PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikkel Bukholt Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Pierce has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pierce
vs
Bukholt Nielsen

180 cm
27
164 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

173 cm
22
167 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mikkel Bukholt Nielsen!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pierce shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pierce was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Pierce looking for a guillotine from mount but Nielsen is having none of it.
Pierce is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Nielsen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nielsen prevents Pierce from taking his back.
Nielsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pierce wants to control the pace but Nielsen is squirming around nicely.
Nielsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nielsen is bucking up trying to escape but Pierce cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pierce landing strikes from the mount.
Pierce with the ground and pound from mount.

Nielsen is rocked!
Pierce prevents Nielsen from getting the reversal.
Nielsen is still in real trouble! Can Pierce finish him?

Pierce is working for a guillotine from mount but Nielsen frees his head quite easily.
Nielsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nielsen tries to lock up and control but Pierce gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Nielsen seems to have recovered his senses.
Pierce is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Nielsen is in real trouble.

Nielsen preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Pierce.

Pierce working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nielsen tries to break free.

Nielsen showing good submission defense here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pierce is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Nielsen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Pierce lands with a hammerfist to the side of Nielsen's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nielsen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Pierce gets his way!

Nielsen is trying to get to his feet but he's left his neck exposed and Pierce manages to sink in a rear naked choke! Great counter grappling by Pierce!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:12 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rafael Pierce!
Rafael Pierce was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.