PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kamaru Usman (ranked 2098 p4p, 3969 weight class) and Riaan Pierce (ranked 285 p4p, 464 weight class). Kamaru Usman had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Usman
vs
Pierce

184 cm
25
182
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
175
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kamaru Usman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Riaan Pierce!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pierce drops his hands momentarily and Usman takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Riaan Pierce has been cut.
Pierce misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Usman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Usman lands a body punch.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce stops a takedown attempt from Usman.
Usman wants a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Pierce.
Usman misses with a hook to the ribs.
Usman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Usman.
A right handed body shot lands from Usman.

Pierce is fighting off a takedown attempt but Usman is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pierce to the mat. Pierce regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pierce can't keep his opponent in guard - Usman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Usman keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Pierce has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Usman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pierce's head.
Pierce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Usman wants to take a breather but Pierce is having none of it.
Pierce really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Usman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Usman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pierce blocking the ground and pound attempt from Usman.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pierce can do anything to dispel that myth.

Usman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Usman looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Usman is trying to control. Pierce wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Usman thows a huge punch but Pierce dodges it nicely.
Usman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pierce does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Usman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Usman thows a huge punch but Pierce dodges it nicely.
Usman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pierce trying to control here.
Usman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Usman looks to land a strike but Pierce avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Pierce looking to hit a scissor sweep but Usman is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Usman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pierce's head.
Pierce utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Usman trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.
Pierce is trying to keep Usman in close.
Usman pushing down on Pierce's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Usman working the head and body with strikes.
Usman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pierce's head.
Usman is trying to control. Pierce wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pierce looks like he's trying to stand up.
Usman wants to take a breather but Pierce is having none of it.
Pierce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierce taking some punishment here, with Usman in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Usman passes to full mount!
Usman throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pierce because Usman loaded up on that one.
Usman lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Usman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Pierce hang on?

Pierce is rocked!

The cut above Riaan Pierce's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Usman throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Usman punishing his opponent with strikes.
Pierce is still in real trouble! Can Usman finish him?

Riaan Pierce's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Riaan Pierce's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Kamaru Usman!
In his post fight interview, Kamaru Usman started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.