PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gatimu Wanjiku (ranked 2129 p4p, 3058 weight class) and George Pierre (ranked 228 p4p, 237 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pierre's choice of entrance music: O Canada. Gatimu Wanjiku could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to George Pierre's chin.

Wanjiku
vs
Pierre

179 cm
22
170
7 - 5 - 0

178 cm
33
143
21 - 16 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gatimu Wanjiku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, George Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wanjiku stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like George Pierre has been cut.
Pierre throws a jab when Wanjiku was well out of range.
Wanjiku throws a looping overhand right but Pierre ducks down to avoid it.
Pierre scores with a jab to the head.
Wanjiku stuffs the takedown.
Pierre misses with the combination.
Wanjiku looks to throw the jab but Pierre is out of range.
Wanjiku tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice cross by Wanjiku.
Wanjiku circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pierre's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Wanjiku connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Pierre scrambles back to his feet.
Wanjiku has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gumburcules Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Wanjiku slips under a jab.
Wanjiku misses with a looping left.
Pierre looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pierre looks to land a combination but Wanjiku avoids it well.
Pierre fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pierre takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wanjiku showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pierre.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wanjiku clobbers Pierre with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Pierre moves out of range as Wanjiku strikes.
Wanjiku looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gatimu Wanjiku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pierre looks to throw the jab but Wanjiku is out of range.
Pierre throws an overhand right that lands on Wanjiku's shoulder, as Wanjiku tries to avoid the shot.
Pierre shoots for a takedown but Wanjiku saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wanjiku feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Gatimu Wanjiku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Pierre.
Wanjiku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pierre.
An attempted straight right counter from Wanjiku misses the target.
Pierre displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wanjiku throws out the jab.
Wanjiku throws a head kick that half lands.
Wanjiku fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pierre.
A nice leg kick from Wanjiku, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pierre fails with a takedown attempt.
Pierre misses with a few strikes there.
Wanjiku with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pierre closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wanjiku wants to get back to his feet.
Pierre not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pierre prevents Wanjiku from standing back up.
Pierre sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wanjiku defending well though.
Pierre thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wanjiku's head.
Pierre lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pierre thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pierre throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wanjiku is trying to stand up here but Pierre is controlling him well.
Wanjiku avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pierre.
Wanjiku regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pierre.
Pierre cracks Wanjiku with a solid left hand.
Pierre stops Wanjiku from standing up.
Pierre lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Wanjiku throws an off balance right hand
and Pierre counters with a left and a right that stings Wanjiku.
Pierre is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pierre takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wanjiku scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Wanjiku punishes Pierre's body with a nice straight punch.
Pierre slips a straight right by Wanjiku.
Wanjiku lands a head kick!
Wanjiku scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wanjiku throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Pierre drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pierre tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
The ground and pound from Pierre seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wanjiku is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Pierre is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wanjiku avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pierre.
Pierre scoring with punches from side control.
Pierre throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Pierre seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Pierre lands an elbow.
Pierre lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Wanjiku down.
Wanjiku on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Pierre tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Pierre working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Pierre creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pierre throwing shots but missing, from side control.
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 Gatimu Wanjiku will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on George Pierre's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Wanjiku scores with a jab to the head.
Pierre shoots in for a takedown but Wanjiku shows good takedown defense.
Wanjiku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wanjiku catches Pierre with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Wanjiku scores with a leg kick.
Pierre missing with a left hand there. Wanjiku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wanjiku was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pierre takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Wanjiku needs to keep his hands up - Pierre had a free shot at his head there.
Wanjiku throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pierre stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Gatimu Wanjiku is winning the standup battle so far.
Wanjiku tries to land a front kick but Pierre steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wanjiku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pierre. Pierre circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wanjiku scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice body kick from Wanjiku.
Pierre tries to clinch up but Wanjiku circles away and keeps his distance.
Wanjiku fires out a quick counter leg kick but Pierre just manages to avoid it.
Wanjiku stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wanjiku wants it to stay on the feet.
Wanjiku connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Wanjiku darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Wanjiku throws a sloppy head kick
and Pierre counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pierre moves into the clinch successfully.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wanjiku.
Pierre swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pierre throws a head punch that misses.
Pierre has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wanjiku is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gatimu Wanjiku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Pierre.
A short uppercut from Pierre.
Pierre has Wanjiku pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wanjiku manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pierre doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wanjiku lands a left hand.
Wanjiku misses with the head strike.
Pierre blocking some punches.
Pierre changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wanjiku fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nice cross by Wanjiku.
Wanjiku throws a right and a left that Pierre avoids nicely.
Pierre takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nice defenses there by Wanjiku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wanjiku lands a body shot.
Pierre doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pierre throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wanjiku's waist but Wanjiku gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pierre off to one side.
Pierre is breathing heavily.
Wanjiku lands a big head kick that sends Pierre to the canvas! Wanjiku follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gatimu Wanjiku!
After winning the bout, Gatimu Wanjiku thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.