot to the side of Seme's head.
Seme tries a body shot but Pickart blocks it.
Seme working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seme struggles to land a body shot inside as Pickart controls his hands.
Seme misses with a punch to the body.
Seme wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Seme breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Seme turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Seme throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Seme scores with a head kick. Pickart tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Seme works Pickart's body with a nice hook.
Pickart takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bekithemba Seme is winning the standup battle so far.
Seme throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Pickart's head.
Seme lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Seme showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pickart.
Seme swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seme waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pickart.
Seme shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pickart eats them both and turns towards Seme to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Pickart takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Pickart takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Seme keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pickart.
Pickart catches Seme with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pickart checks a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pickart! But no joy.
Seme is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pickart can do to turn this around?
Pickart throws a right and a left that Seme avoids nicely.
Seme throws a nice head kick!

Pickart gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Seme.
Pickart throws a punch but it's blocked by Seme.
Pickart working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Pickart in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seme looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pickart has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Seme.
Pickart pushes Seme back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Seme blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Seme lands with a left to the head.
Seme blocks an uppercut.
Seme's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Seme throws a head punch that misses.
Seme throws a head punch that misses.
Seme prevents a body shot from Pickart.
Seme swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pickart blocking some punches.
Pickart prevents Seme from breaking the clinch.
Seme blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Seme swings wildly with an uppercut but Pickart uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bekithemba Seme dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Moses Pickart's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Seme lands with a kick to the temple. Pickart shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Pickart tries to close the distance and clinch up but Seme swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Seme throws an overhand right that lands on Pickart's shoulder, as Pickart tries to avoid the shot.
Seme throws a head kick but Pickart moves out of range.
Seme keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pickart.
Seme thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pickart might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Pickart connects with a right hand. Seme shakes it off.
Pickart on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Seme misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pickart gets a clinch.
Seme working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A left hand lands to the body for Pickart.
A right handed body shot lands from Seme.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pickart throws a punch but it's blocked by Seme.
Seme misses with a hook to the ribs.
Moses Pickart seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Pickart misses with a punch on the inside.
Seme blocking some punches.
Pickart throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Seme.

Seme manages to break the clinch.
Pickart's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Nice shot by Pickart.
Jab from Seme.
Pickart avoids the head kick by Seme.
Seme scores with a nice body kick.
Seme looks for the body kick but Pickart saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pickart! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickart cracks Seme with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Seme avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No joy there for Pickart, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Pickart misses with a looping right.
Pickart tries to clinch but Seme moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pickart swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Seme.

Pickart closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pickart misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pickart has a couple of punches blocked by Seme.
Pickart lands a nice uppercut.
Seme tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pickart's elbow.

Seme manages to break the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Pickart checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Moses Pickart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pickart drives through and clinches with Seme against the cage.
Pickart misses with a hook from the clinch.
Seme goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Seme tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pickart's elbow.
Seme blocks a body shot from Pickart.
Pickart tries to throw a body punch but Seme avoids it by throwing Pickart back against the cage.
Pickart misses with the head strike.
Seme blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Seme goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pickart misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pickart blocking some punches.
Seme throws a head punch that misses.
Seme misses with a punch to the body.
Pickart has a couple of punches blocked by Seme.
Bekithemba Seme is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seme throws a head punch that misses.
Seme blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pickart.
Seme misses with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Pickart.
Pickart misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Seme working aggressively here.
Pickart keeps control of Seme as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pickart misses with a hook to the ribs.

Seme pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pickart sizes up Seme with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Pickart cracks Seme with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Seme lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Moses Pickart.
I think Seme has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bekithemba Seme!
An out of breath Bekithemba Seme thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.