PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roddy Piper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giuseppe Vitale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Piper comes to the cage accompanied by Green Hills of Tyrol. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Piper
vs
Vitale

175 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

169 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roddy Piper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Giuseppe Vitale!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piper throws the left hand but Vitale avoids the punch easily.
Vitale throws a counter combo.
Piper thows a left - swing and a miss!
Piper just misses with a punch to the body.
Piper looks to land a left hand but Vitale moved out of range nicely.
Vitale dives in for a single leg takedown but Piper sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Piper moves into range and connects with a jab.
Vitale tries to clinch but Piper is having none of it.
Vitale connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Roddy Piper has been cut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Piper.
Vitale ducks under a wild hook from Piper.
Vitale throws a big shot that misses.
Piper slips under a jab from Vitale.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piper throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vitale on the side of the head.
Vitale misses with a takedown attempt - Piper sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vitale misses with an uppercut. Piper saw that one coming.
Piper uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vitale.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piper throws out a loose jab but Vitale uses good head movement to avoid it.
Piper misses with an uppercut.
Piper thuds his right hand into Vitale's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Piper ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roddy Piper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Vitale rushes Piper and presses him up against the cage.

Vitale breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Vitale fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Piper, pushing him back against the cage.
Vitale tries a body shot but Piper blocks it.
Piper misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vitale looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Vitale blocks a body shot from Piper.
Piper keeps control of Vitale as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Piper scores with a shoulder strike.
Piper missing with knees to the body.
Vitale taking a breather.
Our sources have told us that Piper has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
A frustrated look appears on Vitale's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short right from Piper on the inside.
Piper misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vitale.
Vitale is looking to control Piper's arms but Piper gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vitale has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piper swings wildly with an uppercut but Vitale uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vitale blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Piper misses with a short punch on the inside.
Piper tries to land a knee to the head but Vitale blocks with his arms.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vitale blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Vitale breaks from the clinch.
Piper connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vitale. Vitale circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vitale moves out of range as Piper strikes.
Vitale throws a body shot but no joy.
Piper throws a looping overhand right but Vitale ducks down to avoid it.
Piper defending well as Vitale loads up on a big left hand.
Vitale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vitale throws a one two combo.
Piper missing with a left hand there. Vitale was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vitale looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Vitale moves into the clinch successfully.
Piper tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A short uppercut from Vitale.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Piper fails to land.
Vitale wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vitale blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Piper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Piper lands a knee to the head.
Piper tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Vitale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vitale throws an off balance right hand
and Piper counters with a straight right hand.
Vitale misses with a body shot.
Vitale takes a jab right on the kisser.
Piper throws a right hand that misses
and Vitale counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Vitale darts in and clinches Piper up against the cage.
Piper blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Vitale manages to break the clinch.
Piper throws a lazy right hand but Vitale sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vitale tries to clinch up but Piper circles away and keeps his distance.
Vitale moves forwards but Piper connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Piper throws the left hand but Vitale avoids the punch easily.
Piper uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vitale.
Piper jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vitale takes one on the button.

Piper moves into range and clinches up with Vitale.

Vitale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Piper misses with a wild combination.

Vitale shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vitale showed some decent athleticism there.
Vitale throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Piper is looking for a sweep. Vitale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Piper works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roddy Piper dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roddy Piper's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Piper clinches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Piper.
Piper misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vitale.
Vitale is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch on the inside from Piper fails to land.
Piper takes a shot to the head.
Vitale misses with a hook to the ribs.
Piper throws a punch but it's blocked by Vitale.
Roddy Piper has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vitale blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Piper tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Piper tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vitale's elbow.

Vitale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piper throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vitale sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vitale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Piper moves away.
Piper is looking to counter punch.
Piper swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vitale is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Piper defending well as Vitale loads up on a big left hand.
Vitale moves away from the strike by Piper.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Piper throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vitale.
Piper tries to close the distance and clinch but Vitale swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vitale unleashes a big counter combination but Piper bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Vitale shoots in but Piper avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Piper swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vitale throws a hook but Piper avoids it easily.
Vitale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Piper misses with an uppercut.
Vitale uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Piper.
Piper misses with an uppercut. Vitale saw that one coming.
Piper misses with a wild body shot.
Vitale takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A slow jab from Vitale misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piper ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Piper was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Piper misses with a straight right.
Piper throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Piper's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vitale connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Piper scrambles back to his feet.
Vitale tries to close the distance and clinch but Piper swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vitale scores with a jab to the head.
Vitale avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Piper is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Piper gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Piper has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vitale postures up and lands a big shot to Piper's brow.
Piper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vitale.
Vitale content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piper 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.
Vitale trying to control but Piper is working from the bottom.
Piper wants to sweep here but Vitale controlling him for the moment.
Vitale looking to pass the guard.
Vitale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Piper wants to sweep but no luck.
Vitale lands a couple of digs.
Piper looking to control but Vitale passes into half guard.
Piper is looking to improve his position.
Vitale winds up and cracks Piper with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Piper wants to control but Vitale is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piper avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vitale.
Vitale thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Piper's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Piper manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Piper working a defensive guard here.
Vitale with a flurry of punches that miss.
Piper working a defensive guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vitale accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Piper throws the left hand but Vitale avoids the punch easily.
Vitale uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Piper.
Vitale takes one to the chin there.
Vitale cracks Piper with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A telegraphed right hand from Vitale misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Giuseppe Vitale will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Roddy Piper's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Piper swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Vitale.
Piper scores with a nice strike.
Piper misses with a hook. Vitale ducked under it nicely.
Piper swings for the body but Vitale moves out of range.
Vitale misses with a looping right.
Piper went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Vitale throws a lazy right hand but Piper sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vitale on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vitale takes a jab right on the kisser.
Vitale ducks under a wild hook from Piper.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vitale! But no joy.
Piper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vitale circles away quickly and effectively.
It seemed like Vitale was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piper waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vitale.

Vitale clinches up against the cage.
Vitale lands an uppercut.
Vitale blocks an uppercut.
Piper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Piper swings wildly with an uppercut but Vitale uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitale tries to break free but Piper pushes him back against the cage.

Vitale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Piper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vitale.
Piper thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vitale throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Piper went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Piper moves away from the strike by Vitale.
As Vitale looks to move away, Piper throws a big counter combo bu Vitale just gets out of the way.
Vitale throws a good cross that connects.
Nice shot lands for Piper.
Piper misses with a hook. Vitale ducked under it nicely.
Piper misses with a wild combination.
Roddy Piper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vitale closes the distance looking to clinch

so Piper counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitale will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Vitale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vitale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Piper is one step ahead there.
Piper is working Vitale over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vitale wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Piper trying to control but Vitale is working from the bottom.
Piper working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitale working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Piper.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Piper avoids a punch combination nicely.
Piper scores with a jab to the head.
Piper leaves Vitale with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vitale misses with a two punch combination.
Vitale blocks a jab.
Piper connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Vitale misses with an uppercut. Piper saw that one coming.
Nice cross by Piper.
Piper is looking to clinch but Vitale is avoiding it.
Vitale unleashes a big counter combination but Piper bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Piper throws the left hand but Vitale avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitale moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Vitale dives in and scores a takedown into Piper'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!
Vitale pushes down on Piper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vitale lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Giuseppe Vitale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Piper tries to get to full guard but Vitale has control of the leg.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vitale lands a nice short elbow.
Vitale prevents Piper from improving his position.
Piper is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Vitale scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nice strikes from Vitale there.
Piper is looking for a sweep. Vitale is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vitale thows a huge punch but Piper dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roddy Piper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Piper has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roddy Piper!
Roddy Piper bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.