PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bam Margera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Pistone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Margera comes to the cage accompanied by Slacker. Pistone is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bonobo - The Sicilians. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Margera
vs
Pistone

183 cm
33
173 lbs
29 - 16 - 1

183 cm
27
180 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 29 - 16 - 1, fighting out of London, Bam Margera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Pistone!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pistone throws a lazy right hand but Margera sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Margera slips under a jab from Pistone.
Pistone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pistone misses with a low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pistone.
Margera shoots in but Pistone avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Margera on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Pistone lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Margera keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pistone throws the kick towards the body but Margera avoids it.
Margera fails to land with a series of punches.
Margera takes one to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pistone misses with an uppercut
and Margera counters with a three punch combo that has Pistone backing up. Pistone nods at Margera to acknowledge the strikes.
Margera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Margera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pistone as he jumps to the side.
Margera shoots for a double leg takedown but Pistone sprawls well. He's pushed Margera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pistone tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bam Margera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Margera throws a body shot but no joy.
Margera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pistone.
Margera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pistone connects with a leg kick. Margera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pistone misses with a head kick.
Margera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pistone as he jumps to the side.
Pistone lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Margera at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pistone tries to score with a low kick but Margera moves his leg out of the way.
Margera appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A big right from Pistone misses.
That kick from Pistone tenderised Margera's leg. Margera is trying to keep his angry face on.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pistone misses with a head kick.
Margera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pistone. That did some damage!
Pistone throws a head kick that misses.
Margera fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pistone checks it well.
Pistone jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Margera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pistone.
Pistone throws a head kick that misses

and Margera counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Margera not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone tries to get to full guard but Margera has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pistone is pressing down on Margera's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Margera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pistone wants to improve his position but instead Margera has moved into half guard.
Pistone trying to control from the bottom.
Pistone is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Margera scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pistone is looking to improve his position.
Pistone has his hands clasped together around Margera's back. He's all about the action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pistone manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pistone trying to control the position.
Margera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Margera throwing strikes but missing.

Pistone has his foot on Margera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Margera works his way back into a safe position though.
Margera lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Pistone dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Margera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pistone fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Margera has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Margera blocks a head kick by Pistone.
Margera defending well as Pistone loads up on a big left hand.
Margera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pistone was well out of range. Poor timing from Margera.
Pistone lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pistone throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Margera's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Margera duly obliges.
Nice shot by Pistone.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pistone. That's going to slow Margera down.
Pistone has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pistone thuds a left hand into Margera's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pistone takes one to the chin there.
Margera swings for the body but Pistone moves out of range.
Margera throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pistone throws a leg kick that misses.
Pistone misses with a kick to the body.
Margera appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Margera moves out of range of the body kick.
Margera throws an overhand right that lands on Pistone's shoulder, as Pistone tries to avoid the shot.
Pistone throws a looping overhand right but Margera ducks down to avoid it.
Margera is looking to chop away at Pistone's legs.
Pistone misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Margera counters with a nice leg kick.
Margera scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pistone scores with a body shot.
A punch combination from Margera misses.
Pistone changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pistone looks to land a body kick but Margera moved away.
Margera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Margera moves out of range of the body kick from Pistone.
It looked like Margera was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Pistone.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pistone bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pistone pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Margera wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Joe Pistone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pistone lands a head shot.
Margera avoids the head kick by Pistone.
Margera seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Pistone wants to land a leg kick but Margera is out of range.
Pistone misses with a right hand

and Margera counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Margera keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone is staying active underneath Margera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pistone moves into full guard.
Margera lands a couple of elbows.
Margera tries to free his leg and advance position but Pistone is retaining full guard.
Pistone bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Margera's guard.

Bam Margera overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pistone got a little sloppy there for a moment and Margera has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pistone has managed to get both his arms back between Margera's legs - danger averted.
Pistone trying to control the position from guard on top but Margera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pistone looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pistone is one step ahead there.
Pistone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Margera is keeping the position for now.
Pistone won't allow Margera to sweep him here.
Margera seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Pistone tries to free his leg and advance position but Margera is retaining full guard.
Margera looking for a sweep. Not yet Margera, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Pistone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Margera checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pistone throws a looping overhand right but Margera ducks down to avoid it.
Pistone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Margera's sensitive parts.
Pistone keeps Margera at a distance using the push kick.
Margera connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Pistone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Margera's sensitive parts.
Nice cross by Margera.
Good leg kick by Margera there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pistone swings for the body but Margera moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Margera looks to land a combination but Pistone avoids it well.

Margera throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pistone tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Margera is in Pistone's 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!
Margera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pistone looking for a guillotine here but Margera defends easily.
Pistone looking for a sweep. Not yet Pistone, not yet.
Pistone is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Margera is in close to Pistone's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pistone is trying to keep Margera in close.
Margera looking to pass the guard.
Pistone 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pistone not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Margera makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pistone 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.

Pistone is looking for a triangle but Margera pushes his legs off easily.
Margera preventing the sweep.
Pistone utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pistone has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Joe Pistone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera misses the shot to the body.
Pistone misses the shot to the body.
Margera feinted with a counter takedown.
A swing and a miss from Pistone.
Margera drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pistone sprawls and moves away.
Margera with a nice cross.
Pistone pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pistone.
Pistone throws a body punch but Margera moves out of range.
Pistone throws a nice inside leg kick.
Pistone throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pistone throws a nice head kick!
Bam Margera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pistone swings widly with a right hand

and Margera counters with a shoot takedown. Pistone fights it but they end up in guard.
Margera with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pistone preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pistone is pulling down on Margera's head to control his posture.
Margera content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Margera distracts Pistone with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Margera trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Margera postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pistone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Margera is one step ahead there.
Margera throwing strikes from guard but Pistone blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bam Margera showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pistone has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Pistone!
Joe Pistone 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.