PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 64 p4p, 12 weight class) and Tim Pierno (ranked 219 p4p, 30 weight class). Imbula's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ~Apache~. Pierno has chosen Sick Puppies - You're Going Down as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Imbula
vs
Pierno

185 cm
31
180 lbs
24 - 12 - 1

180 cm
37
175 lbs
36 - 21 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Urban Fighter

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 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Pierno!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pierno lands a jab to the head.
Imbula has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Wild Beasts Zoo in the buildup to the fight.
Imbula goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pierno throws a looping overhand right but Imbula ducks down to avoid it.
Pierno punishes Imbula's body with a nice straight punch.
Imbula doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Imbula tries to keep at a distance but Pierno has taken the fight into the clinch.
Imbula throws a punch but it's blocked by Pierno.
Imbula lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pierno is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Imbula to keep the fight standing.
Imbula throws a punch but it's blocked by Pierno.
Imbula throws a punch but it's blocked by Pierno.
Pierno lands a left hand that snaps the head of Imbula backwards.
Pierno lands a nice uppercut.
Pierno throws a punch but it's blocked by Imbula.
Pierno swings wildly with an uppercut but Imbula uses good head movement to avoid it.
Imbula lands with a short shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imbula lands a body punch.
Imbula tries to throw a body punch but Pierno avoids it by throwing Imbula back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pierno.
A right hand to the body from Pierno.
Pierno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierno throws a head punch that misses.
Pierno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierno lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Imbula lands a hook that snaps the head of Pierno backwards.
Imbula lands a right hand.
Imbula tries to pull guard but Pierno won't allow it.
Pierno has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Imbula seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Pierno can turn it around.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pierno prevents a body shot from Imbula.
Imbula lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Imbula lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pierno tries to pull guard but Imbula won't allow it.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Pierno controls the action.
Imbula tries to throw a body punch but Pierno avoids it by throwing Imbula back against the cage.
Imbula tries to work over Pierno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula lands a nice shot to the body.
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!
Pierno jumps guard but Imbula turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cheik Imbula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Pierno.
Imbula misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pierno pulls guard effortlessly.
Pierno trying to keep a closed guard but Imbula is proving a slippery customer.

Imbula drops back looking for a leg! Pierno is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pierno manages to kick Imbula off! Imbula jumps back into Pierno's guard.
Imbula trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierno is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Imbula tries to free his leg and advance position but Pierno is retaining full guard.
Pierno has momentary wrist control but Imbula slips an elbow through the middle.
Imbula tries to free his leg and advance position but Pierno is retaining full guard.
Imbula landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula is looking to advance position but Pierno has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pierno looking to control but Imbula is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Imbula wants to control but Pierno is having none of it.

Pierno working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Imbula is in all sorts of trouble here.

Pierno moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Imbula has worked his arm free - good work by Imbula!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula tries to bench press Pierno off him but Pierno keeps the position.
Pierno is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Imbula's shoulder. That is not cool.
Imbula can't do much from the bottom here.
Pierno is looking to take a break and control but Imbula is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Imbula struggling a bit here.
Imbula prevents Pierno from improving position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tim Pierno will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Imbula uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pierno.
Imbula moves out of range of the strikes.
Imbula turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Pierno cracks a nice hook into Imbula's ribs.
The fighters circling - Pierno throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pierno moves out of range of the body kick.
Imbula moves out of range of the strikes.
Imbula misses with a low kick.
A clash of legs there as Pierno blocks the low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierno throws an off balance right hand
and Imbula counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pierno's knee momentarily.
Pierno moves out of range as Imbula throws a body kick.
Imbula moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pierno throws a body punch but Imbula moves out of range.
Pierno catches Imbula with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierno lands a jab.
Imbula blocks a jab.
As Pierno backs away, Imbula returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tim Pierno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pierno is looking to clinch.
Imbula misses with a jab to the body
and Pierno counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pierno misses with a body shot.
Pierno punishes Imbula's body with a nice straight punch.
Imbula takes a swing at Pierno's ribcage but misses.
Imbula throws a head kick that misses.
Imbula misses with a hook. Pierno ducked under it nicely.
Pierno misses with a wild body shot.
Imbula gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A clash of legs there as Pierno blocks the low kick.
Pierno has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Imbula.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Imbula tries to keep at a distance but Pierno has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pierno tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Imbula's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Pierno.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pierno tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Imbula's elbow.
Pierno throws a punch but it's blocked by Imbula.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pierno tries to pull guard but Imbula holds him up against the cage and eventually Pierno drops back down to his feet.
Pierno blocks a body shot from Imbula.
Pierno fails to pull guard.
Imbula misses with a punch on the inside.
Pierno tries a body shot but Imbula blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierno.
A short uppercut from Imbula.
Imbula lands a body shot.
Pierno tries to pull guard but Imbula won't allow it.
Cheik Imbula has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Pierno.
Pierno is breathing heavily.
Pierno creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierno jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Imbula walks away with a smile on his face. Pierno gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Imbula with a hook.
Pierno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Imbula.
Imbula throws a hook to the side of Pierno's head but Pierno sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pierno tries to clinch up.
Pierno tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Imbula cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Imbula uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pierno.
Pierno ducks under a wild hook from Imbula.
Pierno wants to counter with a clinch but Imbula pushes him away.
Pierno stuns Imbula with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Imbula misses with an uppercut.
Imbula throws an overhand right that lands on Pierno's shoulder, as Pierno tries to avoid the shot.
Pierno now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Imbula misses with a body shot
and Pierno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pierno lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pierno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Imbula fires out a quick counter leg kick but Pierno just manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pierno clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Imbula creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pierno blocking some punches.
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Pierno works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Imbula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pierno gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Imbula is leaning against Pierno and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pierno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierno can't find room to land a body shot as Imbula controls the action.
Imbula misses with a body punch.
Imbula throws a head punch that misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Imbula.
Imbula lands with a light punch inside.
A shot in the inside from Pierno.
Imbula misses with a punch on the inside.
Imbula misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pierno struggles to land a body shot inside as Imbula controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim Pierno will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pierno looks to land a left hand but Imbula moved out of range nicely.
A combination from Pierno does no damage.
Imbula ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Imbula takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A jab from Pierno misses.
Imbula was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Imbula slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Imbula swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Pierno wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imbula drops his hands momentarily and Pierno takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula lands a nice leg kick that just misses Pierno's sensitive parts.
Pierno tries to clinch up but Imbula circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It looked like Imbula was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Pierno.
Pierno changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Imbula throws a body shot but no joy.
Pierno tries to close the distance and clinch up but Imbula swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Imbula tried to counter with a leg kick but Pierno avoided it.
Imbula swats away the attempt to clinch by Pierno.

Imbula gets tackled into the cage by Pierno. Pierno maintains the clinch.
Cheik Imbula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierno tries to pull guard but Imbula won't allow it.
Pierno misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula is leaning against Pierno and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pierno takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Imbula lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Imbula lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Imbula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Imbula throws a head punch that misses.
Imbula working aggressively here.
Pierno misses with a short punch on the inside.
Imbula misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Imbula.
Pierno fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pierno misses with a hook from the clinch.
Imbula doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pierno misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Imbula throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Imbula tries a body shot but Pierno blocks it.
Still in the clinch, Imbula scores with a nice short uppercut.
Imbula scores with a hook to the body.
Pierno blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Imbula can't find room to land a body shot as Pierno controls the action.
Imbula lands with a right to the head.
Imbula lands a hook to the side of the head.
Imbula scores with a hook to the body.
Imbula working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Imbula works on Pierno's body with a couple of short punches.
Imbula lands a hook to the side of the head.
Imbula working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Imbula tries a body shot but Pierno blocks it.
Imbula digs a right hand underneath Pierno's ribcage. Pierno let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Imbula scores with a shoulder strike.
Imbula lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Imbula lands with a light punch inside.
A short uppercut from Imbula.
Imbula misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Imbula is trying to maintain a safe position but Pierno gets an underhook and turns Imbula into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula lands with a left to the head.

Pierno is rocked!
A nice left hand lands by Imbula.
Pierno is still on wobbly legs! Can Imbula finish him?
Imbula prevents a body shot from Pierno.
Imbula creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Pierno's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Pierno drops to his knees and Imbula pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:15 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cheik Imbula!
An out of breath Cheik Imbula thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.