PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Piana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Birita Tinga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Piana
vs
Tinga

192 cm
25
204 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rich Piana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Birita Tinga!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tinga tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Piana defends well and Tinga ends up having to push Piana into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Piana definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Piana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tinga defending well as Piana loads up on a big left hand.
Tinga shoots in and drives through. Piana sprawls well.

Piana moves into the clinch.
Tinga has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Piana avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rich Piana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Birita Tinga.
Tinga is trying to pull guard but Piana turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Piana - that landed with a thud.
Good body shot from Piana.
Piana scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Piana lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tinga backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tinga working hard to break the clinch.
Piana works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tinga prevents a body shot from Piana.
Tinga prevents a body shot from Piana.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Piana.
Tinga wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Piana lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Piana lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Piana tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tinga's elbow.
Piana goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Piana tries to work over Tinga's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Piana lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Piana misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tinga blocks an uppercut.
Piana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Piana throws a head punch that misses.
Tinga wants to get back to striking at distance but Piana won't allow it.

Piana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tinga staying out of range there.
Piana uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Piana cracks a nice hook into Tinga's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tinga misses with a takedown
and Piana counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head kick by Tinga misses
and Piana counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tinga ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tinga tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Piana connects with a single shot there.
Birita Tinga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tinga misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tinga looks winded!
Piana scores with a jab to the head.
Tinga throws an overhand right that lands on Piana's shoulder, as Piana tries to avoid the shot.
Piana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tinga looks for a takedown but Piana sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piana scores with a hook.

Piana fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tinga, pushing him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Piana scores with a nice short uppercut.
Piana lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tinga backwards.
A short left from Piana.
Piana working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Come on Piana - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tinga takes a shot to the head.
Tinga goes for a takedown attempt but Piana pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tinga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Piana pinned against the cage. Piana gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piana uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tinga has time to react.
A jab from Piana does it's job there.
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!
Tinga takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Tinga swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Piana counters with a right hand to the body.
Piana looks to score with a jab to the body but Tinga is just out of range.
Tinga walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Piana throws a jab when Tinga was well out of range.
Tinga doesn't manage to clinch there - Piana circles away.
Piana works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Piana with a nice cross.
Piana scores with a decent looking hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Piana dominated that round.
That's time! Piana's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Piana connects with a nice looking jab.
Piana tests Tinga's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tinga wants to slow Piana down by chopping away at his legs.
Tinga tries to work over Piana's front leg with a kick but Piana checks it.
Piana keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tinga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piana scores with a nice strike.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tinga or perhaps it was just good defense by Piana, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tinga shoots in for a takedown but Piana shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rich Piana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Birita Tinga.
Tinga is breathing heavily.
Piana scores with a nice strike.
Piana is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tinga can do to turn this around?
Tinga just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piana thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rich Piana is winning the standup battle so far.
Piana throws a big shot that misses.
Tinga takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Piana dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Piana swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tinga misses with a takedown attempt - Piana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A lazy left from Piana finds it's target.
Tinga fails with the takedown
and Piana counters with a straight right hand.
Tinga fails with an attempt to clinch.
It looked like Piana was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Tinga.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piana scores with a punch to the head.
Decent striking displayed by Piana there.
Tinga misses with a takedown attempt
and Piana counters with a straight right hand.
Piana misses with a looping right.
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!
Piana connects with a looping right hand.
Rich Piana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Piana connects with a nice looking jab.
Tinga takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Good exchange - Piana coming out on top.
Tinga throws a sloppy head kick
and Piana counters with a nice uppercut.
Piana scores with a jab to the body.
Piana lands a body shot.

Piana has managed to clinch.
Piana lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tinga backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piana lands with a light punch inside.
Piana lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tinga backwards.
Piana lands a left hand.
A short uppercut from Piana.
Still in the clinch, Piana scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Piana.
A short left from Piana.
Piana works on Tinga's body with a couple of short punches.
Piana lands an uppercut.
Piana lands a shot to the body.
Piana scores with a shot to the side of Tinga's head.
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!
Piana manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short uppercut from Piana.
A short body shot lands from Piana as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piana lands with a light punch inside.
Piana lands with a right to the head.

It looks like Birita Tinga has been cut.
Good body shot from Piana.
A body shot lands from Piana.

Piana escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Good shot there by Piana.
Piana lands with a right hand.
Tinga slips a straight right by Piana.
Tinga tries a quick counter leg kick but Piana is wise to it.
Piana works Tinga's body with a nice hook.
Piana throws a body shot but no joy.
Piana darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Piana scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Piana looks to land a combination but Tinga avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Piana dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Birita Tinga's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Piana pushes Tinga up against the cage in a clinch.
Tinga has had enough of the clinch but Piana keeps him there for the moment.
Piana lands a body punch.
Piana lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Piana breaks the clinch.
Tinga shoots and misses
and Tinga takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A nice combination there by Piana.
Piana connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tinga momentarily.
Tinga shoots in looking for a takedown. Piana tries to sprawl out of it but Tinga keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Piana manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Piana works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Piana catches Tinga right on the button with a cross.
Tinga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tinga moves forwards but Piana connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Tinga is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Piana lands with a nice body punch.

Piana fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tinga, pushing him back against the cage.
Piana lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tinga backwards.
Piana lands a body shot in the clinch.

Piana manages to break the clinch.
Tinga has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Piana connects with a looping right hand.
Piana moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piana scores with a body shot.
Piana scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tinga is trying desperately to land a takedown but Piana is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Tinga.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Piana fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Piana tests Tinga's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tinga takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Piana scores with a decent looking hook.
Tinga on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Piana works Tinga's body with a nice hook.
Piana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Piana misses with a few strikes there.
Tinga throws out a counter right but Piana avoids it with no problem.
Piana connects with a body shot that sends Tinga's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piana misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tinga.
Tinga unleashes a big counter combination but Piana bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Piana cracks a nice hook into Tinga's ribs.
Piana lands an overhand right.
Piana's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tinga under the eye.
Piana connects with the punch.
Nice jab there from Piana.
Piana moves into range and connects with a jab.
Piana scores with a shot to the body.
Piana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Piana scores with a jab to the body.
Piana pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Piana tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tinga was well out of range. Poor timing from Piana.
Tinga throws a head kick but Piana moves out of range.

Piana darts in and clinches Tinga up against the cage.
Piana cracks Tinga with a nice body shot.
Piana scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tinga tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Piana smiles and moves away.
Rich Piana has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Birita Tinga.
Piana connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A jab lands there for Piana.
Piana lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Birita Tinga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Piana looks to land a combination. Tinga sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rich Piana showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Piana 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:24
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:24
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rich Piana!
A relieved looking Rich Piana thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.