PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Pico (ranked 24939 p4p, 564 weight class) and CJ Smith (ranked 24846 p4p, 568 weight class). Aaron Pico had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Pico
vs
Smith

180 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

VENUM MMA WEAR

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aaron Pico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, CJ Smith!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pico shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Pico from controlling successfully.
Pico throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pico throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pico's guard. Nice move by Smith!

Smith trying to control but Pico is working from the bottom.
Smith trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pico's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pico utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pico is proving hard to escape from.
Pico is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Pico pushes Smith off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Pico shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pico in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pico has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pico controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pico is controlling him.
Pico lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Pico postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pico slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pico postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Pico is having none of it.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pico throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Pico distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pico trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Pico distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pico trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pico throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith fakes the leg kick and cracks Pico in the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pico closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pico lands in his opponent's guard.
Pico engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pico scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pico with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pico is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Pico connects with a couple of short punches.
Pico landing with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Pico dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pico shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smith manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pico makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pico keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Smith is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pico is controlling him.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Pico content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pico keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Pico slips an elbow through the middle.
Aaron Pico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pico is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pico working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pico in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pico lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pico's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pico has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Pico content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pico postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pico wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Pico postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pico lands a couple of elbows.
Pico is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Smith can do to turn this around?
Pico postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Pico scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pico lands a couple of elbows.
Pico works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Pico content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pico sitting in guard, not really doing much.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pico accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pico is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pico works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pico postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pico distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pico scoring with some ground and pound.
Pico seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pico distracts Smith with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pico looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pico keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Smith's head.
Smith keeping full guard, as Pico tries to pass.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pico connects with a couple of short punches.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Pico dominated that second round.
That's time! Pico's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pico is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Smith's half guard.
Pico scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pico trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Pico lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith tries to roll over but Pico keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith pushes Pico off looking to stand but Pico dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pico misses with a head shot. Smith uses the momentum to regain guard.
Pico controlling from the top position.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pico throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Pico cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pico's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pico working some strikes from top position.
Pico is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pico chips away with some ground and pound.
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pico scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pico trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Pico is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Pico cracks Smith with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pico trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Pico scoring with some ground and pound.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pico scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pico lands a couple of elbows.
Pico landing with the ground and pound.
Pico prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Pico is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pico working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Pico from controlling successfully.
Pico works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Pico is proving a slippery customer.
Pico wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pico shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Smith's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aaron Pico showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pico, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aaron Pico!