PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eric Pieters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nero Sabu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabu has chosen The Enemy as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Eric Pieters is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Pieters
vs
Sabu

176 cm
25
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
160 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eric Pieters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nero Sabu!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pieters closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pieters tries to land knees in the clinch but Sabu avoids the damage to the body.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pieters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sabu blocks it with crossed arms.
Pieters misses with a knee to the head.
Sabu takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pieters utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sabu looking for a takedown.
Stalling in the clinch from Pieters.
Pieters with a knee to the head.
Pieters scores with a knee to the head.
Pieters with a knee to the head.
Sabu changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pieters fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sabu.
Eric Pieters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nero Sabu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pieters gets a clinch.
Sabu wants a takedown.
Pieters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sabu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pieters misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sabu.
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sabu takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pieters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sabu has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sabu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sabu wants a takedown.

That's two 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.

Sabu gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Pieters is breathing heavily.
Pieters is controlling Sabu's trapped leg to prevent Sabu from advancing to side control.

Sabu is trying to work for a kimura but Pieters is defending well.

Pieters is defending against the submission attempts here by Sabu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pieters is trying to get back to full guard.

Sabu is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabu is working for a kimura but Pieters is defending it quite comfortably.

Sabu is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pieters sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nero Sabu 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.

Sabu shoots in looking for a takedown but Pieters manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sabu's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Pieters drives through and clinches with Sabu against the cage.
Pieters stops a takedown attempt from Sabu.
Pieters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sabu blocks it with crossed arms.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters is looking to control Sabu's arms but Sabu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pieters has his back to the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabu tries for a takedown. No joy.
Eric Pieters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nero Sabu.
Sabu has Pieters pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pieters manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Sabu blocks it.
Sabu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pieters prevents it.
Sabu wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pieters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pieters avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pieters is looking to control Sabu's arms but Sabu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pieters has his back to the cage.
Sabu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pieters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sabu tries to score a body lock takedown but Pieters shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sabu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sabu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pieters pulls his leg out and moves away.

Sabu tries to keep at a distance but Pieters has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieters missing with knees to the body.
Sabu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pieters prevents it.
Sabu is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pieters gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sabu has Pieters pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pieters manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sabu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pieters pulls his leg out and moves away.

Pieters forces Sabu back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sabu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pieters prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pieters misses with a knee to the head.
Sabu goes for a takedown attempt but Pieters pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Eric Pieters is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sabu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Sabu gets tackled into the cage by Pieters. Pieters maintains the clinch.
Pieters gets underhooks to prevent Sabu's takedown attempt.
Sabu has Pieters pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pieters manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pieters trying to control the position but instead, Sabu has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pieters into the cage.
Pieters looking to throw knees to the head but Sabu is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sabu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sabu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pieters gets the underhooks and prevents it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Pieters dominated that second round.
That's time! Pieters's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pieters gets a clinch.
Sabu avoiding damage as Pieters throws knees to the body.
Sabu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pieters prevents the takedown attempt.
Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pieters avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Eric Pieters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nero Sabu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Come on Pieters - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Pieters here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Pieters is pressed up against the cage. Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pieters down to the mat. Pieters avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabu shoots in but Pieters avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Pieters rushes Sabu and presses him up against the cage.
Sabu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pieters pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pieters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sabu blocks it with crossed arms.
Pieters is pressed up against the cage. Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pieters down to the mat. Pieters avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Pieters closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sabu looking for a takedown.
Pieters crunches a lovely knee into Sabu's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieters is pressed up against the cage. Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pieters down to the mat. Pieters avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Pieters closes the distance and clinches.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pieters leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sabu goes for a takedown attempt but Pieters pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Pieters darts in and clinches Sabu up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pieters pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sabu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pieters sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sabu somewhat.

Pieters has closed the distance and engaged Sabu in a clinch.
Sabu changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pieters fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pieters stuffs the takedown.

Pieters clinches with his opponent.
Sabu is trying to drag Pieters to the mat but Pieters just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sabu tries for a takedown but Pieters manages to get underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters misses with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Pieters showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pieters 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Pieters!