PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joseph Wapner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Pieru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wapner
vs
Pieru

180 cm
24
182 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

180 cm
27
184 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joseph Wapner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Pieru!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wapner drives through and clinches with Pieru against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wapner.
Pieru is trying to drag Wapner to the mat but Wapner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wapner throws an elbow that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Wapner.
Wapner lands an elbow that stopped Pieru in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like George Pieru has been cut.
Pieru has Wapner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wapner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pieru has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Wapner avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Joseph Wapner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Pieru.
Wapner lands an elbow inside that Pieru shrugs off.
Pieru dodges an elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner gets underhooks to prevent Pieru's takedown attempt.
Pieru's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wapner lands an elbow just above Pieru 's eye.
Wapner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Pieru is rocked!
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
Pieru is still on wobbly legs! Can Wapner finish him?
Wapner gets underhooks to prevent Pieru's takedown attempt.
Wapner throws an elbow that misses.
Pieru seems to have recovered his senses.
Wapner tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
Wapner lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wapner lands a knee to the head.
Pieru looks gassed!
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
Pieru is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wapner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Wapner misses with a knee to the head.
Wapner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wapner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Wapner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pieru has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wapner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wapner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wapner lands a shoulder strike.
Wapner makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Wapner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pieru's brow.
Wapner misses with an elbow over the top.
Pieru wants a takedown but no success here.
Pieru has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wapner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pieru avoids the elbow strike from Wapner, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Wapner.
Pieru takes a shot to the head.
Wapner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Pieru's defenses.

That has opened up George Pieru's cut even more.
Wapner throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pieru blocks it with crossed arms.
Pieru takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pieru changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wapner fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Pieru tries to keep at a distance but Wapner has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wapner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pieru backwards.
Nice elbow from Wapner.
Wapner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wapner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Wapner.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike.
Wapner lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Wapner scores with a shoulder strike.
Pieru blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieru is working for takedown but Wapner is calmly controlling the position for now.
Pieru's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right hand to the side of the head by Wapner.
Wapner pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike from Wapner.
Pieru is trying to drag Wapner to the mat but Wapner just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wapner pushes Pieru back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wapner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pieru trying to control the position but instead, Wapner has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pieru into the cage.
Pieru tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wapner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pieru.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pieru has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wapner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike from Wapner.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wapner throws an elbow but misses.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike.
Pieru takes an elbow to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pieru tries to score a body lock takedown but Wapner shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wapner scores with a shot to the side of Pieru's head.
Wapner lands an elbow inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Wapner throws an elbow but misses.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
Pieru dodges an elbow strike from Wapner.
Pieru misses with the head strike.
Pieru drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wapner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Pieru's defenses.
Pieru takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wapner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike.
Wapner with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Wapner lands a damaging elbow.
Wapner misses with a knee strike.
Pieru avoids a wild elbow strike from Wapner.
Pieru blocks an elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner stops a takedown attempt from Pieru.
Pieru avoids a wild elbow strike from Wapner.
Wapner misses with some punches.
Wapner lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Wapner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Wapner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wapner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wapner is pressed up against the cage. Pieru has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wapner down to the mat. Wapner avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Wapner forces Pieru back against the cage and clinches.
Wapner lands a nice uppercut.
Wapner working aggressively here.
Pieru avoids the elbow strike from Wapner, against the cage.
Pieru effectively controlling the action here.
Wapner lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Wapner lands a right hand.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wapner.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Wapner.
Wapner pushes off an throws an elbow but Pieru leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Pieru drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A short left from Wapner.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wapner.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pieru.
Wapner lands with a right to the head.
Pieru tries for a takedown but Wapner manages to get underhooks.
Wapner lands an elbow inside.
Pieru misses with a punch on the inside.
Wapner comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wapner gets through Pieru's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Wapner dominated that round.
The cut man is working on George Pieru's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pieru shoots in for a takedown but Wapner shows good takedown defense.

Wapner moves into the clinch.
Pieru tries for a takedown but Wapner manages to get underhooks.
Wapner pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pieru changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Wapner fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Joseph Wapner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Pieru.
Wapner scores with a sloppy right hand. Pieru should have avoided that one.

Wapner darts in and clinches Pieru up against the cage.
Wapner lands an elbow inside.
Wapner pushes Pieru back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wapner lands a damaging elbow.

The cut above George Pieru's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Wapner lands a damaging elbow.
Pieru lands a hook that snaps the head of Wapner backwards.
Pieru takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wapner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wapner lands a shoulder strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wapner.
Wapner lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pieru backwards.
Wapner misses with an elbow over the top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wapner with a knee to the head.
Pieru has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wapner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Wapner just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pieru's brow.
Wapner lands an elbow inside that Pieru shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wapner lands a damaging elbow.
Pieru drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wapner gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pieru is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wapner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wapner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Wapner pushes Pieru back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wapner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.
Wapner tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pieru takes a knee right on the jaw!
Wapner lands an elbow that stopped Pieru in his tracks for a moment.
Pieru is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wapner gets through Pieru's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wapner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wapner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wapner gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pieru.
Joseph Wapner has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wapner lands a nice elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wapner lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wapner lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pieru can't get the takedown.
Wapner lands an elbow inside that Pieru shrugs off.
Wapner with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wapner has a couple of punches blocked by Pieru.
Wapner misses with an elbow over the top.

Pieru has clasped his hands together around Wapner's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Pieru tries to score with some ground and pound. Wapner controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wapner is not content to let Pieru control the position.
Pieru throws an elbow but Wapner slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wapner defending against the ground and pound.
Wapner is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Pieru has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pieru throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Pieru working the ground and pound but Wapner is defending the strikes.
Pieru creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pieru scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Wapner to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wapner managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Pieru.
Pieru lands a few punches from side control.
Pieru connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wapner some visible discomfort.
Pieru landing strikes.
Pieru sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Wapner is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Pieru in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pieru throws a strike aimed at the side of Wapner's head but Wapner avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pieru showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on George Pieru's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pieru rushes Wapner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wapner gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wapner throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pieru tries for a takedown. No joy.
Wapner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Wapner misses with an elbow over the top.
Wapner throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Wapner throws an elbow but it misses.
Pieru is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wapner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Pieru has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Wapner is trying to keep an underhook but Pieru manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Pieru thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wapner taking some punishment here, with Pieru in his half guard.
Pieru not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pieru throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Pieru is just content to waste time from the top position. Wapner takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Pieru thows a big elbow that misses.
Pieru throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wapner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wapner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wapner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pieru landing with the ground and pound.

Wapner pushes Pieru off and gets back to his feet.

Pieru shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pieru thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wapner's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pieru lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pieru has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pieru throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pieru not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pieru slips a nice elbow through Wapner's hands, connecting with Wapner's forehead.
Wapner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pieru.
Pieru working Wapner over with strikes.
George Pieru has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pieru thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pieru working over Wapner with some ground and pound. Wapner looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wapner is refusing to be controlled, as Pieru sits in half guard.
Pieru is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Pieru throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pieru looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Pieru comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pieru 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!