PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salva Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slim Pickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Gomez
vs
Pickens

178 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

169 cm
22
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Salva Gomez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Slim Pickens!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pickens swivels and escapes.
Pickens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pickens fails to land with a series of punches.
Pickens has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Gomez tries to clinch but Pickens is having none of it.
Pickens misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gomez slips under a jab.
Pickens misses the shot to the body.

Gomez drives through and clinches with Pickens against the cage.

Pickens breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gomez has Pickens pressed against the cage.
Pickens misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez stalling in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pickens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gomez.
Gomez is struggling to control the position.
Gomez controlling the action here for a moment.
Gomez gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Salva Gomez.
Pickens punishes Gomez's body with a nice straight punch.

Gomez clinches.
Gomez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pickens misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gomez.
Gomez has Pickens pushed against the cage.

Gomez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Pickens uses from the top position.
Gomez keeping full guard, as Pickens tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomez controls Pickens momentarily but Pickens frees himself.
Pickens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pickens tries to free his leg and advance position but Gomez is retaining full guard.
Pickens is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Pickens sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gomez's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pickens lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Gomez is refusing to be controlled, as Pickens sits in half guard.
Pickens misses with a head shot. Gomez uses the momentum to regain guard.
Gomez has momentary wrist control but Pickens slips an elbow through the middle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gomez is on top in guard.

Gomez trying to control the position from guard on top but Pickens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pickens keeping full guard, as Gomez tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomez sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pickens's guard.
Gomez looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Gomez has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pickens trying desperately to get to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gomez looking to ground and pound but Pickens is blocking nicely.
Pickens holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gomez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
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 Salva Gomez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pickens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pickens ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gomez moves away.
Pickens wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pickens cracks a nice hook into Gomez's ribs.
Slim Pickens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gomez closes the distance but Pickens moves to the side
and Pickens counters with a two punch combo.
Pickens throws a right and a left that Gomez avoids nicely.
Gomez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Pickens manages to circle out of the way.
Pickens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gomez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pickens keeps the fight on the outside.
Pickens thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gomez tries to counter by clinching up but Pickens breaks away and moves out of range.
Pickens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gomez.
Gomez closes the distance but Pickens moves to the side
and Pickens cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Pickens both land. Nice combination.
Pickens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gomez is looking to counter the offense by Pickens and move into the clinch.
Slim Pickens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gomez throws a jab when Pickens was well out of range.
Gomez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pickens is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gomez rather than just go for the knockout.

Gomez darts in and clinches Pickens up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gomez.
Gomez stalling in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pickens.
Pickens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Come on Gomez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gomez tries for a takedown but Pickens manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Gomez.
Gomez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Pickens tries to break the clinch but Gomez is controlling the position.
Pickens digs a right hand underneath Gomez's ribcage. Gomez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Gomez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pickens fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gomez is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gomez holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Gomez can't find room to land a body shot as Pickens controls the action.

Gomez manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pickens controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pickens trying to control but Gomez is working from the bottom.
Pickens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Gomez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pickens trying to control but Gomez is working from the bottom.
Gomez looking to control but Pickens passes into half guard.
Gomez regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pickens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pickens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pickens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomez is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gomez controls Pickens momentarily but Pickens frees himself.
Pickens wants to pass the guard but Gomez is keeping the position.
Pickens looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gomez working a defensive guard here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pickens keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gomez's head.
Pickens wants to control from the top but Gomez keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slim Pickens 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pickens throws the left hand but Gomez avoids the punch easily.

Gomez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gomez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pickens walks away with a smile on his face. Gomez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pickens thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pickens swings for the body but Gomez moves out of range.
Gomez is looking to clinch.
Pickens throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Gomez has closed the distance and engaged Pickens in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gomez pulls guard effortlessly.
Gomez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pickens is not content to let Gomez control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pickens looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gomez throwing shots but Pickens is blocking nicely.
Gomez is pressing down on Pickens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pickens is holding on for now.
Pickens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gomez.
Gomez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gomez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gomez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gomez is keen to just control but Pickens is a slippery customer.
Gomez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gomez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pickens's head.
Gomez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gomez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gomez is pressing down on Pickens's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pickens is holding on for now.
Pickens looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gomez takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Pickens.
Pickens throws out a loose jab but Gomez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pickens goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pickens jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gomez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pickens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pickens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pickens looks to land a right hand but Gomez moved out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pickens.
Gomez tries to clinch but Pickens moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pickens! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pickens swings for the body but Gomez moves out of range.
Pickens lands with a straight right. Gomez didn't see that one coming.
Pickens tries to bum rush Gomez with a series of wild strikes but Gomez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pickens fails to land with a series of punches.
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!
Pickens tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gomez was well out of range. Poor timing from Pickens.

Gomez drives through and clinches with Pickens against the cage.

Gomez manages to pull guard.
Pickens stopping the sweep attempt from Gomez.
Pickens loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gomez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pickens manages to get himself to full guard.

Pickens keeping moving, preventing Gomez from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Slim Pickens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pickens 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slim Pickens!