PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damon Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco has chosen 50Cent - Ready for War as his entrance music. Damon Pierce has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pierce
vs
Franco

190 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
199 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damon Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ariel Franco!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Franco fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Franco scoring well with a low kick there.
Pierce doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
Pierce tries to close the distance and clinch up but Franco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Franco dips to his left and cracks Pierce with an uppercut!
Damon Pierce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pierce shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Franco has his hands clasped together around Pierce's back. He's all about the action.
Pierce is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Franco!

Pierce is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Franco is surviving well by controlling Pierce's body position as best he can.

Pierce is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Franco can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Franco tries to hold on but Pierce postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pierce has control of Franco's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Franco regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Pierce is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Franco is surviving well by controlling Pierce's body position as best he can.
Pierce with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Pierce avoids the attempt from Franco to control.
Pierce is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Franco is in real trouble.

That's two 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.

Pierce working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Pierce is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Franco has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Pierce is breathing heavily.

Franco fending off the submission attempt from Pierce.
Franco trying to control the action but Pierce just sinks the hooks in.

Pierce tightening his grip on Franco, looking for the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco surviving as best he can, preventing damage.
Pierce avoiding Franco 's attempts to control his hands.

Pierce looking for the choke from the back.
Pierce gets his hands free as Franco looks to control.

Pierce working for the choke.
Pierce has the hooks in. Franco is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four 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.

Franco fending off the submission attempt from Pierce.

Pierce is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Franco tries to escape but Pierce has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Pierce tightening his grip on Franco, looking for the choke.
Franco trying to control the position but Pierce manages to sink in the hooks.

Pierce looking to break Franco's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Franco remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Pierce will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damon Pierce dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pierce tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pierce takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Pierce is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pierce is looking to clinch.
Franco ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pierce wants to clinch.
Franco lands a jab to Pierce's midsection.
Franco throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Franco lands with a straight right. Pierce didn't see that one coming.
A left and a right from Franco both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Damon Pierce has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Franco lunges at Pierce with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pierce's hand.
Franco misses with a leg kick.
Franco connects with a solid leg kick.
Franco scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Franco jabs at Pierce's body.
Pierce has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Franco finds it's way round the side to connect with Pierce's head.
Franco jabs at Pierce's body.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Franco throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Franco lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce walks into a left hand.
Franco misses with a double jab.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Franco lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Pierce has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Pierce and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Franco lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pierce at a distance.
Franco thuds a left hand into Pierce's body.
Franco dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Franco connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pierce is looking to clinch.
Franco cracks a nice hook into Pierce's ribs.
Franco with a hook.
Franco cracks Pierce with a right hand to the side of the head.
Pierce takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Franco digs a good hook to Pierce's body.
Ariel Franco is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Franco throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pierce stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Franco stuffs the takedown.
Pierce walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Franco is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pierce rather than just go for the knockout.
Franco digs a good hook to Pierce's body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Franco.
Nice uppercut lands for Franco. That snapped Pierce's head back.
Franco lands with a nice body punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Franco lands with a good body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Franco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco thuds a left hand into Pierce's body.
Franco with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Franco jabs at Pierce's body.
Pierce has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Franco finds it's way round the side to connect with Pierce's head.
Franco fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Franco throws a shot to the body.
Franco scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pierce doesn't seem bothered though.
Franco lands a body shot.
Franco cracks Pierce with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Franco turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pierce takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Franco lands a slapping body shot.
Franco digs a good body shot into Pierce's ribs.
Franco works Pierce's body with a nice hook.
Donk. Franco catches Pierce right on the button with a cross.
Franco throws a right and a left that both miss.
Franco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franco digs a good hook to Pierce's body.
Pierce tries to clinch but Franco is having none of it.
Franco scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Franco connects with a looping right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Franco scores with a sloppy right hand. Pierce should have avoided that one.
Franco lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Franco scores with a jab to the jaw.
Franco has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Franco chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Franco lands a glancing blow to the side of Pierce's head.
Franco punishes Pierce's body with a nice straight punch.
Franco connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ariel Franco seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pierce fails with the takedown.
Nice cross by Franco.
Franco scores with a nice head shot.
Pierce shoots for a double leg takedown but Franco sprawls well. He's pushed Pierce's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damon Pierce. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Franco.
Franco ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pierce keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Franco is looking to chop away at Pierce's legs.
Franco lands a nice looking body shot.
Pierce fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pierce shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Franco holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierce looking to pass the guard.
Franco really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pierce. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Pierce drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Franco manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pierce has Franco in his guard.

Pierce throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Pierce escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Franco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Franco showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damon Pierce's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Franco cracks a nice hook into Pierce's ribs.
Franco cracks a nice hook into Pierce's ribs.
Pierce doesn't manage to clinch there - Franco circles away.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Franco but Franco pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Franco will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No luck for Pierce with that takedown attempt.
Franco getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pierce takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Franco bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Pierce's head.
Franco cracks Pierce with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Franco scores with a nice right hand.
Franco scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pierce in his tracks.
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!
Franco lands with a nice body punch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Franco.
Franco wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Franco ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Franco looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce tries to move into range but Franco moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pierce takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pierce takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franco lands a body shot.
Pierce is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Franco lands a jab to the nose.

Damon Pierce's cut is getting worse.
Franco lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Franco throws and low kick but Pierce moves out of range easily.
Franco connects with a body shot.
A left lands for Franco.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Franco digs a good body shot into Pierce's ribs.
Franco digs a good hook to Pierce's body.
Pierce looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pierce takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Franco thumps Pierce with a low kick.
Franco scores with a body shot.
Jab by Franco.
Franco lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pierce at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Franco.
Franco bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Franco cracks a nice hook into Pierce's ribs.
Franco jabs at Pierce's body.
Franco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Franco lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Franco throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pierce stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Franco digs a good body shot into Pierce's ribs.
Pierce is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pierce takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Franco wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Franco misses with the combination.
Franco lands a jab to the head.
Franco scores with a jab to the head.
Franco fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pierce is out of range.
Pierce fails with an attempt to clinch.
Franco stuffs the takedown attempt from Pierce. Pierce gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damon Pierce. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Franco thuds his right hand into Pierce's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Franco scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Franco lands a nice hook to Pierce's body. Pierce takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franco scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pierce doesn't seem bothered though.
Pierce tries to move into range but Franco moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Franco paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Pierce takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Pierce tries to clinch there but Franco circles away.
Pierce on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pierce moves in looking to clinch but Franco pushes him off.
Franco scores with a one two! Pierce had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Damon Pierce's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Franco scores with a shot to the body.
Franco throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pierce on the side of the head.
Pierce takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pierce on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pierce takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Franco connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pierce's hands.
Franco stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierce looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pierce takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Franco uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pierce has time to react.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pierce is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pierce is defended easily by Franco.
Franco connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Franco lands with a nice body punch.
Pierce takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Franco lands with a hook. Pierce tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Franco fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Franco throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Franco closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Pierce takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Franco lands a nice hook to Pierce's body. Pierce takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Franco ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pierce looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Franco is fending him off so far but Pierce persists. Nope, Franco circles away and we're back to standing.
Pierce on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Franco smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Pierce takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Franco connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pierce slips a jab and a cross from Franco.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Franco lands a slapping body shot.
Franco scores with a shot to the body.
Franco throws a combination. Pierce tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pierce fails with the takedown.
Franco throws a right and a left that Pierce avoids nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ariel Franco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Franco 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 26:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 26:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ariel Franco!