PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rich Piana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akoni Gray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Piana
vs
Gray

192 cm
28
204 lbs
19 - 2 - 0

189 cm
23
210 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

King of Fists

Bare Knuckle Fisticuffs Clothing

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 19 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Rich Piana!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Akoni Gray!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gray feints and then cracks Piana's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Piana down.
Gray throws a shot from downtown. Piana moves away and avoids it.
Gray avoids the body shot from Piana.
Gray has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Gray throws out a powerful jab.
Akoni Gray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gray connects with a body shot.
Gray throws the left hand but Piana avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Gray misses.
Piana takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nice uppercut there from Gray.
Piana just misses with a punch to the body.
Piana ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Piana was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Piana misses with a hook to the body
enabling Gray to counter with a crisp jab.
Piana misses with a double jab
and Gray cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Piana misses with an uppercut. Gray saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gray throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Gray lets loose with a powerful body kick. Piana will feel that in the morning.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gray.
Piana throws a combination that misses

and Gray counters with a crisp one two that drops Piana! Gray thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Piana to his feet! Piana is in big trouble!

Piana is rocked!
We've been told by Piana's head coaches at FORBIDDEN VOILENCE WARRIORS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Piana misses with a wild combination.
Oh Piana is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters circling a little - Gray finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Piana seems to have got his legs back now.
Piana 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.
Piana throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gray sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Piana chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gray can pounce on him.
Gray throws a good cross that connects.
Gray getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Piana misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piana throws out a loose jab but Gray uses good head movement to avoid it.
A lazy left from Gray finds it's target.
Piana takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Gray lands with a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Gray there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Piana slips a straight right by Gray.
It looked like Piana wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gray cracks Piana with an open hand slap.
Nice cross by Piana.
Piana throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Piana. Those never looked like landing.
Gray thumps Piana with a low kick.
Gray scores with a spinning back kick!
Gray lands a jab to Piana's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piana throws a poor cross that misses
and Gray counters with a straight right hand.
Piana scores with a shot to the body.
Gray sizes up Piana with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Gray sends Piana crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Gray is motioning to the referee to let Piana up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Piana backs away from a small jab... but Gray lunges forward with a huge superman punch! Piana crumples to the ground as his mouth piece is sent flying! Gray with a spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Akoni Gray!
Akoni Gray is the new light heavyweight champion!
Akoni Gray bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.