PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Pique (ranked 291 p4p, 398 weight class) and Jerry Azumah (ranked 31 p4p, 44 weight class). Pique's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Piranha. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pique
vs
Azumah

170 cm
29
145
16 - 10 - 2

176 cm
35
148
13 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Urban Fighter

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 16 - 10 - 2, fighting out of London, Juan Pique!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jerry Azumah!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pique misses with a kick to the body.
Azumah misses with a hook. Pique ducked under it nicely.
Pique keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pique is looking to counter punch.
Azumah throws a nice looking combination but Pique bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pique scores with a jab to the body.
Pique connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Pique has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Dr Hatsumi's Clinic in the buildup to the fight.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Azumah.
Pique looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pique uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Azumah has time to react.
Azumah tries to land a front kick but Pique steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pique is looking to counter with a body kick.
Pique lands a leg kick that knocks Azumah off balance momentarily.
Azumah catches Pique with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A looping hook to the body misses from Pique. Azumah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good leg kick by Azumah.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azumah ducks under a wild hook from Pique.
Azumah pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pique is out of range and Azumah settles back down.
The crowd cheers as Pique lands an impressive looking overhand right. Azumah doesn't seem phased though.
Azumah lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Pique avoids a kick to the body.
Pique misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pique throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pique throws a sloppy head kick and Azumah moves out of range easily.
Pique drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pique ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pique tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Azumah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pique walks into a left hand.
An inside leg kick from Pique misses.
Azumah has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Pique slips a straight right by Azumah.
Azumah dips to his left and cracks Pique with an uppercut!
Pique takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Azumah moves away from the strike by Pique.
Pique rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Azumah moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Azumah counters with a body kick.
Pique ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azumah moves away.
Pique throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Azumah connects with a crisp jab.
Azumah avoids the body shot from Pique.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azumah lands a jab.
Azumah throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pique throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pique scores with a spinning back kick!
A looping hook to the body misses from Pique. Azumah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azumah throws a push kick but Pique slaps the foot to one side.
Pique swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pique. Azumah does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice body kick from Pique.
Pique keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azumah.

Pique closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pique working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pique is looking to control Azumah's arms but Azumah gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pique has his back to the cage.
Pique misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pique lands with a left to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Azumah fails to land.
Pique tries to work over Azumah's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pique misses with a punch to the body.
Pique struggles to land a body shot inside as Azumah controls his hands.

Azumah breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pique throws a sloppy body shot
and Pique takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azumah fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pique manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pique.
Azumah throws a sloppy head kick and Pique moves out of range easily.
Jerry Azumah seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azumah is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pique.
Azumah blocks a low kick nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Azumah. Pique does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azumah has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pique.
Azumah is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Pique had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Azumah chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pique scoring well with a low kick there.
Azumah takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pique is looking to wear down Azumah with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Azumah lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pique lands the left hand.
Azumah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pique throws a body shot but no joy.
Pique throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azumah is trying to counter with his kicks.
Nice cross by Azumah.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azumah throws an overhand right that lands on Pique's shoulder, as Pique tries to avoid the shot.
Pique avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azumah swings away with a body shot that misses
and Pique counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pique fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pique avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pique slips under a jab.
Pique misses with a body kick.
Pique bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azumah thumps Pique with a low kick.
Pique swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pique blocks a low kick nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Azumah.
Pique tries to land a leg kick but Azumah saw it coming and moves away.
Pique keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Azumah throws a leg kick
and Azumah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A chopping leg kick lands by Azumah.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azumah tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pique is able to avoid easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Pique misses its target.
Azumah connects with an inside leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azumah checks a leg kick.
Azumah moves out of range of the body kick.
Pique misses with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juan Pique will probably get the nod.
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.

Azumah blocks a low kick nicely.
Azumah throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pique throwing a counter right hand but Azumah manages to avoid it.
Pique keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jerry Azumah seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pique looks to land a left hand but Azumah moved out of range nicely.
An inside leg kick from Pique misses.
Azumah has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Pique.
Good work by Azumah as he checks the leg kick.
Azumah missing with a left hand there. Pique was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Azumah fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Pique clinches up with Azumah and pushes him back against the cage.
The referee calls for Pique to work.
Azumah wants to get back to striking at distance but Pique won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pique doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azumah tries to throw a body punch but Pique avoids it by throwing Azumah back against the cage.
Pique throws a head punch that misses.
Pique swings wildly with an uppercut but Azumah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azumah misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pique misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pique cracks Azumah with a nice body shot.
Pique working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pique throws a head punch that misses.
Pique misses with a punch to the body.
Azumah struggles to land a body shot inside as Pique controls his hands.
A right handed body shot lands from Pique.
Pique is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pique fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azumah tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pique's elbow.
Azumah lands an uppercut.
Pique blocks a body shot from Azumah.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pique.
Azumah has a couple of punches blocked by Pique.
Pique fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azumah misses with a punch on the inside.
Azumah blocks a body shot from Pique.
A short left from Pique.
Pique has a couple of punches blocked by Azumah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pique goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pique swings wildly with an uppercut but Azumah uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azumah lands a hook that snaps the head of Pique backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azumah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Pique.
Azumah throws a punch but it's blocked by Pique.
Azumah wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Azumah fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azumah working aggressively here.
Azumah doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pique misses with a punch to the body.
Pique fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azumah looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Azumah manages to break the clinch.
Azumah swings away with a body shot that misses
and Pique counters with a leg kick.
Pique's jab looks to have found its range, popping Azumah under the eye.
Azumah is looking to land body kicks.
Pique ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A counter left hand to the body from Pique misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pique steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azumah.
Pique's jab looks to have found its range, popping Azumah under the eye.
Jab, jab by Pique - just one landing.
Azumah misses with a series of wild punches.
Azumah uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pique.
Azumah lands with an overhand left.
Azumah throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pique counters with a nice uppercut.
Pique looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A right-left combo lands from Azumah.
Azumah takes a swing at Pique's ribcage but misses.
Pique displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azumah throws out the jab.
Pique throws a wild body kick that Azumah sees coming a mile off.
Azumah throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Azumah misses the body punch
enabling Pique to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Azumah takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Pique on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azumah gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Pique blocks the body kick.
A big right from Azumah misses.
Azumah throws out a loose jab but Pique uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pique misses with a kick to the body.
Azumah loads up on a big right hand but Pique slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Pique on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pique.
Azumah scores with a sloppy right hand. Pique should have avoided that one.
Pique looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pique wants to clinch but Azumah slips to the side
and Azumah counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pique stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azumah.
Azumah misses with a wild body shot.
Pique throws a quick counter kick to the body but Azumah avoids it.
Azumah misses with an uppercut.

Pique moves into the clinch successfully.

Azumah's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pique feints and then cracks Azumah's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azumah down.
Azumah moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Pique ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azumah moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Pique dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

That kick from Azumah tenderised Pique's leg. Pique is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pique ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Azumah - that will leave a mark!
Azumah connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pique misses with a kick to the body.

Pique moves into the clinch.

Azumah breaks the clinch.
Azumah scores with a punch to the head.
Nice cross by Azumah.
Azumah with a hook.
Pique swings widly with a right hand
and Azumah counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pique lands a really nice looking cross but Azumah seems unphased.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azumah circles away from the clinch attempt.
A slow jab from Azumah misses its intended target.
Pique swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azumah scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Azumah scores with a punch to the head.
Pique 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azumah takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Azumah fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pique on the side of the head.
Pique bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Azumah with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pique misses with a body kick.
Azumah misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pique.
A big left from Pique misses.

Pique clinches with his opponent.
Pique misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Azumah.

Azumah escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pique bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Some bone on bone action there as Pique checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pique is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Azumah.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pique is looking to chop away at Azumah's legs.
Pique avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pique fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azumah just misses with a punch to the body.
Azumah misses with a hook.
Azumah misses with a hook to the body
and Pique counters with a body kick.
Pique steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azumah.
Azumah takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Pique gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Azumah.
Pique with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Azumah misses with a hook.
Pique keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Pique misses the shot to the body.
Azumah misses the shot to the body.
Azumah connects with a right hand. Pique shakes it off.
Pique connects with a leg kick.
Azumah misses with an uppercut. Pique saw that one coming.
Pique jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
A nice inside leg kick there by Azumah. That's going to slow Pique down.
Azumah has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Pique.
Azumah lands an overhand right.
Azumah with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pique uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azumah.
Azumah fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pique looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Pique attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Azumah swats away the attempt to clinch by Pique.
Jerry Azumah has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azumah avoids the body shot from Pique.
A cross from Azumah lands.
Pique swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azumah throws a hook to the side of Pique's head but Pique sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pique slips under a jab from Azumah.
Pique tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Azumah misses with a body shot.
Pique takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Azumah motions for Pique to come forward. Azumah throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pique takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pique bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pique looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Azumah misses with a leg kick.
Pique appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Pique.
Pique appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Pique scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
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!
Pique uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Azumah has time to react.
Pique is looking to land body kicks.
Pique works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Azumah throws a sloppy body shot
and Azumah takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azumah takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A decent looking cross lands there for Azumah.
Juan Pique is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pique dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pique.
A nice leg kick lands there from Azumah.
Pique takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Azumah gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Pique counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pique fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pique backing away here, and Azumah unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Azumah scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pique doesn't seem bothered though.
Pique fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pique misses with a wild body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jerry Azumah.
I think Pique 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Juan Pique!
An out of breath Juan Pique thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.