PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Piercer (ranked 4780 p4p, 3260 weight class) and Mitsu Misawa (ranked 527 p4p, 405 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Piercer
vs
Misawa

177 cm
22
170
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
174
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Piercer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mitsu Misawa!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Misawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Piercer scores with a jab. Misawa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A head kick misses from Piercer.
A clash of legs there as Misawa blocks the low kick.

Misawa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Misawa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Misawa tries a body shot but Piercer blocks it.
Piercer blocks an elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Misawa.
Misawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Misawa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Piercer trying to stall but Misawa improves his position.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Misawa.
Piercer misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misawa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Misawa lands with a short shot to the head.
Misawa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Misawa throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Piercer letting Misawa take a breather here.

Piercer manages to break the clinch.
Misawa closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Misawa avoids the head kick by Piercer.
Misawa steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Piercer.
A swing and a miss from Piercer.

Misawa darts in and clinches Piercer up against the cage.
Misawa lands a damaging elbow.
Misawa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Piercer backwards.
Misawa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Misawa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Misawa told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Piercer misses with some punches.
Piercer takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Misawa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piercer misses with a punch to the body.
Piercer throws a head punch that misses.
Misawa lands an elbow just above Piercer 's eye.
Misawa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Misawa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Piercer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Misawa or not.
Misawa pushes off an throws an elbow but Piercer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Piercer can't find room to land a body shot as Misawa controls the action.
Misawa misses with some punches.
Misawa trying to control the position but instead, Piercer has worked for underhooks and has pushed Misawa into the cage.
Piercer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Misawa.
Misawa lands an elbow inside that Piercer shrugs off.

It looks like John Piercer has been cut.
Piercer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Misawa.
Piercer definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Misawa comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Misawa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Misawa - that landed with a thud.
Misawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Piercer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misawa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Misawa pushes Piercer back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Misawa lands a damaging elbow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Piercer.
Misawa can't find room to land a body shot as Piercer controls the action.
Misawa tries a body shot but Piercer blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Misawa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Piercer's brow.
A nice right hand lands inside from Misawa.
Piercer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Piercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Misawa's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Piercer.
Misawa tries to stall but Piercer uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Misawa lands a shot to the body.
Misawa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Misawa misses with a body punch.
Piercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Misawa controls his hands.
Misawa tries a body shot but Piercer blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misawa presses Piercer against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Misawa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Misawa lands with a short shot to the head.
Misawa pushes off an throws an elbow but Piercer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piercer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misawa misses with an elbow strike.
Piercer blocks the elbow strike.
Misawa effectively controlling the action here.
Misawa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Misawa tries to throw a body punch but Piercer avoids it by throwing Misawa back against the cage.
Piercer gets through Misawa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Piercer breaks from the clinch.
Piercer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Misawa.
Piercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Misawa.
Misawa throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Misawa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsu Misawa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Piercer's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Piercer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Misawa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Piercer.
Piercer throws a quick counter head kick but Misawa was just out of range.
Misawa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Piercer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Piercer throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Misawa tries to counter by closing the distance.
Misawa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Piercer.
Piercer misses with a series of wild punches.
Piercer lands a lovely overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piercer misses with a straight left.
Misawa avoids a kick to the body.
Piercer sets himself, and Misawa steps forward looking for the clinch! Piercer avoids it this time.
Some bone on bone action there as Misawa checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
John Piercer is winning the standup battle so far.
Misawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Piercer misses.
Piercer tries to land a leg kick but Misawa saw it coming and moves away.
Misawa is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Misawa clinches.
Piercer lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Misawa.
A head punch on the inside from Piercer fails to land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Misawa.
Misawa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Misawa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Piercer's elbow.
Misawa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Piercer scores with a nice hook to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Misawa pushes off an throws an elbow but Piercer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Misawa tries to throw a body punch but Piercer avoids it by throwing Misawa back against the cage.
Misawa lands a damaging elbow.
Piercer takes an elbow to the temple.
Misawa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Piercer backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Misawa.
Piercer takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Piercer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Piercer lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Misawa slowing the pace effectively.
Piercer throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Piercer.
Misawa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice left hand lands by Misawa.
Piercer throws a punch but it's blocked by Misawa.
Piercer avoids a wild elbow strike from Misawa.
Good body shot from Misawa.
Misawa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Piercer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Misawa in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Misawa blocks an uppercut.
Piercer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Misawa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Misawa.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Misawa.

Piercer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Misawa avoids the body shot from Piercer.
Misawa wants to counter the offense by Piercer and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piercer throws a jab but it's blocked by Misawa.

Misawa has taken the fight to the clinch.
Misawa lands a nice elbow.
Misawa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Misawa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Piercer takes an elbow to the forehead.

John Piercer's cut is getting worse.
Misawa misses with an elbow over the top.
Mitsu Misawa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Misawa throws an elbow that misses.
Piercer blocks the elbow strike.
Misawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Misawa has a couple of punches blocked by Piercer.
Piercer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Piercer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Misawa controlling the action here for a moment.
Misawa has a couple of punches blocked by Piercer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piercer blocks an elbow strike from Misawa.
Misawa has Piercer pushed against the cage.
Good body shot from Misawa.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Misawa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Misawa throws an elbow but it misses.
Piercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Misawa controls his hands.
Misawa lands an elbow inside.

Piercer breaks the clinch.
Misawa scores with a hook.
Piercer misses with a wild body shot.
Misawa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Misawa wants to counter with a clinch but Piercer pushes him away.
John Piercer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Misawa has Piercer up against the cage in a clinch.
Piercer takes an elbow to the forehead.
Misawa throws an elbow but it misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsu Misawa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Piercer's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Piercer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Misawa's sensitive parts.
Piercer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Piercer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Misawa was well out of range. Poor timing from Piercer.
Piercer sets himself, and Misawa steps forward looking for the clinch! Piercer avoids it this time.
Misawa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Misawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Piercer moves away.
Piercer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Piercer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Misawa manages to avoid it.
Misawa steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Piercer.
Misawa slips a jab from Piercer.
Misawa misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Misawa misses with a body shot.
Misawa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Piercer lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Piercer fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Misawa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piercer delivers a nice body kick.
Piercer looks to land a left hand but Misawa moved out of range nicely.
Misawa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Misawa drives through and clinches with Piercer against the cage.
Misawa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Piercer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Piercer is leaning against Misawa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Misawa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Misawa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Piercer is working Misawa over against the cage.
Piercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Misawa controls his hands.
Piercer lands a body punch.
Piercer misses with a punch on the inside.
Piercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Misawa's elbow.
Piercer lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Piercer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
John Piercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piercer tries to work over Misawa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Piercer looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Misawa.
Piercer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Piercer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Good body shot from Misawa.
Piercer lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from Piercer fails to land.
A short right from Misawa.
Piercer lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Misawa backwards.
Piercer takes an elbow to the temple.
Piercer throws a head punch that misses.
Misawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Misawa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Piercer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Misawa stalling in the clinch.
Misawa lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misawa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Misawa throws an elbow but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Piercer.
Misawa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Piercer can't find room to land a body shot as Misawa controls the action.
Mitsu Misawa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Piercer has a couple of punches blocked by Misawa.
Misawa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Piercer.

Piercer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Misawa misses with a wild body shot.

Misawa pushes Piercer up against the cage in a clinch.
Piercer can't find room to land a body shot as Misawa controls the action.
Piercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Misawa controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piercer fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Misawa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Misawa prevents a body shot from Piercer.
Misawa prevents a body shot from Piercer.
Piercer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Piercer scores with a nice hook to the head.
Piercer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Misawa's elbow.
Piercer lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Misawa.
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!
Piercer wants to break free but Misawa has control.
Misawa looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Piercer struggles to land a body shot inside as Misawa controls his hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Piercer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Misawa has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsu Misawa!