PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Mafusa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damon Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damon Pierce will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Mafusa
vs
Pierce

190 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Australian Xtreme - Elite Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zack Mafusa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damon Pierce!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Mafusa. No joy for Pierce on that attempt.
Damon Pierce seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mafusa tries to work over Pierce's front leg with a kick but Pierce checks it.

Mafusa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pierce's half guard.
Mafusa takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pierce trying to control from the bottom.

Pierce looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pierce has hold of Mafusa's hands but Mafusa slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mafusa is trying to control the action in half guard but Pierce is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mafusa throwing shots but Pierce is blocking nicely.
Pierce is looking to control Mafusa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pierce avoid being mounted?

Mafusa is looking for a kimura but Pierce is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mafusa to get the leverage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pierce tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mafusa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pierce looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pierce wants to clinch up but Mafusa keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce checks a low kick from Mafusa.
Pierce doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mafusa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mafusa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Mafusa from controlling successfully.

Pierce working for a triangle but Mafusa defends it easily.
Pierce looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mafusa is in close to Pierce's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pierce has momentary wrist control but Mafusa slips an elbow through the middle.
Mafusa wants to control from the top but Pierce keeps moving.
Mafusa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pierce has his takedown stuffed

and Mafusa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Zack Mafusa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damon Pierce.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Mafusa from controlling successfully.
Mafusa throwing strikes from guard but Pierce blocks nicely.

Pierce had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mafusa defends it easily.
Pierce is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mafusa distracts Pierce with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Mafusa wants to control from the top but Pierce keeps moving.
Pierce trying to keep a closed guard but Mafusa is proving a slippery customer.
Mafusa is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pierce misses with a takedown attempt

and Mafusa decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pierce's guard.
Mafusa 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.
Mafusa is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce looking for a sweep. Not yet Pierce, not yet.
Mafusa wants to control from the top but Pierce keeps moving.
Pierce looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mafusa is one step ahead there.
Mafusa lands a couple of elbows.
Pierce looking for a sweep. Not yet Pierce, not yet.
Mafusa wants to control from the top but Pierce keeps moving.

Mafusa got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pierce has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mafusa has managed to get both his arms back between Pierce's legs - danger averted.
Pierce has Mafusa pulled in close to control his posture.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pierce uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mafusa.
Pierce closes the distance looking to clinch

and Mafusa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pierce looking for a guillotine here but Mafusa defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pierce is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pierce avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mafusa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mafusa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pierce looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pierce working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Mafusa dominated that round.
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.

Pierce fails with the takedown

and Mafusa counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mafusa 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.
Pierce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mafusa working the head and body with strikes.
Pierce is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Mafusa scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pierce is looking to control Mafusa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pierce avoid being mounted?
Mafusa passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pierce!
Mafusa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pierce tries to lock up and control but Mafusa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mafusa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Pierce looks a forlorn figure.
Mafusa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pierce keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Pierce wants to control but Mafusa is keeping busy.
Mafusa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pierce is trying to maintain the position but Mafusa is very close to passing his half guard.
Mafusa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pierce is pressing down on Mafusa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pierce working a defensive guard here.

Pierce working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mafusa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mafusa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pierce looking for a sweep. Not yet Pierce, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mafusa throwing strikes from guard but Pierce blocks nicely.
Pierce controls Mafusa momentarily but Mafusa frees himself.
Mafusa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mafusa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pierce is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pierce with a lazy takedown attempt

and Mafusa counters with a shoot takedown. Pierce fights it but they end up in guard.
Pierce trying to control the position.
Pierce trying to control the position here.
Pierce is trying to keep Mafusa in close.

Pierce throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Zack Mafusa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mafusa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pierce tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mafusa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pierce!
Pierce is in all sorts of trouble here.
Mafusa unloading with bombs!
Mafusa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pierce avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mafusa.
Pierce working to try and regain half guard.
Pierce wants to hold on but Mafusa pushes him away.
Pierce blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pierce is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pierce tries to hold on but Mafusa pushes him away.
Pierce is desperately trying to improve his position but Mafusa has a good base and remains in mount.
Pierce wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mafusa.
Pierce regains half guard.
Pierce is pressing down on Mafusa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mafusa won't allow Pierce to sweep him here.
Mafusa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pierce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pierce looking for a guillotine here but Mafusa defends easily.
Mafusa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Mafusa dominated that second round.
That's time! Mafusa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pierce shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mafusa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Pierce has gone for a leg lock! Mafusa slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pierce's guard.
Pierce controls Mafusa momentarily but Mafusa frees himself.
Mafusa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Mafusa from controlling successfully.
Pierce looking to control.
Pierce lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mafusa!
Mafusa trying desperately to get to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mafusa wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Mafusa wants to control his opponent's hands but Pierce gets his hands free.
Mafusa avoids the strikes from Pierce.
Pierce throwing sloppy strikes.

Pierce has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Mafusa trying to control but not successfully.

Pierce is looking for the choke from the back position but Mafusa is controlling his hands well.
Mafusa wants to control his opponent's hands but Pierce gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce misses with punches from the back.
Mafusa tries to break free.
Mafusa breaks Pierce's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mafusa trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pierce trying to control the position.
Pierce is pulling down on Mafusa's head to control his posture.
Pierce looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pierce tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zack Mafusa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Mafusa misses.
Pierce tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mafusa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pierce tries for a takedown but Mafusa circles away easily

and Mafusa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pierce!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mafusa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pierce blocking the ground and pound.
Mafusa throws some wild stikes that Pierce manages to avoid easily.
Pierce keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mafusa unloads with some shots from mount but Pierce bucks and avoids them well.
Pierce tries to hold on but Mafusa pushes him away.
Pierce is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mafusa with shots to the head and body - Pierce looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mafusa misses with a head shot.
Pierce is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mafusa landing shots from mount.
Pierce is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pierce tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zack Mafusa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mafusa working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pierce is trying desperately to improve position.
Mafusa controlling from the full mount.
Pierce is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mafusa lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Pierce wants to hold on but Mafusa pushes him away.
Mafusa looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pierce avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mafusa.
Damon Pierce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mafusa tries to control but Pierce wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Damon Pierce.
Well Mafusa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Mafusa!