PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Matarl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Pierce (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.

Matarl
vs
Pierce

186 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jason Matarl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lee Pierce!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Matarl.

Pierce shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Matarl is trying to defend but Pierce finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
It looks like Pierce is going to stand back up.
Pierce is keen to just control but Matarl is a slippery customer.
Matarl wants to get back to his feet.
Matarl is in trouble now - Pierce has advanced to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matarl swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Matarl tries to hold on but Pierce pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pierce trying to control but Matarl is having none of it.
Matarl has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Pierce is trying to stick to Matarl's back but Matarl is turning into Pierce. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pierce's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Matarl.
Pierce lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matarl is trying to keep Pierce in close.
Pierce trying to control the position from guard on top but Matarl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pierce pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matarl is keeping the position for now.
Pierce trying to control the position from guard on top but Matarl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matarl is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pierce working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matarl.
Pierce not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pierce wants to stand and escape but Matarl is having none of it.
Pierce controls Matarl momentarily but Matarl frees himself.

Pierce has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Matarl can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pierce controls Matarl momentarily but Matarl frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pierce 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.

Pierce throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pierce looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Matarl preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pierce uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Matarl.
Matarl misses with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lee Pierce will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Matarl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Matarl wants to clinch.
Matarl is looking to clinch but Pierce is avoiding it.
Pierce feints the counter takedown.

Pierce closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pierce tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matarl wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pierce has him pressed against the cage.
Matarl has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pierce is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pierce gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Matarl kicks Pierce off and gets back to his feet.
Pierce fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matarl manages to avoid it.

Pierce moves into range and clinches up with Matarl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matarl misses with an elbow strike.

Pierce pulls guard effortlessly.
Matarl wants to control from the top but Pierce keeps moving.
Pierce working a defensive guard here.

Pierce working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matarl doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matarl manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Pierce is working an open guard so Matarl takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Matarl connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matarl tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pierce paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pierce closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pierce lands in his opponent's guard.
Matarl is looking to stand back up but Pierce counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Matarl.

Matarl avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pierce.
Pierce missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matarl is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matarl tries to kick Pierce off in order to stand up. Pierce Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce wants to control but Matarl is keeping him busy.

Pierce is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Matarl has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pierce thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Matarl throws Pierce to one side and escapes!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pierce moves into the clinch successfully.

Pierce turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Pierce throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Matarl is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Pierce has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Pierce looking to control but instead Matarl has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Lee Pierce has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matarl is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matarl is refusing to be controlled, as Pierce sits in half guard.
Pierce sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matarl defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lee Pierce will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Matarl ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pierce moves away.

Pierce moves into the clinch.

Pierce jumps guard and drags Matarl to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Matarl wanted to stand there but Pierce had control of the position.
Matarl postures up.
Pierce 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.
Pierce throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matarl tries to free his leg and advance position but Pierce is retaining full guard.
Matarl trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pierce looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pierce has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Matarl should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Pierce has tightened it up now! Matarl should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Lee Pierce!