PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernardo Muriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Pilou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Muriel
vs
Pilou

187 cm
26
205 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

191 cm
26
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Vikai Gear Island

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bernardo Muriel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jean Pilou!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pilou misses with a looping right.
Muriel lands a glancing blow to the side of Pilou's head.

Muriel has closed the distance and engaged Pilou in a clinch.
Muriel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muriel.
Muriel throws a head punch that misses.
Pilou looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Pilou manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Muriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Muriel misses with some punches.
Muriel misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Muriel avoiding damage.
Muriel lands a left hand.
Muriel lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilou lands a right hand that snaps the head of Muriel backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Muriel fails to land.
Pilou misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muriel working aggressively here.
Muriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pilou throws a punch but it's blocked by Muriel.
Pilou working aggressively here.
Muriel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pilou backwards.
Pilou blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Muriel throws a punch but it's blocked by Pilou.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Pilou goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pilou fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muriel working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muriel.
Pilou blocking some punches.
Muriel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pilou's elbow.
Muriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pilou.
Muriel has a couple of punches blocked by Pilou.
Pilou trying to land knees to the body.
Muriel can't find room to land a body shot as Pilou controls the action.
Muriel swings wildly with an uppercut but Pilou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Muriel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pilou misses with the head strike.
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muriel.
A nice left hand lands by Muriel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muriel lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pilou backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pilou.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Muriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Muriel lands with a light punch inside.
Muriel tries to throw a body punch but Pilou avoids it by throwing Muriel back against the cage.
Muriel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Pilou misses with the head strike.
The referee calls for Muriel to work.
Muriel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Pilou.
Muriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Muriel tries to throw a body punch but Pilou avoids it by throwing Muriel back against the cage.
Pilou blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pilou.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pilou.
Muriel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Muriel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Muriel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Muriel working aggressively here.
Muriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Muriel misses with the head strike.
Pilou scores with a nice hook to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Muriel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pilou up against the cage.
Muriel lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Muriel digs a right hand underneath Pilou's ribcage. Pilou let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Muriel can't find room to land a body shot as Pilou controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Muriel dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pilou has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pilou slows down the pace here.
Muriel has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Muriel swings wildly with an uppercut but Pilou uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pilou scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Muriel misses with a body punch.
Pilou blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pilou.
Pilou taking a breather.
Pilou continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muriel.
Pilou misses with some punches.
A short left from Muriel.
Pilou goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Muriel.
Pilou blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Muriel misses with a punch to the body.
Pilou is working Muriel over against the cage.
Muriel swings wildly with an uppercut but Pilou uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Muriel.
Pilou blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Muriel lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Muriel tries to work over Pilou's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pilou fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Muriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Muriel lands a shot to the body.
Muriel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A hook to the body from Muriel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Muriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.
Muriel throws a head punch that misses.
Muriel misses with a punch on the inside.
Muriel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pilou backwards.
Pilou takes a shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pilou throws a head punch that misses.
Pilou throws a head punch that misses.
Muriel trying to stall but Pilou improves his position.
Muriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pilou being controlled against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stalling in the clinch from Muriel.
Muriel working aggressively here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Pilou blocking some punches.
Pilou blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Muriel gets through Pilou's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Muriel tries a body shot but Pilou blocks it.
Pilou misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Muriel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pilou can do to turn this around?
Muriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Pilou controls his hands.
Pilou is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilou prevents a body shot from Muriel.
Muriel working aggressively here.
Muriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Pilou controls his hands.
Muriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Muriel misses with the head strike.
Muriel lands an uppercut.
Pilou displaying some good clinch control by pressing Muriel up against the cage.
Muriel lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pilou misses with the head strike.
Pilou blocks a body shot from Muriel.
A head punch on the inside from Muriel fails to land.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Muriel dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Muriel takes the fight into the clinch.
Muriel has a couple of punches blocked by Pilou.
Pilou fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Muriel working aggressively here.
Muriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Pilou controls his hands.
Muriel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pilou up against the cage.
Muriel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pilou.
Pilou leaning against his opponent.
Muriel tries a body shot but Pilou blocks it.
Pilou blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muriel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pilou blocking some punches.
Muriel is leaning against Pilou and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Muriel misses with a punch to the body.
Muriel just leaning against Pilou, taking a breather.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Muriel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pilou misses with a punch on the inside.
Pilou misses with some punches.
Muriel lands a right hand.
Pilou trying to stall but Muriel improves his position.
Muriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pilou fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bernardo Muriel has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muriel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pilou or not.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike.
Muriel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Muriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Muriel lands a shot to the body.
Muriel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Muriel.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muriel.
Muriel lands a right hand.
Muriel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pilou's elbow.
Muriel slowing the pace effectively.
Muriel blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muriel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Pilou up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Muriel fails to land.
Good body shot from Muriel.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Muriel.
Pilou pushes Muriel back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Muriel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Muriel misses with the head strike.
Muriel controlling the action here for a moment.
Muriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Muriel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pilou trying to stall but Muriel improves his position.
A body shot lands from Muriel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pilou struggles to land a body shot inside as Muriel controls his hands.
Muriel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Muriel working aggressively here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Muriel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Muriel throws a head punch that misses.
Muriel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pilou working aggressively here.
Muriel lands with a left to the head.
Pilou blocks an uppercut.
Muriel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Muriel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Muriel tries to work over Pilou's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Muriel.
Muriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Muriel clearly takes that round.
That's time! Muriel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Muriel rushes Pilou and presses him up against the cage.
Muriel throws a punch but it's blocked by Pilou.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Muriel misses with some punches.
Muriel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pilou backwards.
Muriel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A short left from Muriel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muriel lands a left hand that snaps the head of Pilou backwards.
Muriel misses with a punch to the body.
Pilou working aggressively here.
Muriel lands a right hand.
Pilou swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muriel stalling the fight.
Still in the clinch, Muriel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pilou blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Muriel.
Muriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Muriel throws a head punch that misses.
Muriel throws a punch but it's blocked by Pilou.
Muriel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Muriel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Muriel scores with a shot to the side of Pilou's head.
Muriel is working Pilou over against the cage.
Muriel effectively controlling the action here.
Muriel has a couple of punches blocked by Pilou.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Muriel.
Pilou doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Muriel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pilou backwards.
Muriel tries a body shot but Pilou blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Muriel.
The referee is keeping an eye on Muriel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Muriel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Muriel working aggressively here.
Muriel throws a head punch that misses.
Pilou is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Muriel is defending well for now.
Muriel misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muriel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pilou trying to control the position but instead, Muriel has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pilou into the cage.
Pilou tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Muriel misses with a punch on the inside.
Pilou is looking to control Muriel's arms but Muriel gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pilou has his back to the cage.
Muriel has Pilou pressed against the cage.
Muriel stalling the fight.
Muriel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Muriel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pilou misses with the head strike.
Muriel fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pilou prevents a body shot from Muriel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Muriel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Muriel takes a shot to the head.
Muriel can't find room to land a body shot as Pilou controls the action.
Pilou is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Muriel is defending well for now.
Muriel scores with a hook to the body.
Muriel misses with a punch on the inside.
Muriel managing to block the knees to the body from Pilou.
Muriel is pushing Pilou up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Muriel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Muriel misses with a punch to the body.
Muriel scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernardo Muriel had his way with Jean Pilou in 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pilou with a jab.
Pilou throws a body shot but no joy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Muriel clinches.
Muriel misses with a short punch on the inside.
Muriel scores with a shoulder strike.
Muriel working aggressively here.
Muriel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Muriel stalling.
Muriel blocks an uppercut.
Muriel misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muriel lands a body punch.
Muriel misses with some punches.
Muriel misses with the head strike.
Muriel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Muriel lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muriel holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Muriel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Pilou up against the cage.
Muriel seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Come on Muriel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Muriel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Muriel lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Muriel stalling in the clinch.
Muriel blocks an uppercut.
Pilou blocking some punches.
Muriel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muriel blocks an uppercut.
Pilou lands with a short shot to the head.
Muriel tries to work over Pilou's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Muriel.
Muriel misses with a punch on the inside.
Pilou misses with a punch on the inside.
Muriel throws a punch but it's blocked by Pilou.
Muriel lands with a left to the head.
Muriel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Muriel lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Muriel struggles to land a body shot inside as Pilou controls his hands.
Pilou misses with a punch on the inside.
Pilou has a couple of punches blocked by Muriel.
Pilou trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muriel tries a body shot but Pilou blocks it.
Muriel throws a punch but it's blocked by Pilou.
Muriel throws a head punch that misses.
Pilou tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Muriel working aggressively here.
Pilou misses with a body punch.
Pilou has a couple of punches blocked by Muriel.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pilou.
A head punch on the inside from Muriel fails to land.
Muriel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pilou swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Muriel.
Muriel tries to throw a body punch but Pilou avoids it by throwing Muriel back against the cage.
Muriel misses with some punches.
Bernardo Muriel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muriel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Muriel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Muriel blocking some punches.
Muriel pushes Pilou back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Muriel fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Muriel.
A head punch on the inside from Muriel fails to land.
Jean Pilou has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pilou lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernardo Muriel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Muriel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 50:45
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 50:45
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernardo Muriel!
Bernardo Muriel retains his light heavyweight title!
Bernardo Muriel was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.