PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Verbana (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.

Pierce
vs
Verbana

195 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Verbana!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verbana throws a lazy uppercut
letting Pierce counter with a right hand.
Verbana attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Pierce checks a leg kick.
Pierce scores with a push kick.
Pierce blocks a leg kick.
Verbana takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Verbana throws an overhand right that lands on Pierce's shoulder, as Pierce tries to avoid the shot.
Verbana throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Pierce counter with a right hand.
Nice defenses there by Pierce.
Pierce dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Verbana. That did some damage!
Verbana fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pierce throws a front kick that sends Verbana stumbling back into the cage.
Jab from Pierce.
Pierce jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Verbana will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pierce lands the left hand.
Verbana takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Verbana or perhaps it was just good defense by Pierce which made him look bad.
Pierce ducks under a wild hook from Verbana.
Verbana throws a poor cross that misses
letting Pierce counter with a right hand.
Verbana throws a leg kick
and Pierce counters with a slapping leg kick.
Verbana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pierce was well out of range. Poor timing from Verbana.
Pierce displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Verbana.
John Verbana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Verbana looks winded!
Pierce lands with an overhand left.
Verbana misses with a combination
and Pierce counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pierce lands with a thumping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Pierce there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Paul Pierce is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pierce catches Verbana with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pierce lands a right hook to the body.
Verbana throws a poor cross that misses
and Pierce cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Verbana missing with a left hand there. Pierce was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pierce scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A punch lands to the side of Verbana 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Verbana ducks right into an uppercut from Pierce.
Verbana misses with a leg kick
and Pierce counters with a body kick that stops Verbana in his tracks momentarily.
Pierce lands a glancing blow to the side of Verbana's head.
Verbana throws a leg kick
and Pierce connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A left lands for Pierce.
Pierce thows a body kick. Verbana tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Verbana takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Verbana tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pierce throws a nice inside leg kick.
Pierce uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Pierce digs a good body shot into Verbana's ribs.
A low kick from Verbana is predictable there
and Pierce counters with a low kick, right behind Verbana 's knee.
Pierce lands a nice leg kick that just misses Verbana's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Verbana stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pierce is looking to slow Verbana down with leg kicks.
Pierce throws a nice inside leg kick.
Verbana needs to keep his hands up - Pierce had a free shot at his head there.
Verbana throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Pierce counter with a right hand.
Pierce scores with a hook.
Pierce moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pierce lands with a straight right. Verbana didn't see that one coming.
Pierce scores with a crisp jab that stopped Verbana 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!
Good shot there by Pierce.
Pierce is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Good leg kick by Pierce there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Verbana is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Pierce scores with a hook.
Pierce chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Verbana has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Good leg kick by Pierce there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pierce scores with a leg kick.
Pierce is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierce cracks the inside of Verbana's front leg.
Pierce moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A punch combination from Verbana misses.
Verbana misses with a shot to the body
and Pierce counters with a nice body shot.
Pierce scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pierce lands a nice shot that snaps Verbana's head back.
A good leg kick by Pierce.
Pierce punishes Verbana's body with a nice straight punch.
Verbana should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Pierce connects with a solid leg kick.
That kick from Pierce tenderised Verbana's leg. Verbana is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pierce throws a front kick that sends Verbana stumbling back into the cage.
Pierce fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Verbana.
Pierce wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice body punch from Pierce.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pierce.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pierce scores with a sloppy right hand. Verbana should have avoided that one.
Pierce is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A punch lands to the side of Verbana 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Verbana doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Pierce.
Jab from Pierce.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pierce checks a leg kick.
Verbana throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pierce counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A low kick from Verbana misses
and Pierce counters with a left and a right that stings Verbana.
Verbana with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pierce to score with a decent uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pierce connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Verbana looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pierce stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Verbana swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pierce counters with a stiff right hand.
Pierce bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Verbana's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pierce feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Verbana's calf.
Verbana on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Verbana will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A leg kick checked by Pierce.
Pierce scores with a nice body kick.
Pierce moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pierce keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Verbana ducks right into an uppercut from Pierce.
Pierce fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Verbana.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pierce, right into the meat.
Pierce throws out a powerful jab.
Pierce getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pierce lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Verbana misses with a combination
and Pierce counters with a straight right hand.
John Verbana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pierce cracks Verbana with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pierce cracks Verbana with a good jab.
A head kick misses from Pierce.
Verbana has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pierce.
A low kick from Verbana is predictable there
letting Pierce counter with a right hand.
Pierce digs a good body shot into Verbana's ribs.
Verbana misses with a leg kick
letting Pierce counter with a right hand.
Pierce lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Pierce feints a jab promting Verbana to slip. Pierce then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Verbana slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pierce scores with a nice strike.
No luck for Verbana with that takedown attempt.
Paul Pierce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Verbana.
Verbana misses with a low kick as Pierce jumps back.
Pierce jabs at Verbana's body.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice uppercut lands for Pierce. That snapped Verbana's head back.
Verbana throws a combination that misses
and Pierce counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Verbana takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Verbana misses with a straight left.
Pierce is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Pierce thumps Verbana with a low kick.
Pierce lands a leg kick that knocks Verbana off balance momentarily.
Pierce scores with a nice right hand.
Pierce connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Verbana looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pierce lands with an uppercut that bounces Verbana off the cage and back into range.
Pierce scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Verbana doesn't seem bothered though.
Pierce scores with a three punch combo!
Verbana falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pierce counters with a leg kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Verbana takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pierce scores with a jab. Verbana acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Verbana has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Verbana there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pierce scores with a jab. Verbana acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
That kick from Pierce tenderised Verbana's leg. Verbana is trying to keep his angry face on.
Verbana throws a right and a left that Pierce avoids nicely.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pierce.
Pierce fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pierce connects with a right hand. Verbana shakes it off.
The fighters circle momentarily. Pierce darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Pierce lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pierce scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Verbana doesn't seem bothered though.
Pierce lands a jab.
Verbana is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Pierce showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pierce has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Paul Pierce!
Judge James Glass scores the fight for Paul Pierce!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Paul Pierce!

Paul Pierce wins by unanimous decision!
Paul Pierce seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.