PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yrjo Pieru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Emanuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pieru
vs
Emanuel

180 cm
28
182 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

187 cm
22
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yrjo Pieru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Matthew Emanuel!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Emanuel misses the jab.
Pieru ducks under a wild hook from Emanuel.
Emanuel lands a head shot.
Emanuel connects with a leg kick. Pieru looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pieru closes this distance looking for a takedown but Emanuel circles away.
Emanuel stuffs the takedown.

Pieru scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pieru throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Pieru connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Emanuel some visible discomfort.
Emanuel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pieru's best efforts.
Pieru throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Emanuel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pieru.
Pieru not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pieru is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Emanuel trying to hold on to Pieru's head to control him but Pieru postures up.
Emanuel manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pieru avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Emanuel is trying to control the position but Pieru postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pieru accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pieru working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Emanuel's head.
Emanuel keeping moving, preventing Pieru from controlling successfully.
Emanuel controls Pieru momentarily but Pieru frees himself.
Pieru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emanuel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pieru trying to control the position from guard on top but Emanuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieru trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pieru's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Emanuel keeping moving, preventing Pieru from controlling successfully.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Emanuel has momentary wrist control but Pieru slips an elbow through the middle.

Emanuel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pieru defends well.
Emanuel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Emanuel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emanuel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Emanuel is trying to keep Pieru in close.
Pieru has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pieru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emanuel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pieru postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Emanuel working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pieru has passed into half guard!
Pieru thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Emanuel's head.
Emanuel gets full guard.
Pieru throws and elbow that misses. Emanuel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pieru's guard. Nice move by Emanuel!
Pieru tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emanuel throwing strikes from guard but Pieru blocks nicely.
Emanuel throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Pieru wants to sweep here but Emanuel controlling him for the moment.
Emanuel is looking to work some ground and pound but Pieru has wrist control.
Emanuel is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Emanuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Pieru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emanuel passes Pieru's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Pieru is refusing to be controlled, as Emanuel sits in half guard.
Pieru wants to get back to full guard.
Pieru is trying to maintain the position but Emanuel is very close to passing his half guard.
Pieru tries to get to full guard but Emanuel has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Emanuel will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Emanuel lands with an overhand left.
Emanuel lands a glancing blow to the side of Pieru's head.
Pieru shoots for a takedown but Emanuel saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pieru moves out of range of the strikes.
Emanuel throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Yrjo Pieru has been cut.
Yrjo Pieru is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pieru tries to score a power double leg takedown but Emanuel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pieru somewhat.
Emanuel throws a hook but Pieru blocks it.
Emanuel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Emanuel throws a hook to the side of Pieru's head but Pieru sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pieru shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Emanuel sprawls well. Emanuel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pieru gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yrjo Pieru. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Emanuel throws a looping overhand right but Pieru ducks down to avoid it.
Emanuel cracks Pieru with a good jab.
Pieru wants to clinch up but Emanuel keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pieru scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Emanuel slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pieru postures up in Emanuel's guard and throws a big left but Emanuel blocks it.

Emanuel has his foot on Pieru's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pieru works his way back into a safe position though.
Pieru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emanuel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Emanuel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pieru can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pieru postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Emanuel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Emanuel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pieru is looking to work some ground and pound but Emanuel has wrist control.
Pieru trying to control but Emanuel is working from the bottom.
Emanuel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pieru wants to control from the top but Emanuel keeps moving.
Emanuel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pieru thows a big elbow that misses.
Emanuel trying to control the position.
Pieru is pushing down on Emanuel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Emanuel is fighting to maintain full guard but Pieru has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel wants to sweep but Pieru has passed to side control!
Pieru lands some shots froms side control.
Emanuel regains half guard.
Emanuel has his hands clasped together around Pieru's back. He's all about the action.
Pieru lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Emanuel tries to get to full guard but Pieru has control of the leg.
Pieru landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Emanuel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pieru.
Ground and pound from Pieru.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pieru throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Emanuel is pressing down on Pieru's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pieru working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pieru postures up in Emanuel's guard and throws a big left but Emanuel blocks it.
Pieru pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Emanuel is keeping the position for now.
Pieru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Emanuel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pieru postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pieru throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Emanuel is pulling down on Pieru's head to control his posture.
Pieru throwing strikes but missing.
Emanuel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Emanuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yrjo Pieru'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. And we move into the final round!

Pieru shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Emanuel sprawls well. Emanuel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pieru gets slowly back to his feet.
Pieru fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pieru checks a low kick from Emanuel.

Pieru clinches up with Emanuel and pushes him back against the cage.

Emanuel has Pieru pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Emanuel pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pieru tumbling to the mat - Emanuel dives into Pieru's guard.
Emanuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Pieru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pieru wants to sweep but no luck.
Emanuel is looking to work some ground and pound but Pieru has wrist control.
Pieru wants to sweep but no luck.
Emanuel wants to pass the guard but Pieru is keeping the position.
Pieru wants to sweep here but Emanuel controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Emanuel stays in close to Pieru's body and controls the position.
Emanuel postures up and lands a big shot to Pieru's brow.
Pieru looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Emanuel wants to control from the top but Pieru keeps moving.
Emanuel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Emanuel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pieru tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Emanuel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Emanuel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pieru has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieru sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Pieru is pressing down on Emanuel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pieru keeping moving, preventing Emanuel from controlling successfully.
Pieru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Emanuel chips away with some ground and pound.
Emanuel trying to control but Pieru is working from the bottom.
Pieru tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Emanuel wants to control from the top but Pieru keeps moving.

Emanuel drops back looking for a leg! Pieru is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pieru manages to kick Emanuel off! Emanuel jumps back into Pieru's guard.
Pieru wants to sweep here but Emanuel controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Emanuel trying to control but Pieru is working from the bottom.
Pieru is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Emanuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Pieru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Emanuel tries to free his leg and advance position but Pieru is retaining full guard.
Pieru looking for a sweep. Not yet Pieru, not yet.
Pieru can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Emanuel controls the pace.
Emanuel won't allow Pieru to sweep him here.
Matthew Emanuel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matthew Emanuel wasn't active enough on the ground.

Pieru scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Emanuel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pieru's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pieru is keen to just control but Emanuel is a slippery customer.
Matthew Emanuel has got the better of the ground game so far.

Emanuel looking for submissions off his back.
Pieru throwing shots but Emanuel is blocking nicely.
Emanuel wants to control but Pieru is keeping busy.
Pieru throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Yrjo Pieru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emanuel gets full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Emanuel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Emanuel winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Emanuel!