PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Slinger (ranked 2767 p4p, 2754 weight class) and Robert Pickton (ranked 297 p4p, 296 weight class). Slinger comes to the cage accompanied by Hail Mary. Patrick Slinger has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Slinger
vs
Pickton

170 cm
19
145
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
150
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Patrick Slinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Pickton!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pickton throws a hook but Slinger blocks it.
Slinger tries to move into range but Pickton moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pickton scores with a crisp jab that stopped Slinger in his tracks.
Slinger takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Slinger drives through with a takedown into Pickton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Pickton keeping moving, preventing Slinger from controlling successfully.
Slinger's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pickton wants to stand up but Slinger is controlling him.
Pickton keeping full guard, as Slinger tries to pass.

Slinger drops back looking for a leg! Pickton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pickton manages to kick Slinger off! Slinger jumps back into Pickton's guard.
Slinger stops Pickton from standing up.
Slinger is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Crapollas Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slinger trying to control but Pickton is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Slinger goes for a double leg but Pickton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pickton continues to drive forward.
Pickton works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Slinger gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pickton cracks a nice hook into Slinger's ribs.
Pickton looks to land a combination but Slinger avoids it well.
Slinger changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Slinger manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pickton on his heels. He'll look to pass Pickton's guard now, I'm sure.
Pickton keeping full guard, as Slinger tries to pass.

Slinger drops back looking for a leg! Pickton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pickton manages to kick Slinger off! Slinger jumps back into Pickton's guard.

Slinger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slinger stops Pickton from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pickton keeping moving, preventing Slinger from controlling successfully.
Pickton wants to stand but Slinger is controlling the position.

Slinger thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Slinger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Slinger stops Pickton from standing up.
Pickton is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Pickton fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Slinger on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slinger drops his hands momentarily and Pickton takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pickton misses with a left hand

so Slinger counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Slinger wants to pass the guard but Pickton is keeping the position.
Pickton wants to stand but Slinger is controlling the position.
Slinger looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pickton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Slinger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Slinger tries to free his leg and advance position but Pickton is retaining full guard.
Slinger is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slinger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Slinger prevents Pickton from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pickton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pickton throws a body shot but no joy.
Pickton connects with a right hand. Slinger shakes it off.
Slinger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pickton.
Pickton throws a body shot but no joy.
Slinger changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Slinger moves forwards but Pickton connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pickton works the jab nicely.
Good shot there by Pickton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Pickton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Slinger closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Slinger lands in his opponent's guard.
Slinger showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Slinger prevents Pickton from getting back to his feet.
Pickton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Slinger drops back looking for a leg! Pickton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pickton manages to kick Slinger off! Slinger jumps back into Pickton's guard.
Slinger prevents Pickton from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Our spies down at at Zero Tolerance inform us that Pickton has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Slinger is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slinger slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The fighters circling - Slinger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice takedown defense from Pickton. No joy for Slinger on that attempt.

Slinger throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Pickton was covering up waiting for the punch and Slinger finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Slinger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pickton wants to stand and escape but Slinger is having none of it.
Slinger trying to control but Pickton is working from the bottom.
Slinger prevents Pickton from getting back to his feet.
Slinger looking to pass the guard.

Slinger drops back looking for a leg! Pickton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pickton manages to kick Slinger off! Slinger jumps back into Pickton's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slinger stops Pickton from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Slinger looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Slinger is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pickton sees it coming and defends easily.
Pickton wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Slinger is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pickton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Slinger.
Slinger is looking to take a break and control but Pickton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Slinger is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pickton defends it well.

Slinger is looking for a kimura but Pickton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Slinger to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pickton is defending against the submission attempts here by Slinger.

Slinger is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pickton wants to get back to his feet.

Slinger looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Slinger is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four 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.
Pickton tries to kick Slinger off but Slinger keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Slinger seems to be working for a kimura but Pickton defends the submission attempt.
Pickton wants to get back to his feet.

Slinger seems to be looking for submissions.
Pickton looks like he's trying to stand up.

Slinger is working for a kimura but Pickton is defending it quite comfortably.
Pickton wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Slinger is trying to work for a kimura but Pickton is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Slinger dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pickton scores with a jab. Slinger acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Pickton gets caught napping as Slinger dives in and scores a takedown. Pickton manages to retain guard.
Pickton wants to stand up but Slinger is controlling him.
Slinger trying to control but Pickton is working from the bottom.
Patrick Slinger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pickton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Slinger is controlling him.
Slinger advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Slinger tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Slinger has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pickton tries to escape but Slinger is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slinger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pickton keeps working.

Slinger looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Slinger thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pickton is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Slinger happy to just control the position for now.
Pickton is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Slinger asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Slinger goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pickton has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Slinger but great work by Pickton.
Slinger is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickton wants to stand but Slinger has his arm trapped.
Slinger struggling a bit here.
Slinger tries to buck Pickton off but Pickton is having none of it.
Slinger is trying to control Pickton's posture but Pickton avoids it.

Pickton stands up and beckons Slinger to his feet.
Slinger shoots for a takedown but Pickton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Robert Pickton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slinger shoots in for a takedown but Pickton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pickton throws a nice looking combination but Slinger bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pickton slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Slinger dives in and grabs Pickton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pickton pushes down on Slinger's head and hops out.
It seemed like Pickton was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Slinger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pickton throws a hook to the side of Slinger's head but Slinger sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Slinger changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Slinger shoots in looking for a takedown but Pickton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Slinger's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pickton throws a combination that misses

and Slinger counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pickton!
Pickton is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Slinger has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Slinger working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Slinger tries for a kimura but Pickton is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slinger is looking to take a break and control but Pickton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pickton is trying to buck Slinger off.

Slinger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pickton has escaped the position, nice work there.

Slinger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pickton has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pickton is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Slinger asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Slinger is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pickton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Pickton.
I think Pickton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Pickton!
Patrick Slinger spoke after the fight, saying 'Congratulations to my opponent. He got the better of me, and deserves all the credit in the world for his hard work. I hope we meet again.'.