PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kabal Labak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Pedro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kabal Labak had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Labak
vs
Pedro

180 cm
27
198 lbs
15 - 11 - 1

176 cm
28
202 lbs
21 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kabal Labak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Pedro!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pedro tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Labak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Labak appears to be looking for a big counter.
Labak motions for Pedro to come forward. Labak throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Labak cracks a nice hook into Pedro's ribs.
Labak slips a jab from Pedro.
Pedro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
George Pedro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A low kick from Pedro is predictable there
and Labak counters with a left and a right that stings Pedro.
Pedro fails to land with a series of punches.

Pedro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Labak trying to control but Pedro is working from the bottom.
Labak is fighting to break Pedro's control of his arms but Pedro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Pedro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
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!
Labak trying to control but Pedro is working from the bottom.
Pedro pulls Labak in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Labak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Labak is fighting to break Pedro's control of his arms but Pedro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Labak working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Labak trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pedro manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Labak wants to hit a switch here but Pedro passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Labak there!
Pedro content just to control the position here.
Pedro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Labak is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Labak is in a horrible position here. Pedro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labak keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pedro avoids the attempt from Labak to control.
Labak sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Labak is looking for a sweep. Pedro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Labak wants to control but Pedro is keeping busy.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pedro in particular looking to stall.
Labak wants to control but Pedro is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Labak wants to improve his position but Pedro is controlling well.
Labak is working hard here to advance position.

Labak actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak is looking for a sweep. Pedro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Labak is concentrating on defense, preventing Pedro from advancing position.
Labak trying to hold on to Pedro's head to control him but Pedro postures up.
Labak is looking for a sweep. Pedro is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Labak has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pedro is working away from the top position though.
Pedro slips a nice elbow through Labak's hands, connecting with Labak's forehead.
Labak is looking to control Pedro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Labak avoid being mounted?
Labak is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pedro scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pedro working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pedro prevents Labak from improving his position.
Pedro wants to pass to mount but Labak is defending the position.
Pedro is trying to control. Labak wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Labak looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pedro is nestled in close to Labak, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pedro is looking to take a break and control but Labak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pedro slips a nice elbow through Labak's hands, connecting with Labak's forehead.
Labak tries to roll over but Pedro keeps him under control.
Labak is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pedro scores with a couple of nice shots.

It looks like Kabal Labak has been cut.
Labak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pedro connects with a nice short shot to Labak's temple.
Labak regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pedro wants to control from the top but Labak keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but George Pedro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kabal Labak's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pedro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Labak closes the distance and clinches.
Pedro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Labak misses with a body punch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Pedro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Labak's efforts to push away.
Labak misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pedro misses with a punch on the inside.
Labak lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pedro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Labak scores with a shoulder strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Labak tries to pull guard but Pedro forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Labak.
Pedro can't find room to land a body shot as Labak controls the action.
I was talking to Labak's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pedro.
Pedro tries to throw a body punch but Labak avoids it by throwing Pedro back against the cage.
Labak has Pedro pushed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pedro gets underhooks to prevent Labak's takedown attempt.
A left hand lands to the body for Pedro.
Labak is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kabal Labak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Labak tries to stall but Pedro uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pedro.
A short right from Pedro on the inside.
Pedro lands a shot to the body.
Pedro misses with a punch on the inside.
Labak working hard to break the clinch.
Labak taking a breather.
Labak blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Labak has Pedro pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Labak pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pedro tumbling to the mat - Labak dives into Pedro's guard.
Labak sitting in guard here, content to control.
Labak wants to control from the top but Pedro keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labak throws a big right hand that misses.
Pedro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pedro has momentary wrist control but Labak slips an elbow through the middle.
Labak is looking to work some ground and pound but Pedro has wrist control.
Pedro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Labak stands up over Pedro, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pedro pulls Labak in to control the position.
Labak trying to control but Pedro is working from the bottom.
Pedro controls Labak momentarily but Labak frees himself.
Labak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pedro is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak keeping moving, preventing Pedro from controlling successfully.
Pedro throwing strikes but missing.
Pedro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pedro trying to control the position from guard on top but Labak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pedro passes Labak's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Labak is looking to improve his position.
Pedro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pedro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Labak knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Labak is in trouble now - Pedro has advanced to mount!
Labak really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pedro trying to control but Labak is having none of it.
Labak in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pedro fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Kabal Labak's cut is getting worse.
Labak really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pedro controlling the position easily from mount.
Labak is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pedro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kabal Labak's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Labak lands an impressive looking overhand right. Pedro doesn't seem phased though.
Labak throws a leg kick that misses.

Pedro tries to keep at a distance but Labak has taken the fight into the clinch.
Labak pushes Pedro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pedro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pedro blocking some punches.

Labak pulls guard.
George Pedro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pedro working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pedro trying to control the position from guard on top but Labak is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Labak is trying to keep Pedro in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pedro lands a couple of digs.
Pedro landing with the ground and pound.
Pedro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Labak had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pedro defends it easily.
Pedro wants to pass the guard but Labak is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pedro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Labak is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pedro defends well.
Pedro working some strikes from top position.
Pedro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Labak controls Pedro momentarily but Pedro frees himself.
Pedro wants to control from the top but Labak keeps moving.
Pedro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Labak is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pedro chips away with some ground and pound.
Pedro trying to control but Labak is working from the bottom.

Labak is looking for a triangle but Pedro pushes his legs off easily.
Labak keeping moving, preventing Pedro from controlling successfully.

Labak looking for a guillotine here but Pedro defends easily.
Pedro looking to sit in guard and control but Labak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Labak is fighting to break Pedro's control of his arms but Pedro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kabal Labak has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labak trying to control but Pedro is working from the bottom.
Pedro wants to sweep here but Labak controlling him for the moment.
Pedro trying to keep a closed guard but Labak is proving a slippery customer.
Labak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Labak looking to sit in guard and control but Pedro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pedro got a little sloppy there for a moment and Labak has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pedro has managed to get both his arms back between Labak's legs - danger averted.
Pedro stands up over Labak, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Labak is looking for a triangle but Pedro pushes his legs off easily.
Pedro trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pedro looking to sit in guard and control but Labak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Labak wants to control from the top but Pedro keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pedro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Labak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pedro is keeping the position for now.
Labak postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kabal Labak showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pedro 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Pedro!