PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Pierre (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.

James
vs
Pierre

177 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael James!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricky Pierre!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pierre paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James throws a right and a left that both miss.

Pierre changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. James looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pierre trying to control the position but James is working away.
James tries to improve position but can't.

Pierre is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. James knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
James wants to control but Pierre postures up.
Pierre really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Pierre keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on James's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre lands some shots froms side control.
James is trying to get back to half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Pierre fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with James, pushing him back against the cage.
Pierre effectively controlling the action here.

Pierre manages to pull guard.
James passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pierre is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Pierre pushes James off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a takedown attempt

and Pierre holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Pierre ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pierre no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pierre swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pierre wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and James manages to pass to side control.
Pierre gets back to full guard.
Pierre controlling the position.
James with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre is pulling down on James's head to control his posture.
James prevents Pierre from getting back to his feet.
Pierre looks gassed!
James trying to control but Pierre is working from the bottom.
James postures up in Pierre's guard and throws a big left but Pierre blocks it.
Pierre keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James working some strikes from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pierre misses with a combination

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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.
James wants to pass the guard but Pierre is keeping the position.

James decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pierre, up you get!
James with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pierre counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in James's guard now.
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!
Pierre is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pierre trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
James is wriggling around but Pierre manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Pierre dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pierre circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pierre counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
Pierre trying to control the position but James is working away.
You can see the frustration on James's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Pierre tries for a kimura but James is defending well.
You can see the frustration on James's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre lands a nice forearm strike.

Pierre is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
James gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Pierre is thwarting James's attempts to control the position.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Pierre sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
James moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

James has his feet on Pierre's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pierre did well to prevent James getting side control.
James lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
James passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pierre!

Pierre bucks James off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James throws a body punch but Pierre moves out of range.

James gets caught flat footed, as Pierre shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pierre prevents James from getting back to his feet.
Pierre trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pierre is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
James is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pierre is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
James throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Pierre must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pierre advances position into side control!
Check out the look on Pierre's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
James struggling a bit here.
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Pierre showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pierre looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for James!
Ricky Pierre has got the better of the ground game so far.
James tries to hold on but Pierre postures up.
Pierre controlling from the full mount.
James gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James wants to control but Pierre is keeping busy.
Pierre works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierre cracks James with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Pierre landing shots from mount.
James is desperately trying to improve his position but Pierre has a good base and remains in mount.
Pierre avoids the attempt from James to control.
Pierre wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
James is working to get back to half guard.
Pierre trying to control but James is having none of it.
Pierre unloading with bombs!
Pierre tries to control but James wriggling away.
Pierre looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierre looking to control but James is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
James is looking to improve his position but Pierre isn't that keen on the idea.
Pierre cracks James with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
James tries to hold on but Pierre pushes him away.

Pierre is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
James pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Pierre has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Pierre.
Pierre drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Pierre managing to block the knees to the body from James.
Pierre tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pierre's guard.
Pierre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pierre wants to stand but James is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Pierre comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pierre winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Pierre!
Ricky Pierre is the new lightweight champion!