PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Tribbett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Tribbett has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Rafael Pierce's chin.

Pierce
vs
Tribbett

177 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
27
162 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
Very quick

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Tribbett!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tribbett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tribbett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pierce.
Tribbett moves in looking to clinch but Pierce pushes him off.
Pierce is looking to clinch but Tribbett is avoiding it.
Tribbett tries to close the distance and clinch but Pierce swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tribbett tries to clinch up but Pierce circles away and keeps his distance.

Pierce has managed to clinch.
Pierce lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pierce pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Tribbett being controlled against the cage.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce cracks Tribbett with a nice body shot.
Tribbett tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pierce tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
A shot in the inside from Pierce.
Tribbett tries to score a body lock takedown but Pierce shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tribbett jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pierce walks away with a smile on his face. Tribbett gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rafael Pierce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Tribbett.
Pierce scores with a kick to the midsection.
Tribbett looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Pierce drives through and clinches with Tribbett against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tribbett blocking some punches.
Pierce misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pierce tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tribbett prevents a body shot from Pierce.
Pierce stalling the fight.
Pierce misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce misses with a punch on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pierce throws a punch but it's blocked by Tribbett.
Tribbett drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pierce pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pierce lands with a thumping leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pierce.
Pierce turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pierce, right into the meat.
Good leg kick by Pierce there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pierce is looking to slow Tribbett down with leg kicks.

Pierce pushes Tribbett up against the cage in a clinch.
Pierce avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tribbett prevents a body shot from Pierce.
Tribbett blocks a body shot from Pierce.
Pierce misses with a body punch.
Pierce throws a punch but it's blocked by Tribbett.
Pierce is stalling here.
Pierce misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pierce misses with a punch on the inside.
Pierce misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Pierce working aggressively here.
Pierce throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tribbett blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pierce keeps control of Tribbett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pierce is stalling here.
Pierce misses with the head strike.
Tribbett tries a body shot but Pierce blocks it.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce tries to throw a body punch but Tribbett avoids it by throwing Pierce back against the cage.
Tribbett drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tribbett jumps guard but Pierce stands there with Tribbett around his waist. Tribbett gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce throws a punch but it's blocked by Tribbett.
Pierce dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Tribbett blocking some punches.
Pierce prevents the takedown attempt.
Pierce working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierce.
Pierce has a couple of punches blocked by Tribbett.
Pierce misses with some punches.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pierce swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Pierce taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Pierce tries a body shot but Tribbett blocks it.
Tribbett is trying to stall.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.

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.
Pierce holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tribbett has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pierce is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pierce gets underhooks to prevent Tribbett's takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierce.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Pierce holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tribbett can't get the takedown.
Pierce misses with some punches.
Tribbett blocking some punches.
Pierce misses with a punch to the body.
Pierce doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pierce stops a takedown attempt from Tribbett.
Pierce misses with the head strike.
Pierce goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pierce misses with a punch to the body.
Pierce swings wildly with an uppercut but Tribbett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pierce has Tribbett pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Pierce 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 chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pierce connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pierce lands a nice looking kick to the body. Tribbett takes a step back to recover.

Pierce clinches with his opponent.
A head punch on the inside from Pierce fails to land.
Pierce working aggressively here.
Tribbett's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierce.
Pierce tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tribbett's elbow.
Pierce misses with some punches.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Tribbett blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pierce tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tribbett's elbow.
Tribbett is trying to drag Pierce to the mat but Pierce just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tribbett blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pierce tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pierce misses with some punches.
Tribbett is breathing heavily.
Tribbett blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierce has a couple of punches blocked by Tribbett.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tribbett is working for takedown but Pierce is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pierce misses with some punches.
Pierce tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tribbett's elbow.
Pierce working aggressively here.
Pierce displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tribbett up against the cage.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pierce misses with a punch on the inside.
Tribbett wants a takedown.
Rafael Pierce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Tribbett.
Pierce misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pierce - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tribbett wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pierce swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pierce gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tribbett.
Pierce lands a hook that snaps the head of Tribbett backwards.

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.
Pierce misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pierce misses with the head strike.
Pierce tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierce.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tribbett.
Pierce struggles to land a body shot inside as Tribbett controls his hands.
Tribbett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pierce just stands there and leans against the cage.
The referee calls for Pierce to work.
Pierce goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pierce swings wildly with an uppercut but Tribbett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pierce tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pierce tries a body shot but Tribbett blocks it.
Pierce misses with a body punch.
Tribbett misses with a punch on the inside.
Tribbett blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pierce misses with a punch on the inside.
Pierce struggles to land a body shot inside as Tribbett controls his hands.
Tribbett blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pierce prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tribbett goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pierce prevents it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierce.
A head punch on the inside from Tribbett fails to land.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce can't find room to land a body shot as Tribbett controls the action.
Pierce misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tribbett blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pierce takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Tribbett fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pierce misses with a body punch.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Pierce swings wildly with an uppercut but Tribbett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pierce swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pierce stalls.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pierce.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tribbett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pierce throws a head punch that misses.
Pierce can't find room to land a body shot as Tribbett controls the action.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pierce takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tribbett.
Pierce misses with a body punch.
Pierce stalling in the clinch but Tribbett improves position.
A head punch on the inside from Pierce fails to land.
Pierce tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pierce swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pierce keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tribbett's efforts to push away.
Tribbett fails to pull guard.
Pierce throws a punch but it's blocked by Tribbett.
Tribbett goes for a takedown attempt but Pierce pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Pierce clinches.
Pierce lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce scores with a shot to the side of Tribbett's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Pierce dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pierce moves in looking to clinch but Tribbett pushes him off.
Pierce dodges the punch combination from Tribbett.
Tribbett wants to clinch but Pierce slips to the side

and Pierce counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pierce gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tribbett.
Tribbett tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pierce gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tribbett.
Rafael Pierce has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Tribbett.
Pierce is pushing Tribbett up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch on the inside from Pierce fails to land.
Pierce swings wildly with an uppercut but Tribbett uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pierce doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Tribbett has hold of one of Pierce's legs. Pierce is fighting the takedown attempt but Tribbett gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Pierce seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tribbett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Tribbett from controlling successfully.
Tribbett trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pierce tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pierce lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tribbett will feel that in the morning.
Pierce feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tribbett's calf.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pierce swings wildly with an uppercut but Tribbett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tribbett blocks an uppercut.
Tribbett blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tribbett.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pierce.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pierce throws a punch but it's blocked by Tribbett.

Tribbett pulls Pierce into guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pierce's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pierce postures up.
Pierce is in close to Tribbett's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Tribbett is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pierce is pushing down on Tribbett's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tribbett is fighting to maintain full guard but Pierce has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tribbett wants to improve his position but Pierce is controlling well.
Pierce is pressing down on Tribbett's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tribbett is holding on for now.
Pierce is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tribbett can do to turn this around?
Tribbett gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tribbett 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.
Pierce stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tribbett swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pierce trying to control the position from guard on top but Tribbett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tribbett keeping full guard, as Pierce tries to pass.
Pierce has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pierce distracts Tribbett with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pierce is stalling in the full guard.
Tribbett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Pierce preventing the sweep.
Tribbett trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Tribbett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Tribbett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Pierce slips nicely into half guard.

Tribbett is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pierce pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pierce lands a nice short elbow.
Pierce looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tribbett with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
George Tribbett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tribbett is looking to improve his position.
Rafael Pierce is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pierce landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Pierce showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pierce 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:26
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Pierce!