PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Twiggy BigBranch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roddy Piper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Piper comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Green Hills of Tyrol kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

BigBranch
vs
Piper

169 cm
27
142 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Sun-Tzu
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Twiggy BigBranch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roddy Piper!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Ackerman and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piper has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from BigBranch finds it's way round the side to connect with Piper's head.
BigBranch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Piper scores with a hook.
Piper keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from BigBranch.
BigBranch connects with a looping right hand.
Piper tries to close the distance and clinch up but BigBranch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circling - Piper throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
BigBranch feinted with a counter takedown.
Piper staying out of range there.
BigBranch has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Humboldt Park Elite Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Piper takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice uppercut there from BigBranch.
Piper lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as BigBranch backs up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
BigBranch swings for the body but Piper moves out of range.
BigBranch bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Piper checks a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by BigBranch.
BigBranch lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
BigBranch misses with a low kick.
BigBranch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Piper tries to clinch up but BigBranch circles away and keeps his distance.
Piper throws a jab but it's blocked by BigBranch.
BigBranch dives in and grabs Piper's left leg, looking for a takedown. Piper pushes down on BigBranch's head and hops out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BigBranch throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
BigBranch throws a low kick, looking for Piper's leg but Piper calmly moves out of range.
Piper throws a poor cross that misses
letting BigBranch counter with a right hand.
BigBranch misses with a low kick.
BigBranch throws a hook to the side of Piper's head but Piper sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
BigBranch misses with an attempted mid kick.
Piper throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck BigBranch on the side of the head.

Piper moves into the clinch.
BigBranch lands a hook that snaps the head of Piper backwards.
BigBranch tries a body shot but Piper blocks it.
Piper landing knees to the head.
BigBranch prevents a takedown attempt there.
Piper drops to a knee looking for a takedown but BigBranch gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Piper tries to land knees in the clinch but BigBranch avoids the damage to the body.
BigBranch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from BigBranch.
BigBranch softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
BigBranch blocks an uppercut.
BigBranch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
BigBranch throws a head punch that misses.

Piper has picked BigBranch up - he's going for a ride! Piper dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
BigBranch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Piper.
Piper not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Piper looks to land a strike but BigBranch avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Piper wants to control from the top but BigBranch keeps moving.
Piper wants to pass the guard but BigBranch is keeping the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BigBranch controls Piper momentarily but Piper frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
BigBranch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Piper.
BigBranch scores with a spinning back kick!
A big left from Piper misses.
Piper fakes high and swings low for a body shot but BigBranch manages to avoid it.
Piper throws a body punch but BigBranch moves out of range.
Piper throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Piper tries to clinch there but BigBranch circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from BigBranch misses its target.
BigBranch fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
BigBranch throws the left hand but Piper avoids the punch easily.
BigBranch lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
BigBranch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piper swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Piper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around BigBranch's waist but BigBranch gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Piper off to one side.
It looked like BigBranch was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Piper.
Twiggy BigBranch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roddy Piper.
A big right from BigBranch misses.
Piper jabs BigBranch right on the nose. BigBranch blinks but takes it well.
BigBranch fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
BigBranch misses the jab.
BigBranch scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Piper doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big left from BigBranch misses.
BigBranch takes one on the button.
BigBranch displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Piper tries to clinch but BigBranch moves out of range.
BigBranch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
BigBranch lands a jab to Piper's midsection.

Piper moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Piper lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
BigBranch misses with a punch on the inside.
Piper tries a body shot but BigBranch blocks it.
BigBranch works on Piper's body with a couple of short punches.
Piper with a knee to the head.
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 Twiggy BigBranch will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Piper waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract BigBranch.
A little feinted left hand from BigBranch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Piper misses the shot to the body.
Roddy Piper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Piper throws a body shot but no joy.
BigBranch slips a straight right by Piper.
BigBranch swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
BigBranch slips under a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Piper. BigBranch does a little dance to reset his feet.
BigBranch changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

BigBranch bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
BigBranch cracks Piper with an elbow. That is naaassty.
BigBranch scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Piper to see if he's OK.
Piper takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Piper manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Piper stalling away here and it's allowed BigBranch to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BigBranch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Piper looking to sit in guard and control but BigBranch gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Piper controls BigBranch momentarily but BigBranch frees himself.
BigBranch won't allow Piper to sweep him here.
BigBranch lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Piper is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

BigBranch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
BigBranch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Piper.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BigBranch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Piper.
Piper seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Piper wants to take a breather but BigBranch is having none of it.
Piper thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed BigBranch's head.
BigBranch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Piper is working away from the top position though.
BigBranch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Piper.
BigBranch is not content to let Piper control the position.
Piper missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piper missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Piper misses with a head shot. BigBranch uses the momentum to regain guard.
Piper postures up in BigBranch's guard and throws a big left but BigBranch blocks it.
Piper is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
BigBranch moves out of range of the strikes.
BigBranch fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Piper throws a jab but it's blocked by BigBranch.
BigBranch fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Piper takes a swing at BigBranch's ribcage but misses.
BigBranch lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Piper throws a lazy right hand but BigBranch sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BigBranch throws a poor cross that misses
and Piper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Piper has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from BigBranch.
Twiggy BigBranch is winning the standup battle so far.
BigBranch finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Piper is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by BigBranch.
A low kick from BigBranch misses
and Piper counters with a nice uppercut.
Piper slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
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!
Piper misses with a hook.
BigBranch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Piper walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Piper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Piper lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but BigBranch circles away quickly and effectively.
Piper dives in and grabs BigBranch's left leg, looking for a takedown. BigBranch pushes down on Piper's head and hops out.
Piper slips under a jab.
Piper walks into a straight right hand from BigBranch.
Piper moves into range and connects with a jab.
Piper is looking to clinch.
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 Twiggy BigBranch will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

BigBranch shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Piper defends it nicely.
BigBranch takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Piper listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
BigBranch takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Piper clobbers BigBranch with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Piper has BigBranch up against the cage in a clinch.
Piper throws a knee to the head but misses.
Piper prevents a body shot from BigBranch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
BigBranch tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Piper's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Roddy Piper seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Piper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of BigBranchs head.
BigBranch doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Piper throws a blind hook that connects with the side of BigBranchs head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
BigBranch goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piper trying to control the position but instead, BigBranch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Piper into the cage.
Piper with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Piper with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Piper tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and BigBranch avoids it.
BigBranch takes a knee right on the jaw!
Piper misses with a knee strike.
BigBranch swings wildly with an uppercut but Piper uses good head movement to avoid it.
BigBranch working hard to break the clinch.
BigBranch can't find room to land a body shot as Piper controls the action.
BigBranch is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
BigBranch has a couple of punches blocked by Piper.
BigBranch works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, BigBranch creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Piper goes for a takedown attempt but BigBranch pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Piper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Piper tries to close the distance and clinch but BigBranch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piper throws an off balance right hand
and BigBranch makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Piper slips under a jab.
BigBranch throws a body punch but Piper moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Piper! But no joy.
BigBranch throws a nice outside leg kick.
Piper has a takedown stuffed.
BigBranch tries to counter with a takedown but Piper is quick to defend against it.
BigBranch connects with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
BigBranch shoots for a double leg takedown but Piper sprawls well. He's pushed BigBranch's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
It seemed like Piper was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
BigBranch fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Piper shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches BigBranch napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Piper 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.
BigBranch regains half guard, as Piper was trying to land strikes.
Piper sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. BigBranch defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piper with the ground and pound but BigBranch uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Piper throwing strikes from guard but BigBranch blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Piper throws an elbow that misses. BigBranch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Piper's guard. Nice move by BigBranch!

Piper tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Piper manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. BigBranch manages to get himself to full guard.

Piper throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Piper postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
BigBranch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Piper.
BigBranch trying to keep a closed guard but Piper is proving a slippery customer.
BigBranch has control of Piper's left arm, preventing Piper from doing any damage.
Piper throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roddy Piper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think BigBranch 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Twiggy BigBranch!
Twiggy BigBranch tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.
In defeat, Roddy Piper stepped up to the mic, saying 'He cheated, and I let him win anyway. My opponent was and remains a bum. Piss off.'.