PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Piero Panzanaro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joel Andrew (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Panzanaro
vs
Andrew

193 cm
22
221 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Piero Panzanaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joel Andrew!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panzanaro shoots for a takedown but Andrew saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Andrew closes the distance and clinches up with Panzanaro, looking for a takedown. Andrew pushes Panzanaro against the cage but Panzanaro circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Piero Panzanaro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Panzanaro misses with an uppercut.

Andrew shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Panzanaro manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Panzanaro uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Panzanaro has his takedown stuffed
and Andrew counters with a two punch combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Andrew. Panzanaro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Panzanaro throws a nice head kick!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Panzanaro stuffs the takedown attempt from Andrew. Andrew gets slowly back to his feet.
Andrew avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Panzanaro fakes the leg kick and cracks Andrew in the body.
Andrew looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Panzanaro is fending him off so far but Andrew persists. Nope, Panzanaro circles away and we're back to standing.
Piero Panzanaro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joel Andrew.
Andrew fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrew takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Panzanaro rushes Andrew and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Panzanaro landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Andrew looks gassed!

Panzanaro manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Panzanaro manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Andrew manages to get himself to full guard.
Andrew keeping moving, preventing Panzanaro from controlling successfully.
Panzanaro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Panzanaro is looking to work some ground and pound but Andrew has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Panzanaro distracts Andrew with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Panzanaro trying to stand up but can't free himself from Andrew's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Panzanaro drops back looking for a leg! Andrew is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Andrew manages to kick Panzanaro off! Panzanaro jumps back into Andrew's guard.
Panzanaro slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panzanaro trying to control but Andrew is working from the bottom.

Andrew is working an open guard so Panzanaro takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Panzanaro, as that shot connected.

Panzanaro drives through and clinches with Andrew against the cage.

Panzanaro drags the fight down to the ground.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Panzanaro working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Andrew doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Andrew manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Andrew with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andrew throws and elbow that misses. Panzanaro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Andrew's guard. Nice move by Panzanaro!

Panzanaro thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Panzanaro wants to control from the top but Andrew keeps moving.
Panzanaro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Andrew utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piero Panzanaro dominated that round.
That's time! Panzanaro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Panzanaro doesn't manage to clinch there - Andrew circles away.

Panzanaro has taken the fight to the clinch.

Panzanaro pulls Andrew into guard.
Andrew postures up and lands a big shot to Panzanaro's brow.
Panzanaro working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Andrew.
Andrew loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Andrew drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Panzanaro manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Andrew has Panzanaro in his guard.
Panzanaro wants to control from the top but Andrew keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrew working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Panzanaro.
Panzanaro thows a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Panzanaro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Andrew can do anything to dispel that myth.
Panzanaro wants to control from the top but Andrew keeps moving.
Panzanaro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Panzanaro is looking to stand up but Andrew won't let him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Panzanaro shoots and misses

and Andrew decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Panzanaro's guard.
Andrew stopping the sweep attempt from Panzanaro.
Panzanaro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Andrew with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Andrew with a flurry of punches that miss.
Panzanaro keeping full guard, as Andrew tries to pass.

Panzanaro has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Andrew off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Andrew shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Panzanaro tries for a takedown but Andrew sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Panzanaro swinging wildly here.
A slapping body kick lands there for Panzanaro.
No luck for Andrew with that takedown attempt.
Panzanaro has his takedown stuffed

so Andrew counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Piero Panzanaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Panzanaro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Andrew throws a strike but Panzanaro rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andrew preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Panzanaro looking to sit in guard and control but Andrew gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Andrew with a nice head shot there.
Panzanaro wants to stand up but Andrew is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joel Andrew 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Andrew closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Andrew lands in his opponent's guard.

Andrew drops back, looking for a kneebar! Panzanaro looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Panzanaro looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Panzanaro!
Panzanaro throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Panzanaro is working Andrew over with some ground and pound from side control.
Joel Andrew has got the better of the ground game so far.
Panzanaro wants to control but Andrew is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Panzanaro lands a few punches from side control.
Andrew is not content to let Panzanaro control the position.
Andrew wants to control but Panzanaro postures up.

Panzanaro is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Andrew knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Panzanaro working the ground and pound but Andrew is defending the strikes.

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.
Andrew is looking to reverse the position.
Panzanaro misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ground and pound from Panzanaro seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Panzanaro tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Panzanaro throws a front kick that sends Andrew stumbling back into the cage.
Panzanaro lands with a slapping head kick.
Panzanaro shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Andrew counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andrew has gone for a leg lock! Panzanaro slips out almost immediately though and dives into Andrew's guard.
Andrew preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Panzanaro trying to control but Andrew is working from the bottom.

Panzanaro drops back, looking for a kneebar! Andrew looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Andrew looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Andrew!

Andrew is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Panzanaro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger 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.
Andrew in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Andrew swings around for an armbar but Panzanaro sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Andrew's guard.
Panzanaro missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Panzanaro content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Panzanaro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Panzanaro trying to control but Andrew is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joel Andrew.
I think Andrew 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joel Andrew!