PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dawda Jawara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Messo 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.

Jawara
vs
Pierce

182 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dawda Jawara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Messo Pierce!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pierce wants to clinch.
Jawara pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pierce closes the distance and clinches up with Jawara, looking for a takedown. Pierce pushes Jawara against the cage but Jawara circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jawara lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pierce backs up against the cage.
Oh, that's a big right hand from Jawara and Pierce goes tumbling to the canvas! Jawara follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Pierce is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
It looks like Jawara is going to stand back up.
Pierce is still in real trouble! Can Jawara finish him?

Jawara decides to return to a standing position.
Pierce seems to have recovered his senses.
Pierce swats away the attempt to clinch by Jawara.
Jawara throws a sloppy head kick and Pierce moves out of range easily.
Jawara tries to bum rush Pierce with a series of wild strikes but Pierce uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jawara tries to clinch but Pierce moves away

and Pierce counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pierce.
Pierce tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jawara just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pierce crunches a lovely knee into Jawara's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Jawara.
Jawara tries to land knees in the clinch but Pierce avoids the damage to the body.
Jawara misses with an elbow over the top.
Pierce tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jawara smiles and moves away.
Dawda Jawara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Messo Pierce.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses

and Pierce counters with a shoot takedown. Jawara fights it but they end up in guard.
Jawara on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jawara tries to get out of the position.
Jawara is breathing heavily.
Jawara wants to stand but Pierce is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce trying to control the position from guard on top but Jawara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pierce gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Jawara as Pierce shoots in.
Jawara misses with an uppercut.
Pierce shoots in but Jawara avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jawara throws a sloppy head kick and Pierce moves out of range easily.
Jawara swats away the attempt to clinch by Pierce.
Pierce avoids the head kick by Jawara.

Pierce pushes Jawara up against the cage in a clinch.
Pierce looking for a takedown.
Pierce tries to pull guard but Jawara holds him up against the cage and eventually Pierce drops back down to his feet.
Jawara tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jawara landing knees to the body.
Jawara connects with a knee to the head.

Jawara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jawara throws a sloppy head kick

and Pierce counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pierce.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jawara misses with a knee strike.
Jawara tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pierce tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Jawara gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pierce.
Pierce takes an elbow to the temple.
Jawara is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Pierce is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jawara breaks the clinch.
Pierce looks for a takedown but Jawara sprawls well.
Pierce throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jawara's waist but Jawara gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pierce off to one side.
A head kick misses from Jawara.
Jawara fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice uppercut there from Jawara.
Pierce blocks a leg kick.
Jawara throws a nice looking combination but Pierce bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jawara fails to land with a series of punches.
Jawara tries a head kick but it misses.
Jawara swats away the attempt to clinch by Pierce.
Dawda Jawara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pierce has a takedown stuffed.
Pierce misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pierce misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jawara throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jawara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pierce connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pierce is looking to clinch but Jawara is avoiding it.

Pierce clinches up with Jawara and pushes him back against the cage.
Pierce with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jawara misses with a knee to the head.
Pierce landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Pierce throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jawara blocks it with crossed arms.
Jawara lands a knee to the head.
Jawara misses with a knee strike.
Pierce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jawara lands a damaging elbow.
Pierce landing knees to the body.
Jawara missing with knees to the body.
Jawara throws a knee to the head but misses.

Jawara manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Jawara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jawara.
Jawara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jawara gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Jawara manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jawara tries to bum rush Pierce with a series of wild strikes but Pierce uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pierce swats away the attempt to clinch by Jawara.
Pierce circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pierce holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jawara landing knees to the head.
Pierce tries to land a knee to the head but Jawara blocks with his arms.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dawda Jawara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jawara stalks Pierce and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pierce's face. Pierce staggers backwards, shaken.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
A combination from Jawara does no damage.

Pierce moves into the clinch successfully.

Jawara manages to break the clinch.
Jawara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pierce on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Jawara. Jawara obviously looking to wear him down.
Good leg kick by Jawara there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A head kick by Jawara misses

and Pierce counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Jawara is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jawara trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dawda Jawara dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jawara misses with a wild combination.
Pierce misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jawara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pierce fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jawara doesn't manage to clinch there - Pierce circles away.
Jawara tries to clinch there but Pierce circles away.
Pierce avoids the head kick by Jawara.
Jawara misses with a looping left.
Pierce looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jawara tries to clinch there but Pierce circles away.
Pierce shoots in but Jawara avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pierce dodges the punch combination from Jawara.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierce wants to clinch.
Jawara keeps the fight on the outside.

Jawara darts in and clinches Pierce up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jawara is trying to break free.
Pierce fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dawda Jawara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Messo Pierce.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pierce lands a knee to the body.
Pierce connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jawara's face.

Jawara breaks from the clinch.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jawara as he jumps to the side.
Pierce moves out of range of the body kick from Jawara.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierce looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jawara stuffs the takedown attempt from Pierce. Pierce gets slowly back to his feet.
Dawda Jawara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice sprawl there from Jawara as Pierce shoots in.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jawara but Jawara pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jawara misses with a head kick.
Pierce pivots, looking for a leg kick but Jawara is out of range and Pierce settles back down.
Jawara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Horrible takedown by Pierce or perhaps it was just good defense by Jawara which made him look bad.
Pierce fails with a takedown attempt.

Jawara forces Pierce back against the cage and clinches.
Jawara lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pierce is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Jawara managing to block the knees to the body from Pierce.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jawara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jawara lands a head kick that stumbles Pierce and the fighters go to the mat.

It looks like Messo Pierce has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jawara wanted to stand there but Pierce had control of the position.
Jawara wants to stand and escape but instead Pierce has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Pierce postures up and lands a big shot to Jawara's brow.
Pierce forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pierce performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Pierce stands up and beckons Jawara to join him on the feet.

Pierce darts in and clinches Jawara up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pierce drags the fight down to the ground.

Pierce scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jawara tries a head kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pierce.
Dawda Jawara is winning the standup battle so far.

Jawara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pierce, pushing him back against the cage.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pierce chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jawara can pounce on him.
Jawara misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jawara is looking to clinch but Pierce is avoiding it.

Pierce has closed the distance and engaged Jawara in a clinch.
Jawara lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pierce backwards.
Pierce throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jawara blocks it with crossed arms.
Jawara crunches a lovely knee into Pierce's ribcage.
Pierce prevents Jawara from breaking the clinch.
Pierce on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pierce misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jawara.
Jawara lands an elbow inside that Pierce shrugs off.
Jawara blocks an elbow strike from Pierce.
Pierce lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Dawda Jawara has been cut.
Jawara can't break the clinch.
Jawara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jawara prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jawara gets underhooks to prevent Pierce's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jawara tries to stall but Pierce uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Jawara is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pierce slips a jab and a cross from Jawara.
Pierce closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jawara circles away.
Jawara misses with the combination.
Pierce avoids the head kick by Jawara.
Jawara throws a series of punches but Pierce avoids them all with ease.
Pierce blocks a head kick by Jawara.
Jawara wants to clinch up but Pierce keeps it at a distance.
Jawara lands with a kick to the temple. Pierce shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Jawara misses with a wild combination.
Jawara throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pierce.
Jawara tries a head kick but it misses.

Jawara clinches up against the cage.
Jawara looking to throw knees to the head but Pierce is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jawara scores with a knee to the head.
Jawara gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Pierce tries to pull guard but Jawara won't allow it.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jawara throws a sloppy head kick

and Pierce counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pierce.
Pierce prevents Jawara from breaking the clinch.
Jawara tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dawda Jawara dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Jawara works over Pierce's head and body with a nice combination.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Jawara blocks the leg kick.
Jawara throws the kick towards the body but Pierce avoids it.
Pierce will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jawara swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pierce counters with a low kick, right behind Jawara 's knee.

Pierce fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jawara, pushing him back against the cage.
Pierce is trying to maintain a safe position but Jawara gets an underhook and turns Pierce into the cage.
Pierce tries a knee to the head but Jawara blocks it.

Jawara manages to break the clinch.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown but Jawara shows good takedown defense.
Pierce circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pierce counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Pierce.
Jawara throws a sloppy head kick and Pierce moves out of range easily.
Pierce looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jawara is fending him off so far but Pierce persists. Nope, Jawara circles away and we're back to standing.
Dawda Jawara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Messo Pierce.
Jawara pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierce looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Jawara moves into the clinch successfully.
Jawara throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pierce blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pierce tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Nice elbow from Jawara.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jawara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pierce will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Jawara closes the distance and clinches.
Jawara tries a knee to the head but Pierce blocks it.
Pierce managing to block the knees to the body from Jawara.
Jawara managing to block the knees to the body from Pierce.
Dawda Jawara has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Pierce landing knees to the body.

Pierce pulls Jawara into guard.

Pierce pushes Jawara off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Pierce fails with the takedown.
Jawara throws a head kick that misses

and Pierce moves into the clinch.
Pierce trying to land knees to the body.

Jawara breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Jawara, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jawara wants to clinch up but Pierce keeps it at a distance.
Pierce tries for a takedown but Jawara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jawara tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pierce counters by moving into the clinch.

Jawara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jawara throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A big head kick from Jawara and Pierce is sent sprawling to the canvas!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jawara wanted to stand there but Pierce had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jawara wants to stand back up but Pierce manages to pass into side control.
Jawara bucks up and tries to throw Pierce off but instead Pierce has got his back!
Jawara holding both Pierce 's hands and preventing any damage.
Jawara is keeping busy.
Jawara is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce is looking to control Jawara but Jawara is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Pierce is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Pierce gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Pierce gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Pierce apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Jawara throws a combination. Pierce tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pierce stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Jawara.

Jawara pushes Pierce up against the cage in a clinch.
Pierce tries to land a knee to the head but Jawara blocks with his arms.
Jawara cracks Pierce with a nice body shot.
Jawara with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pierce lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Pierce with a knee to the head.

Pierce successfully pulls guard.
Jawara wants to stand but Pierce is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pierce lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jawara!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jawara tries to buck Pierce off but he can't manage it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dawda Jawara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jawara, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dawda Jawara!