PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Augusto Pires (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Lesner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Pires
vs
Lesner

183 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Augusto Pires!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steven Lesner!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lesner shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pires defends it nicely.
Pires rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lesner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pires misses with a double jab.
Pires misses with a looping right.
Pires cracks Lesner with an open hand slap.
Pires scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Pires gets a clinch.
Lesner is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pires gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Lesner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pires is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Augusto Pires has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Lesner.
Lesner drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lesner tries for a takedown but Pires manages to get underhooks.
Lesner can't get the takedown.
Pires prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pires wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lesner can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pires is trying to break the clinch but Lesner has him pressed against the cage.
Pires is trying to break free.
Pires stops a takedown attempt from Lesner.
Lesner keeps control of Pires as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pires is trying to break the clinch but Lesner is controlling him.
Pires is looking to break free of the clinch but Lesner has double underhooks.
Lesner can't get the takedown.
Lesner looks gassed!
Lesner has Pires pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pires manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Pires breaks from the clinch.

Pires closes the distance and clinches.
Lesner is working for takedown but Pires is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lesner has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pires is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pires working hard to break the clinch.
Pires working hard to break the clinch.
Lesner wants a takedown but no success here.

Pires breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pires lunges at Lesner with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lesner's hand.
Lesner takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pires connects with a body shot.
Pires scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Lesner doesn't seem bothered though.
Pires works the jab nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pires scores with a punch to the head.
Pires looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pires with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Pires gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Pires's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pires has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pires breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pires misses with a series of wild punches.
Lesner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pires counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pires throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lesner was covering up waiting for the punch and Pires finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pires wants to stand but Lesner is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lesner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Pires dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pires lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Pires has managed to clinch.
Lesner goes for a takedown attempt but Pires pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Pires moves into the clinch.
Lesner tries to score a body lock takedown but Pires shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lesner wants a takedown.
Augusto Pires has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Lesner.
Lesner keeps control of Pires as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lesner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pires fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Pires throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Lesner stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lesner is breathing heavily.
Pires tries to close the distance and clinch but Lesner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pires lands a right hook to the body.
Nice shot by Pires.
Lesner with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pires cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lesner takes one on the button.
Pires connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Pires gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lesner goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pires prevents it.

Pires breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Pires finds it's way through Lesner's defenses.
Nice shot lands for Pires.
Lesner takes one on the button.
Lesner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pires.
Pires connects with a body shot.
Augusto Pires seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pires's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Pires duly obliges.
Pires lands a slapping body shot.
Lesner walks into a stiff left hand from Pires.
Pires works over Lesner's head and body with a nice combination.
Pires connects with a jab.
Lesner walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Pires clinches.
Lesner tries to score a body lock takedown but Pires shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pires wants to break free but Lesner has control.
Pires wants to get back to striking at distance but Lesner won't allow it.
A bit of stalling here from Pires.
Lesner is trying to drag Pires to the mat but Pires just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Pires's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pires shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lesner pinned against the cage. Lesner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lesner tries for a takedown but Pires circles away easily
and Pires counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lesner swats away the attempt to clinch by Pires.
Pires misses with a wild body shot.
Pires misses with a two punch combination.
Lesner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lesner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pires but Pires pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lesner fails to land the takedown.

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.

Pires scores with a takedown into Lesner's guard.
Lesner looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lesner is looking for a triangle but Pires pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Augusto Pires dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Pires throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pires shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lesner sprawls well. Lesner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pires gets slowly back to his feet.
Pires's corner calls for a 1-2. Pires obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lesner with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Pires counter with a right hand.
Pires is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lesner can do to turn this around?
Pires waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lesner.
The fighters circling - Pires throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Augusto Pires is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesner misses with a takedown
and Pires counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lesner moves out of range as Pires strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pires is looking to clinch but Lesner is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pires bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pires displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lesner.
Augusto Pires has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Lesner.
Pires throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lesner misses with a takedown
enabling Pires to counter with a crisp jab.
Lesner shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pires sprawls well. Pires wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lesner gets slowly back to his feet.
Pires lands a jab-cross combination.
Lesner shoots for a takedown but Pires saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pires lands a nice hook to Lesner's body. Lesner takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two 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.
No luck for Lesner with that takedown attempt.
Pires scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Pires wants to clinch up but Lesner keeps it at a distance.
Pires wants to clinch up but Lesner keeps it at a distance.
Pires connects with a looping right hand.
Augusto Pires is winning the standup battle so far.
Lesner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pires as he jumps to the side.
Pires thows a body shot but no joy.
Pires misses with a straight left.
Lesner shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pires but Pires pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lesner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pires swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pires looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Lesner or perhaps it was just good defense by Pires which made him look bad.
Pires misses with a double jab.
Pires tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lesner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pires keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pires scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pires misses with a straight right.
Lesner is trying desperately to land a takedown but Pires is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Lesner.
Lesner throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pires's waist but Pires gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lesner off to one side.

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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lesner has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pires avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lesner looking for a takedown.
Lesner has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pires avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pires is trying to force a seperation but Lesner has the dominant position.
Pires gets underhooks to prevent Lesner's takedown attempt.
Pires looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pires stops a takedown attempt from Lesner.
Pires prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lesner is trying to drag Pires to the mat but Pires just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pires gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lesner.
Steven Lesner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Augusto Pires is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pires is trying to break the clinch but Lesner has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Augusto Pires showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pires has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Augusto Pires!