PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Pierce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marius Zaromskis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Pierce
vs
Zaromskis

178 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

176 cm
19
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Blunt Force Trauma Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Pierce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marius Zaromskis!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zaromskis moves into the clinch.

Zaromskis manages to break the clinch.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Pierce paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pierce avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pierce changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zaromskis tries to avoid it but Pierce manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zaromskis to the ground. Zaromskis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pierce is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaromskis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Zaromskis clinches up with Pierce and pushes him back against the ropes.
Zaromskis taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Zaromskis breaks the clinch.
Zaromskis pushes Pierce away with a front kick.

Zaromskis moves into the clinch.
Pierce looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Pierce. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaromskis prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zaromskis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Pierce in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Pierce pulls Zaromskis into guard.
Pierce keeping moving, preventing Zaromskis from controlling successfully.

Pierce is working an open guard so Zaromskis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Pierce fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zaromskis tries to clinch there but Pierce circles away.
Zaromskis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pierce.
Zaromskis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pierce. That did some damage!

Zaromskis instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaromskis is trying to maintain a safe position but Pierce gets an underhook and turns Zaromskis into the ropes.
Zaromskis lands a good knee to the midsection. Pierce won't want to take too many of those.

Zaromskis has hold of one of Pierce's legs. Pierce is fighting the takedown attempt but Zaromskis gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Zaromskis trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zaromskis is looking to stand up but Pierce won't let him.
Zaromskis trying to control but Pierce is working from the bottom.
Pierce looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zaromskis passes Pierce's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Zaromskis stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pierce to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce misses with a body shot.

Zaromskis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Zaromskis wants a takedown.

Pierce decides to pull guard.
Zaromskis postures up.
Zaromskis looking to sit in guard and control but Pierce gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zaromskis is looking to stand up but Pierce isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaromskis looks gassed!
Pierce passes Zaromskis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pierce seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zaromskis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pierce is looking to advance position but Zaromskis won't allow it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zaromskis looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pierce not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pierce is looking to take a break and control but Zaromskis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pierce keeps the fight on the outside.
Zaromskis closes the distance but Pierce moves to the side

and Pierce counters by moving into the clinch.
Zaromskis changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Pierce fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch but Pierce swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Zaromskis drives through and clinches with Pierce against the ropes.
Pierce stalling the fight.
Zaromskis gets underhooks to prevent Pierce's takedown attempt.
Zaromskis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Pierce jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zaromskis walks away with a smile on his face. Pierce gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Zaromskis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pierce looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zaromskis is fending him off so far but Pierce persists. Nope, Zaromskis circles away and we're back to standing.
Pierce looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zaromskis is fending him off so far but Pierce persists. Nope, Zaromskis circles away and we're back to standing.
Zaromskis darts in trying to clinch

and Pierce decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zaromskis's guard.
Zaromskis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierce.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Zaromskis is looking to stand up but Pierce isn't so interested in that idea.
Pierce looking to pass the guard.
Zaromskis wants to stand and escape but Pierce is having none of it.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Pierce trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaromskis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pierce scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pierce pushes down on Zaromskis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pierce thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zaromskis wants to get back to his feet.
Pierce trying to control from half guard but Zaromskis is working away.
Pierce is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Zaromskis reverses the position - he's now on top in Pierce's guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Zaromskis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pierce is working an open guard so Zaromskis takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pierce swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pierce swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown but Zaromskis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zaromskis tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pierce counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zaromskis's guard now.
Pierce trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zaromskis wants to get back to his feet but Pierce passes into half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pierce lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pierce wants to take a breather but Zaromskis is having none of it.
Zaromskis is trying to stand back up but Pierce is controlling him
Nice strikes from Pierce there.
Zaromskis keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zaromskis looks like he's trying to stand up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pierce tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zaromskis swivels and escapes.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pierce swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zaromskis throws a nice outside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pierce.
Marius Zaromskis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Zaromskis clinches up against the ropes.
Zaromskis utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Zaromskis trying to control the position but instead, Pierce has worked for underhooks and has pushed Zaromskis into the ropes.
Zaromskis's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Pierce ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pierce no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zaromskis wants to stand but Pierce is controlling his posture from full guard.

Pierce is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marius Zaromskis will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pierce fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zaromskis avoids it really well and circles away.
Pierce shoots for a double leg takedown but Zaromskis sprawls well. He's pushed Pierce's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Zaromskis darts in and clinches Pierce up against the ropes.
Pierce has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zaromskis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Pierce. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zaromskis stalling in the clinch but Pierce improves position.
Pierce drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knees to the body from Zaromskis.

Zaromskis breaks the clinch.
Zaromskis throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Zaromskis gets a clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zaromskis is pushing Pierce up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Pierce goes for a takedown in the clinch but Zaromskis prevents it.
Zaromskis scores a nice knee to the body.
Zaromskis misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaromskis landing knees to the body.

Zaromskis breaks the clinch.

Zaromskis closes the distance and pushes Pierce back into the ropes.
Zaromskis lands a body shot.
Pierce is working for takedown but Zaromskis is calmly controlling the position for now.
Zaromskis lands a nice elbow.
Pierce tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Zaromskis smiles and moves away.

Pierce tries to keep at a distance but Zaromskis has taken the fight into the clinch.

Zaromskis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zaromskis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zaromskis closes the distance but Pierce moves to the side

and Pierce counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pierce.
Pierce trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Zaromskis uses the ropes to get back to his feet.
Pierce tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zaromskis swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pierce fails with a takedown attempt.

Zaromskis moves into the clinch successfully.
Zaromskis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pierce.

Zaromskis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pierce shoots in for a double leg but Zaromskis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Marius Zaromskis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pierce shoots in looking for a takedown. Zaromskis tries to sprawl out of it but Pierce keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Zaromskis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Zaromskis clinches.
Pierce looking for a takedown.

Zaromskis is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Pierce can't fight it off and eventually Zaromskis manages to take the fight to the floor. Pierce looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zaromskis preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaromskis wants to stand but Pierce has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zaromskis stopping the sweep attempt from Pierce.
Zaromskis trying to control the position from guard on top but Pierce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pierce is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zaromskis is trying to stand back up but Pierce is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pierce thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pierce thows a huge punch but Zaromskis dodges it nicely.
Pierce throwing shots but Zaromskis is blocking nicely.
Zaromskis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pierce.
Pierce stops Zaromskis from getting back to his feet.
Pierce looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pierce is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zaromskis tries to clinch up

and Pierce counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pierce trying to control but Zaromskis is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pierce stops Zaromskis from standing up.
Pierce with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pierce trying to control but Zaromskis is working from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pierce passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Zaromskis wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pierce tries for a takedown but Zaromskis sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zaromskis clinches.
Zaromskis using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pierce goes for a takedown attempt but Zaromskis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Zaromskis wants to clinch

and Pierce counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zaromskis pushes Pierce off looking to stand but Pierce dives back in and keeps control.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pierce thows a huge punch but Zaromskis dodges it nicely.
Pierce works his foot free and advances to mount.
Zaromskis manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Zaromskis, under a barage of strikes from Pierce.
Pierce sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zaromskis defending well though.
Zaromskis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pierce.
Pierce trying to control the action but Zaromskis is working from the bottom.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zaromskis won't allow Pierce to pass to mount.
Paul Pierce overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pierce thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Zaromskis to regain full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pierce tries to close the distance and clinch but Zaromskis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zaromskis throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zaromskis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zaromskis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zaromskis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Pierce paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pierce shoots in for a takedown but Zaromskis shows good takedown defense.
Zaromskis delivers a nice body kick.

Zaromskis closes the distance and pushes Pierce back into the ropes.
Pierce drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Zaromskis turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Zaromskis wants to control but Pierce is keeping him busy.
Zaromskis wants to stand but Pierce is controlling his arm.
Pierce is trying to control Zaromskis's posture but Zaromskis avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marius Zaromskis.
I think Zaromskis 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Marius Zaromskis!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight for Marius Zaromskis!

Marius Zaromskis wins by majority decision!