PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bryson Pico (ranked 2873 p4p, 150 weight class) and Zhan Dhelan (ranked 2102 p4p, 111 weight class). Pico comes into the arena with Lowkey - G-Eazy blaring out of the sound system. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Pico
vs
Dhelan

173 cm
28
138 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

150 cm
28
145 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Sportivité

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 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bryson Pico!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zhan Dhelan!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dhelan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pico sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pico uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dhelan.
Jab by Dhelan.
Dhelan misses the jab.
Pico looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dhelan is fending him off so far but Pico persists. Nope, Dhelan circles away and we're back to standing.
Dhelan misses with a straight left.
Pico gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dhelan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Dhelan.
Dhelan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pico ducks under a wild hook from Dhelan.
Dhelan throws a hook to the side of Pico's head but Pico sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dhelan misses with a lunging right hand

and Pico counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Pico will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pico is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Our spies down at at Mello MMA inform us that Dhelan has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Pico from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dhelan wants to sweep here but Pico controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pico controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dhelan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Dhelan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dhelan 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.
Dhelan trying to control the position.
Pico stands and throws Dhelan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pico is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Dhelan's shoulder. That is not cool.
Pico trying to control the position but Dhelan is working away.
Dhelan is looking to regain half guard here but Pico keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pico working away.

Pico is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dhelan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pico controlling the position.
Dhelan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dhelan gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pico fails to advance to Dhelan's back.
Pico works his way to his opponent's back.

Dhelan is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Pico is hanging on to Dhelan's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pico not allowing Dhelan to control his hands.
Dhelan prevents Pico from getting a body triangle.
Dhelan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Pico's guard. Nice work there by Dhelan.

Pico looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dhelan content to stall in guard here.

Pico looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Pico looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dhelan passes Pico's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Pico is staying active underneath Dhelan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pico tries to get to full guard but Dhelan has control of the leg.
Pico has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dhelan is working away from the top position though.

Pico actively working from the bottom here.

Dhelan is trying to work for a kimura but Pico is defending well.

Pico is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dhelan pulls his head out easily.

Dhelan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pico manages to get to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pico keeping full guard, as Dhelan tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bryson Pico will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pico takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pico misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dhelan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dhelan uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dhelan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pico.
Dhelan lands an overhand right.
Dhelan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Zhan Dhelan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Pico shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pico working Dhelan over with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pico wants to pass the guard but Dhelan is defending well.
Pico is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dhelan trying to control from the bottom.
Pico seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dhelan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pico is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dhelan is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dhelan wants to improve his position but Pico is controlling well.
Dhelan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Dhelan tries to roll over but Pico keeps him under control.
Pico perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pico is looking to advance position but Dhelan won't allow it.
Dhelan is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dhelan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Pico avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pico preventing the sweep.
Dhelan looking to control.
Bryson Pico overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pico engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pico advances to half guard.
Pico wants to pass the guard but Dhelan is defending well.
Dhelan wants to improve his position but Pico is controlling well.
Dhelan gets back to full guard.
Pico trying to control but Dhelan is working from the bottom.

Dhelan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pico gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pico stopping the sweep attempt from Dhelan.
Pico stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dhelan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dhelan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pico controls the pace.
Dhelan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pico pushing down on Dhelan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pico perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pico seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dhelan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dhelan gets back to full guard.
Dhelan being controlled here, momentarily.
Dhelan wants to sweep here but Pico controlling him for the moment.
Pico trying to control the position from guard on top but Dhelan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dhelan has a closed guard, preventing Pico from standing up.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pico wants to control from the top but Dhelan keeps moving.
Dhelan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Pico from controlling successfully.
Dhelan looking for a sweep. Not yet Dhelan, not yet.
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Pico from controlling successfully.
Dhelan is trying to keep Pico in close.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Pico.
A cross from Dhelan lands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pico misses with a takedown attempt - Dhelan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pico darts in looking for a takedown but Dhelan gets double underhooks and turns Pico into the cage.
Pico fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhan Dhelan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pico tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dhelan defends well and Pico ends up having to push Dhelan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pico takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Dhelan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Dhelan fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dhelan cracks Pico with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dhelan swings widly with a right hand

and Pico counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dhelan!
Pico is staying tight to Dhelan's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dhelan tries to buck Pico off but Pico is having none of it.
Dhelan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pico uses his free foot to push down on Dhelan's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Dhelan.
Pico looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dhelan is looking to improve his position but Pico isn't that keen on the idea.
Pico tries to control but Dhelan wriggling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan is looking to get to half guard.
Pico sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dhelan regains half guard.
Pico wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dhelan keeps working.
Dhelan gets back to full guard.
Dhelan keeping full guard, as Pico tries to pass.

Dhelan is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pico is aware though and is defending well.
Pico pushes down on Dhelan's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pico content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dhelan has his hands clasped together around Pico's back. He's all about the action.
Pico trying to control the pace.
Pico prevents Dhelan from improving his position.
Pico passes into side control, despite Dhelan's attempt to control the position.
Pico advances to full mount.
Pico lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Dhelan 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan is looking to improve his position.
Dhelan won't allow Pico to pass to mount.
Pico is trying to control the action in half guard but Dhelan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pico trying to mount his opponent but Dhelan defends it.
Pico content to control rather than advance.
Pico is trying to control. Dhelan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dhelan trying to control here.

Pico is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dhelan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dhelan tries to get to full guard but Pico has control of the leg.

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 slows the pace down in half guard.
Pico seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Dhelan is trying to get back to full guard.
Dhelan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pico's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pico's back!
Dhelan doesn't have the hooks in and Pico manages to turn into his guard.
Dhelan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pico 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.
Dhelan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryson Pico showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pico 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!