PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stilgar ben Fifrawi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kyle Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ben Fifrawi comes to the cage accompanied by Lamb of God - Omerta. Pierce has chosen Red Right Hand as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that Stilgar ben Fifrawi has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Stilgar ben Fifrawi seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

ben Fifrawi
vs
Pierce

190 cm
23
221 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

192 cm
26
220 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stilgar ben Fifrawi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Pierce!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Eddie Farnsworth and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

ben Fifrawi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pierce looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
ben Fifrawi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
ben Fifrawi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
ben Fifrawi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
ben Fifrawi in side control, throwing shots but Pierce defends.
Pierce is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
ben Fifrawi lands a few punches from side control.
Pierce takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
ben Fifrawi throws a strike aimed at the side of Pierce's head but Pierce avoids it well.
ben Fifrawi trying to control the position but Pierce is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce really doesn't want to stay on the ground with ben Fifrawi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

ben Fifrawi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pierce is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
ben Fifrawi working the strikes but Pierce uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
ben Fifrawi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two 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.
ben Fifrawi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
ben Fifrawi is looking to take a break and control but Pierce is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
ben Fifrawi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
ben Fifrawi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pierce's head.
ben Fifrawi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pierce with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
ben Fifrawi wants to pass the guard but Pierce is defending well.
ben Fifrawi wants to advance to full mount but Pierce doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pierce's guard.
ben Fifrawi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pierce's head.
ben Fifrawi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pierce is refusing to be controlled, as ben Fifrawi sits in half guard.
ben Fifrawi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
ben Fifrawi trying to mount his opponent but Pierce defends it.

ben Fifrawi seems to be working for a kimura but Pierce defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pierce trying to hold on to ben Fifrawi's head to control him but ben Fifrawi postures up.
Pierce wants to get back to full guard.
ben Fifrawi 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.
ben Fifrawi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pierce defending well though.
ben Fifrawi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
ben Fifrawi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pierce's head.
ben Fifrawi wants to free his trapped foot but Pierce is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stilgar ben Fifrawi 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 slaps away a takedown attempt from ben Fifrawi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pierce ducks under a wild hook from ben Fifrawi.
ben Fifrawi misses with a hook to the body
and ben Fifrawi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pierce misses with a right hand

so ben Fifrawi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
ben Fifrawi is looking to work some ground and pound but Pierce has wrist control.
Pierce wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pierce preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing ben Fifrawi from controlling successfully.
ben Fifrawi throwing strikes from guard but Pierce blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pierce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ben Fifrawi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pierce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ben Fifrawi trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.
Pierce 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.
ben Fifrawi throwing strikes from guard but Pierce blocks nicely.
ben Fifrawi wants to control from the top but Pierce keeps moving.

That's two 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.
ben Fifrawi slips nicely into half guard.
ben Fifrawi content to control rather than advance.
Pierce won't allow ben Fifrawi to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi looks to land a strike but Pierce avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing ben Fifrawi from controlling successfully.
ben Fifrawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
ben Fifrawi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pierce preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ben Fifrawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
ben Fifrawi throwing strikes from guard but Pierce blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
ben Fifrawi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
ben Fifrawi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
ben Fifrawi scoring with punches from side control.
Pierce regains half guard, as ben Fifrawi was trying to land strikes.
Pierce is refusing to be controlled, as ben Fifrawi sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
ben Fifrawi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stilgar ben Fifrawi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pierce swings away with a body shot that misses
and ben Fifrawi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
ben Fifrawi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
ben Fifrawi misses with a right hand
and Pierce counters with a stiff right hand.
Pierce misses the body punch

so ben Fifrawi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Pierce tries to land a sweep but no joy.
ben Fifrawi trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pierce can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pierce pulls ben Fifrawi in close to prevent any damage.
ben Fifrawi preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as ben Fifrawi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
ben Fifrawi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
ben Fifrawi with a flurry of punches that miss.
ben Fifrawi trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
ben Fifrawi is pushing down on Pierce's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pierce is fighting to maintain full guard but ben Fifrawi has managed to sneak the leg through.
ben Fifrawi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
ben Fifrawi trying to pass the guard but Pierce defending well.

ben Fifrawi is trying to work for a kimura but Pierce is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

ben Fifrawi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pierce manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
ben Fifrawi stopping the sweep attempt from Pierce.
ben Fifrawi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

ben Fifrawi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pierce looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pierce looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pierce!
Pierce throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
ben Fifrawi is trying to control Pierce's posture but Pierce avoids it.
ben Fifrawi tries to improve position but can't.
ben Fifrawi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
ben Fifrawi wants to get back to his feet.
Pierce drops an elbow to the side of ben Fifrawi's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
ben Fifrawi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

ben Fifrawi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Pierce is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for ben Fifrawi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The ground and pound from Pierce seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Pierce working the ground and pound.
Pierce creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pierce misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pierce misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pierce working the ground and pound but ben Fifrawi is defending the strikes.
Pierce creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
ben Fifrawi wants to control but Pierce postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Stilgar ben Fifrawi did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

ben Fifrawi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pierce avoids it really well and circles away.
Pierce misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Pierce misses its intended target.
ben Fifrawi tries to move into range but Pierce moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Pierce shoots in looking for a takedown. ben Fifrawi tries to sprawl out of it but Pierce keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. ben Fifrawi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
ben Fifrawi with a poor takedown
and Pierce counters with a lovely shot to the body.
ben Fifrawi connects with the punch.
ben Fifrawi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stilgar ben Fifrawi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pierce stuffs the takedown attempt from ben Fifrawi. ben Fifrawi gets slowly back to his feet.
ben Fifrawi misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi throws a shot from downtown. Pierce moves away and avoids it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
ben Fifrawi fails with a takedown attempt.
Pierce tries to clinch there but ben Fifrawi circles away.
Pierce bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pierce throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pierce cracks ben Fifrawi with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Horrible takedown by Pierce or perhaps it was just good defense by ben Fifrawi which made him look bad.
ben Fifrawi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
ben Fifrawi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pierce counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Pierce. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce misses with a body punch
and ben Fifrawi counters with a straight right hand.
Pierce sizes up ben Fifrawi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
ben Fifrawi swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Pierce counters with a straight right hand.
Pierce catches ben Fifrawi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Excellent takedown into side control there by ben Fifrawi.
ben Fifrawi laying and praying for a moment but Pierce takes advantage and regains half guard.
ben Fifrawi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
ben Fifrawi throws a strike but Pierce avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
ben Fifrawi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
ben Fifrawi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pierce is keeping the position for now.
Pierce has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but ben Fifrawi has passed into side control.
The strikes coming from ben Fifrawi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
ben Fifrawi working the ground and pound but Pierce is defending the strikes.

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.
ben Fifrawi throws a strike aimed at the side of Pierce's head but Pierce avoids it well.
Pierce defending against the ground and pound.
ben Fifrawi throwing strikes but Pierce manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
ben Fifrawi gets back to half guard.
ben Fifrawi wants to control but Pierce is keeping busy and won't allow it.
ben Fifrawi is looking for a sweep. Pierce is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Pierce dominated that fourth round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

ben Fifrawi shoots in and gets a takedown into Pierce's guard.
ben Fifrawi trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.
ben Fifrawi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pierce works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
ben Fifrawi looking to pass the guard.
ben Fifrawi is looking to work some ground and pound but Pierce has wrist control.
ben Fifrawi looking to pass the guard.
Pierce manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pierce avoids the attempt from ben Fifrawi to control.
ben Fifrawi is trying to escape the mount.
ben Fifrawi in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

It looks like Stilgar ben Fifrawi has been cut.
Pierce breaks from ben Fifrawi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
ben Fifrawi tries to hold on but Pierce postures up.
ben Fifrawi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce wants to control the pace but ben Fifrawi is squirming around nicely.
ben Fifrawi tries to lock up and control but Pierce gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pierce cracks ben Fifrawi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Stilgar ben Fifrawi's cut is getting worse.
ben Fifrawi can't escape the position.
ben Fifrawi flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Pierce connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
ben Fifrawi regains half guard.
Stilgar ben Fifrawi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pierce lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ben Fifrawi is trying to get back to full guard.
Pierce is trying to control. ben Fifrawi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pierce thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kyle Pierce has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
ben Fifrawi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pierce.
ben Fifrawi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pierce is nestled in close to ben Fifrawi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pierce not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pierce winds up and cracks ben Fifrawi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

ben Fifrawi is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pierce pulls his head out easily.

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.
ben Fifrawi wants to control but Pierce is keeping busy.
Pierce winds up and cracks ben Fifrawi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
ben Fifrawi trying to control but Pierce postures up.
ben Fifrawi is refusing to be controlled, as Pierce sits in half guard.
ben Fifrawi wants to improve his position but Pierce is controlling well.
Pierce thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed ben Fifrawi's head.
ben Fifrawi is looking for a sweep. Pierce is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
ben Fifrawi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pierce.

Pierce is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Pierce comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think ben Fifrawi 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 47:48
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 48:48
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Stilgar ben Fifrawi retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!