PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Pistone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Luzhin might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The time has come.... Pistone has chosen Bonobo - The Sicilians as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Luzhin
vs
Pistone

181 cm
29
174 lbs
15 - 4 - 1

183 cm
31
180 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)
Zenith Nutrition (160q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nikolai Luzhin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Pistone!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luzhin tests Pistone's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Luzhin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pistone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Luzhin was well out of range. Poor timing from Pistone.
Pistone throws a leg kick but Luzhin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Jab by Pistone.
Pistone throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Luzhin jabs Pistone right on the nose. Pistone blinks but takes it well.
Luzhin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pistone finds it's way round the side to connect with Luzhin's head.
Pistone tries to score with a low kick but Luzhin moves his leg out of the way.
Luzhin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pistone defending well as Luzhin loads up on a big left hand.
Luzhin tries to land a leg kick but Pistone saw it coming and moves away.
Pistone motions for Luzhin to come forward. Pistone throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Luzhin throws a jab when Pistone was well out of range.
Pistone throws a leg kick but Luzhin sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pistone misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Luzhin.
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!
Pistone lands with a nice body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Luzhin.
Pistone throws the left hand but Luzhin avoids the punch easily.
Luzhin wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin loads up on a big right hand but Pistone slips the punch.
Pistone looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pistone scoring well with a low kick there.
Luzhin scores with a nice right hand.
Pistone moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pistone feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Luzhin's calf.
Luzhin throws a series of punches but Pistone avoids them all with ease.
Luzhin staying out of range there.
Pistone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Luzhin's sensitive parts.
Luzhin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pistone has time to react.
Pistone thows a left - swing and a miss!
Luzhin stuns Pistone with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pistone throws a shot from downtown. Luzhin moves away and avoids it.
Pistone is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luzhin.
An inside leg kick lands from Luzhin.
Luzhin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pistone sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pistone throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pistone scores with a nice right hand.
Pistone chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Luzhin can pounce on him.
Pistone throws a front kick aimed at Luzhin's knee but Luzhin avoids it well.
Pistone slips a jab from Luzhin.
Luzhin swings for the body but Pistone moves out of range.
Luzhin throws a combination. Pistone tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pistone checks a leg kick nicely.
Pistone lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pistone avoids the head kick by Luzhin.
A head kick from Luzhin lands but Pistone takes it in his stride.
Luzhin lands with an overhand left.
Luzhin scores with a hook.
Luzhin throws a shot from downtown. Pistone moves away and avoids it.
Luzhin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pistone sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Luzhin misses with a head kick.
Pistone throws a front kick aimed at Luzhin's knee but Luzhin avoids it well.
Luzhin is looking to counter the offense by Pistone and move into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luzhin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A leg kick checked by Luzhin.
Pistone tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Luzhin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pistone lands a jab to Luzhin's midsection.
Pistone throws a chopping leg kick but Luzhin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Donk. Luzhin catches Pistone right on the button with a cross.
Luzhin tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pistone is able to avoid easily.
Pistone scores with a leg kick.
Pistone lands an overhand right.
Luzhin misses with a straight left.
Luzhin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pistone ducks under a wild hook from Luzhin.
Luzhin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Luzhin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Pistone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pistone throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin checks a leg kick nicely.
Pistone is looking to slow Luzhin down with leg kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luzhin attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Pistone blocks a low kick nicely.
Luzhin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Luzhin throws a leg kick but Pistone checks it.

Pistone fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Luzhin to the ground. Pistone is now in Luzhin's guard.
Pistone looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Pistone got a little sloppy there for a moment and Luzhin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pistone has managed to get both his arms back between Luzhin's legs - danger averted.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pistone trying to control but Luzhin is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joe Pistone will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pistone misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luzhin fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pistone is out of range.
Pistone now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Luzhin stuns Pistone with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Luzhin feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Pistone's calf.
Luzhin throws a leg kick that misses.
Luzhin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pistone.
Pistone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Luzhin lands a leg kick that knocks Pistone off balance momentarily.
Luzhin tries to clinch up.
Luzhin lands with a straight right. Pistone didn't see that one coming.
Luzhin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Luzhin connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pistone, as that shot connected.
Luzhin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Luzhin scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luzhin looks to score with a jab to the body but Pistone is just out of range.
Luzhin chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pistone avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Luzhin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pistone.
Pistone misses with a body shot

and Luzhin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Luzhin tries to work over Pistone's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Luzhin unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pistone lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Pistone pulls guard successfully.
Luzhin forces his way into half guard.
Luzhin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pistone keeps working.
Pistone is holding on to half guard well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luzhin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pistone is trying to get back to full guard.
Luzhin is keen to just control but Pistone is a slippery customer.
Luzhin prevents Pistone from improving his position.
Luzhin not doing much here.
Pistone manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Luzhin manages to get himself to full guard.

Pistone is pushing down on Luzhin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Luzhin is fighting to maintain full guard but Pistone has managed to sneak the leg through.
Luzhin wants to control but Pistone passes into side.
Pistone trying to control the position but Luzhin is working away.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Luzhin is holding Pistone down, trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin is not content to let Pistone control the position.
Pistone works to advance to full mount. Luzhin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Pistone controlling from mount.
Pistone wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Pistone looking to control but Luzhin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pistone prevents Luzhin from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Pistone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Nice shot by Pistone.
A head kick from Luzhin lands but Pistone takes it in his stride.
Pistone lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Pistone tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pistone connects with a looping right hand.
Pistone blocks a jab.
Pistone lands a slapping body shot.
Pistone throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Luzhin counters with a low kick, right behind Pistone 's knee.
Pistone scores with a punch to the head.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pistone.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by Luzhin.
Luzhin is looking to counter the offense by Pistone and move into the clinch.
Luzhin connects with a leg kick. Pistone looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Luzhin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A low kick from Pistone misses
and Luzhin counters with an inside leg kick.
Pistone throws a jab but it's blocked by Luzhin.
Luzhin tries to counter by clinching up but Pistone breaks away and moves out of range.
Luzhin throws a head kick that misses
and Pistone counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pistone throws a body punch but Luzhin moves out of range.
Pistone takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Luzhin on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pistone throws a nice inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Pistone checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pistone feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Luzhin's calf.
Luzhin moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pistone fails with the takedown

and Luzhin counters by clinching up.
Luzhin misses with a knee to the head.
Luzhin lands with a light punch inside.
Pistone blocks a body shot from Luzhin.
Pistone lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Luzhin backwards.
Pistone's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Luzhin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pistone misses with a punch to the body.

Pistone's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No joy there for Luzhin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Luzhin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Luzhin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Pistone ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circle momentarily. Luzhin darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Pistone blocks a low kick nicely.
Luzhin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Luzhin.
A low kick from Luzhin is predictable there
and Pistone counters with a left to the body.
Nikolai Luzhin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pistone bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Pistone lands with a thumping leg kick.
Luzhin cracks Pistone with a right hand to the side of the head.
Pistone tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pistone with a jab.
Luzhin moves in looking to clinch but Pistone pushes him off.
Pistone throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pistone on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Pistone throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
An inside leg kick from Luzhin misses.
A jab from Luzhin misses.
Pistone scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pistone misses with a straight left.
Pistone uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Luzhin.
A good leg kick by Pistone.
Pistone chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Luzhin can pounce on him.
Pistone takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pistone ducks under a wild hook from Luzhin.
Pistone lands a nice leg kick that just misses Luzhin's sensitive parts.
Luzhin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pistone.
A low kick from Pistone is predictable there
and Luzhin counters with an inside leg kick.
Pistone connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Luzhin fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pistone has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Pistone fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Luzhin throws a nice inside leg kick.
Luzhin looks to land a left hand but Pistone moved out of range nicely.
Luzhin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pistone checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
An inside leg kick lands from Luzhin.
Pistone cracks Luzhin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Pistone throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Luzhin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Luzhin throws a head kick that misses.
Pistone scores with a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Luzhin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Pistone's sensitive parts.
The fighters circling - Luzhin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pistone turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Luzhin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joe Pistone.
I've got Pistone winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Pistone!
Joe Pistone 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.