PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bradford Piper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maniek Mariusz (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.

Piper
vs
Mariusz

175 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bradford Piper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Maniek Mariusz!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mariusz blocks a head kick by Piper.
Piper fails with the takedown

and Mariusz counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mariusz.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mariusz seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mariusz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Piper is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mariusz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mariusz controls from within his opponent's guard.
Piper is trying to control the position but Mariusz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariusz pushing down on Piper's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Mariusz escapes and gets back to his feet.
Piper throws a head kick but Mariusz moves out of range.
Piper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mariusz counters with a left and a right that stings Piper.

Mariusz clinches.
Mariusz stalling.
Piper really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Mariusz jumps guard.
Mariusz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mariusz controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariusz is thwarting Piper's attempts to control the position.
Piper is breathing heavily.
Mariusz slows the pace down in half guard.
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!
It looks like Mariusz might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Let's hope that Mariusz has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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

Mariusz drives through with a takedown into Piper's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mariusz won't allow Piper to sweep him here.
Mariusz stays in close to Piper's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Mariusz decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Piper, up you get!

Mariusz manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Piper on his heels. He'll look to pass Piper's guard now, I'm sure.
Mariusz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piper working a defensive guard but Mariusz manages to pass into side control anyway.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Piper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Piper trying to remain calm as Mariusz controls from the top position.

Mariusz is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Piper knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Mariusz decides to stand up, so the ref orders Piper to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Piper.
Mariusz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Piper stalling away here and it's allowed Mariusz to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Piper wants to control from the top but Mariusz keeps moving.

Mariusz pushes Piper off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Bradford Piper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mariusz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mariusz 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 Piper has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Piper and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariusz displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Piper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mariusz circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mariusz closes the distance and clinches.
Piper blocks an uppercut.
Piper is trying to pull guard but Mariusz turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Mariusz pulls guard effortlessly.
Mariusz looking for a sweep. Not yet Mariusz, not yet.
Piper stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mariusz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Piper looking to sit in guard and control but Mariusz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mariusz stands up and waves to Piper to follow him.

Mariusz closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mariusz is controlling the pace.
Piper trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piper trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Mariusz manages to pass to mount!
Mariusz pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Mariusz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piper looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Can Piper hold on?! Mariusz is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Mariusz has good solid back control here.
Piper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mariusz lands strikes to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maniek Mariusz 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! This is the final round!

Mariusz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mariusz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mariusz working the head and body with strikes.

Mariusz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Piper closes the distance but Mariusz moves to the side

and Mariusz counters with a shoot takedown. Piper fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Piper controls Mariusz momentarily but Mariusz frees himself.
Mariusz wants to pass the guard but Piper is keeping the position.
Piper being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariusz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mariusz passes Piper's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Mariusz is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mariusz sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Mariusz decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piper punishes Mariusz's body with a nice straight punch.

Mariusz drives through and clinches with Piper against the cage.
Piper using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mariusz has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mariusz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mariusz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mariusz pulls guard.
Piper has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mariusz escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Piper gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Piper stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Piper gets a clinch.

Mariusz breaks the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Piper.
Piper falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mariusz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Piper looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mariusz advances position into side control!
Piper taking a bit of punishment here - Mariusz scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piper being controlled for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piper wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Maniek Mariusz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mariusz has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maniek Mariusz!