PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pasha Pedikov (ranked 6083 p4p, 523 weight class) and Michal Bagietka (ranked 6879 p4p, 540 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.

Pedikov
vs
Bagietka

192 cm
25
169 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

187 cm
21
176 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pasha Pedikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Michal Bagietka!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bagietka throws a right and a left that Pedikov avoids nicely.
Bagietka throws a nice looking combination but Pedikov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pedikov is looking for a counter combo.
Pedikov dives in for a single leg takedown but Bagietka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
It seemed like Bagietka was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bagietka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pedikov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bagietka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pedikov misses with a wild combination.
Pedikov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pedikov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bagietka scores with a sloppy right hand. Pedikov should have avoided that one.

Bagietka pushes Pedikov up against the ropes in a clinch.
Pedikov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bagietka's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pedikov jumps guard.
Bagietka wants to get up but he can't break Pedikov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Bagietka gets to his feet - Pedikov follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagietka connects with a jab.
Bagietka moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bagietka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Michal Bagietka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bagietka looks winded!
Pedikov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bagietka swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pasha Pedikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pedikov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bagietka did well to prevent Pedikov getting side control.
Bagietka is looking to escape.
Pedikov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bagietka's head.
Bagietka is refusing to be controlled, as Pedikov sits in half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Bagietka looks like he's trying to stand up.

Pedikov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bagietka sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagietka keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bagietka told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pedikov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bagietka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bagietka throws a hook but Pedikov avoids it easily.

Pedikov closes the distance and pushes Bagietka back into the ropes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bagietka throws an elbow but it misses.
Pedikov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bagietka walks away with a smile on his face. Pedikov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pedikov seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Bagietka drives through and clinches with Pedikov against the ropes.
Bagietka is trying to break the clinch but Pedikov is controlling him.
Pedikov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bagietka pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Bagietka. Beautiful body shot.
Bagietka throws a shot to the body.
Pedikov shoots in and drives through. Bagietka sprawls well.
Bagietka misses with a double jab.
Bagietka lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pedikov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Bagietka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pedikov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bagietka sprawls well. Bagietka wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pedikov gets slowly back to his feet.
Bagietka lands a right hook to the body.
Pedikov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Bagietka.
Pedikov shoots in for a takedown but Bagietka shows good takedown defense.
Bagietka lands a jab to the nose.
Bagietka punishes Pedikov's body with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pedikov walks into a straight right hand from Bagietka.
Bagietka misses with an attempted mid kick.

Bagietka rushes Pedikov and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Bagietka breaks from the clinch.
Bagietka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bagietka lands a jab-cross combination.
Bagietka just misses with a punch to the body.
Bagietka tries to clinch there but Pedikov circles away.
Bagietka tries to clinch up but Pedikov circles away and keeps his distance.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bagietka slaps away a takedown attempt from Pedikov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Bagietka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pedikov darts in looking for a takedown but Bagietka gets double underhooks and turns Pedikov into the ropes.
Pedikov shoots for a double leg takedown but Bagietka sprawls well. He's pushed Pedikov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bagietka scores with a three punch combo!

Bagietka moves into the clinch.
Bagietka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Bagietka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pedikov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pasha Pedikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bagietka prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bagietka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagietka has had enough of the clinch but Pedikov keeps him there for the moment.
Pedikov tries to pull guard but Bagietka won't allow it.
Bagietka wants to break the clinch but can't.

Bagietka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pedikov fails to land the takedown.
Bagietka thuds a left hand into Pedikov's body.

Bagietka moves into the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Bagietka scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bagietka is trying to break free.
Pedikov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bagietka tries to break free but Pedikov pushes him back against the ropes.

Bagietka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pedikov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Bagietka closes the distance and clinches.
Pedikov tries to pull guard but Bagietka holds him up against the ropes and eventually Pedikov drops back down to his feet.
Pedikov tries to pull guard but Bagietka won't allow it.

Bagietka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bagietka with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice combination there by Bagietka.
Bagietka throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bagietka takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bagietka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Pedikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bagietka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedikov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bagietka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Pedikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Michal Bagietka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice sprawl there from Bagietka as Pedikov shoots in.
Bagietka lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bagietka connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Pedikov momentarily.
Pedikov shoots for a double leg takedown but Bagietka sprawls well. He's pushed Pedikov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bagietka has managed to clinch.
Pedikov avoiding damage as Bagietka throws knees to the body.
Bagietka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pedikov is defending well for now.
Bagietka can't break the clinch.
Bagietka tries to break free but Pedikov pushes him back against the ropes.
Bagietka tries to circle away but Pedikov has him pinned against the ropes.
Pedikov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bagietka pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pedikov fails with a takedown attempt.
Bagietka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bagietka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pedikov is defended easily by Bagietka.
Bagietka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pedikov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bagietka pinned against the ropes. Bagietka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bagietka misses with the combination.
Pedikov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bagietka's waist but Bagietka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pedikov off to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Bagietka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bagietka cracks Pedikov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Bagietka moves into the clinch.

Bagietka breaks from the clinch.
Bagietka lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pedikov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bagietka lands a glancing blow to the side of Pedikov's head.
Pedikov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Bagietka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pedikov tries to clinch there but Bagietka circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bagietka scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pedikov in his tracks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pedikov shoots for a takedown but Bagietka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bagietka dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bagietka lands with a straight right. Pedikov didn't see that one coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice body punch from Bagietka.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bagietka instigates a clinch.
Nice elbow from Bagietka.

Bagietka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bagietka looks to score with a jab to the body but Pedikov is just out of range.
Pedikov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bagietka tries to avoid it but Pedikov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bagietka to the ground. Bagietka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pasha Pedikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bagietka closes the distance and pushes Pedikov back into the ropes.
Bagietka digs a right hand into Pedikov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Pedikov's gas tank.
Pedikov jumps guard but Bagietka stands there with Pedikov around his waist. Pedikov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bagietka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bagietka tries a knee to the head but Pedikov blocks it.
Pedikov is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bagietka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pedikov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bagietka.
Bagietka swings away with a body shot that misses
and Pedikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Pasha Pedikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pedikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pedikov is looking to clinch but Bagietka is avoiding it.
Pedikov tries to clinch up.

Bagietka clinches up against the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bagietka tries to break the clinch but Pedikov is controlling the position.
Pedikov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bagietka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bagietka lands a right hand.
Bagietka stalling against the ropes.
Michal Bagietka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagietka gets underhooks to prevent Pedikov's takedown attempt.

Bagietka's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pedikov shoots for a takedown but Bagietka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pedikov moves in looking to clinch but Bagietka pushes him off.
Bagietka lands with a good body shot.

Bagietka has managed to clinch.
Bagietka is trying to break free.
Pedikov tries to pull guard but Bagietka holds him up against the ropes and eventually Pedikov drops back down to his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Bagietka's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pedikov is trying to drag Bagietka to the mat but Bagietka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Bagietka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Bagietka breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bagietka manages to break the clinch.
Bagietka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pedikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pedikov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bagietka is working an open guard so Pedikov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Pasha Pedikov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michal Bagietka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bagietka throws a series of punches but Pedikov avoids them all with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michal Bagietka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bagietka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Bagietka!