PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rolland French (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jamie Pearce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

French
vs
Pearce

191 cm
24
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rolland French!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jamie Pearce!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Ben Watson and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pearce thows a body shot but no joy.

A momentary lapse in concentration from French enables Pearce to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. French manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pearce trying to control but French is working from the bottom.
Pearce wants to pass the guard but French is keeping the position.
French wants to stand up but Pearce is controlling him.
French can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pearce controls the pace.
French keeping full guard, as Pearce tries to pass.
Pearce wants to control from the top but French keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jamie Pearce was stalling too much, according to the referee.

French fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pearce, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

French's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
French tries to clinch up.
Pearce circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pearce counters with a shoot takedown. French fights it but they end up in guard.
Pearce trying to control but French is working from the bottom.
French 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.
Pearce is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pearce passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nice strikes from Pearce there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

French is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pearce pulls his head out easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
French is trying to stand.
Nice strikes from Pearce there.
Pearce works his way into full mount!
You get the feeling that French really doesn't like being in this position too much.
French taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pearce sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pearce trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pearce landing strikes, looking to finish!
French is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pearce lands a couple of good shots and French has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

French preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Pearce.
French wants to get back to his feet.
Pearce tries to get the hooks in deep but French pushed the leg off.
Pearce is trying to stick to French's back but French is turning into Pearce. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pearce's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by French.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pearce wants to get back to his feet but French is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
French wants to control from the top but Pearce keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

French tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pearce swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pearce punishes French's body with a nice straight punch.

Pearce looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
French is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pearce dives into side control.
Pearce is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
French is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Pearce decides to stand back up. Pearce steps back and let's French get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pearce shoots in and gets a takedown into French's guard.
Pearce looking to pass the guard.
Pearce wants to stand but French has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
French is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pearce content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pearce tries to stand but French is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

French is looking for a triangle here but Pearce uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Pearce tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
French is not content to let Pearce control the position.
French wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pearce tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pearce tries to stand but French controls the position and pulls Pearce into his guard.
Pearce trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jamie Pearce has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.
French is looking to stand back up but Pearce counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by French.
Pearce scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pearce stops French from getting back to his feet.
Pearce is looking to take a break and control but French is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pearce working over French with some ground and pound. French looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamie Pearce showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

French tries to clinch

and Pearce counters by moving into the clinch.

Pearce manages to break the clinch.
Pearce misses the shot to the body.

Pearce darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
French throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
French is trying to stand back up but Pearce is controlling him
Pearce has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, French works to full guard.
Pearce trying to control but French is working from the bottom.

French is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pearce is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pearce scoring with some ground and pound.

French looking for a guillotine here but Pearce defends easily.
French has a closed guard, preventing Pearce from standing up.
French keeping full guard, as Pearce tries to pass.
Pearce is looking to pass into half guard but French pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now French is in guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pearce can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pearce wants to control but French passes easily into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
French tries to stand but can't do so whilst Pearce controls his leg.
Pearce is looking to improve his position.
Pearce keeps trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
French trying to control the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
French is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pearce tries to kick French off but French keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
French trying to control the pace.
French tries to stand but can't do so whilst Pearce controls his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pearce has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. French is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
French fails with the takedown

and Pearce counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pearce.

Pearce pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
French fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pearce avoids it really well and circles away.

Pearce feints and as French raises his hands in defense, Pearce changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pearce tries to free his leg and advance position but French is retaining full guard.
Rolland French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamie Pearce is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamie Pearce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pearce 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamie Pearce!