PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Punch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ashotik Pizduidze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Punch
vs
Pizduidze

199 cm
23
250 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

225 cm
26
307 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Punch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ashotik Pizduidze!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Punch tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Punch throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pizduidze is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Punch.

It looks like Ashotik Pizduidze has been cut.
Pizduidze shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Punch counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Punch misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pizduidze.
Punch tries to score with a low kick but Pizduidze moves his leg out of the way.

Pizduidze scores with a takedown into Punch's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Punch wants to get back to his feet but Pizduidze is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Punch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch keeping moving, preventing Pizduidze from controlling successfully.
Pizduidze looking to pass the guard.
Punch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pizduidze is controlling him.
Pizduidze stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Punch swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Pizduidze drops back looking for a leg! Punch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Punch manages to kick Pizduidze off! Pizduidze jumps back into Punch's guard.
Pizduidze wants to pass the guard but Punch is keeping the position.

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.
Punch wants to get back to his feet but Pizduidze is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pizduidze throwing strikes from guard but Punch blocks nicely.
Pizduidze wants to pass the guard but Punch is keeping the position.
Pizduidze missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pizduidze wants to control from the top but Punch keeps moving.

Punch uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Punch closes the distance looking to clinch

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pizduidze trying to control but Punch is working from the bottom.
Pizduidze throwing strikes but missing.
Pizduidze throws and elbow that misses. Punch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Pizduidze's guard. Nice move by Punch!
Punch has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Pizduidze is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Punch wants to stand but Pizduidze has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Punch trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Pizduidze is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Pizduidze is working an open guard so Punch takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Pizduidze is looking to chop away at Punch's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pizduidze circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pizduidze counters with a shoot takedown. Punch fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Punch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ashotik Pizduidze's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Punch doesn't manage to clinch there - Pizduidze circles away.

Pizduidze closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Punch wants to get back to his feet.
Punch on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Punch tries to get out of the position.
Punch dodges the ground and pound from Pizduidze.

Pizduidze is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Punch knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Punch is trying to buck Pizduidze off.
Punch knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pizduidze on the ground.
Pizduidze working the ground and pound but Punch is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch is trying to buck Pizduidze off.
Pizduidze throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Punch is trying to buck Pizduidze off.
Punch regains half guard, as Pizduidze was trying to land strikes.

Punch pushes Pizduidze off and gets back to his feet.
Pizduidze misses with a double jab.
Pizduidze with a lazy takedown attempt
and Punch counters with a series of strikes. Pizduidze will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pizduidze avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punch throws an off balance right hand
and Pizduidze counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Punch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Punch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pizduidze is breathing heavily.
Punch throws a low kick, looking for Pizduidze's leg but Pizduidze calmly moves out of range.
Pizduidze walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pizduidze counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pizduidze.
Punch wants to stand up but Pizduidze is controlling him.
Pizduidze has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pizduidze wants to pass the guard but Punch is keeping the position.
Punch can't keep his opponent in guard - Pizduidze advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pizduidze missing with some ground and pound from the half 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.

Pizduidze is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Punch defends it well.
Punch is trying to stand back up but Pizduidze is controlling him
Pizduidze wants to control but Punch is keeping him busy.
Punch is looking to escape.
Pizduidze tries to pass the half guard into mount. Punch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pizduidze is stalling here. Punch is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Pizduidze seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Punch has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Punch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ashotik Pizduidze's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Punch tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pizduidze counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Punch's guard now.
Pizduidze prevents Punch from getting back to his feet.
Punch can't keep his opponent in guard - Pizduidze advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pizduidze is looking to take a break and control but Punch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pizduidze not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pizduidze works his foot free and advances to mount.
Punch tries to buck Pizduidze off but he can't manage it.
Pizduidze thowing shots but they're missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch is trying to stand up.
Pizduidze can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Punch is looking to escape.
Punch is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Pizduidze lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Punch takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pizduidze scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Punch's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Poor strikes thrown by Pizduidze there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Pizduidze won't let Punch get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pizduidze is landing with some decent strikes but Punch is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pizduidze looking to ground and pound but Punch is blocking nicely.
Punch holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pizduidze tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Punch has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Pizduidze's lack of action.
Pizduidze throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pizduidze moves into full mount! Punch won't be happy about that!
Punch is trying to stand up.
Pizduidze thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Punch bucks up and throws Pizduidze to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Punch pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch connects with a body shot that sends Pizduidze's belly button to the back.
Punch tries to clinch there but Pizduidze circles away.
Punch misses with a series of wild punches.
Chris Punch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Punch doesn't manage to clinch there - Pizduidze circles away.
Punch falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pizduidze counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pizduidze engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Punch scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Punch misses with a head kick.
Ashotik Pizduidze has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pizduidze gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Punch counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ashotik Pizduidze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Punch 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Punch!