PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eric Pieters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Gardener (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pieters
vs
Gardener

176 cm
25
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
147 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eric Pieters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stan Gardener!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pieters is looking to clinch but Gardener is avoiding it.
Pieters doesn't manage to clinch there - Gardener circles away.
Gardener lands with a shot to the body.
Gardener fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pieters manages to avoid it.
Pieters tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Gardener counters with a left and a right that stings Pieters.
Gardener looks to land a combination but Pieters avoids it well.
Gardener misses with a few strikes there.
A punch combination from Gardener misses.
Pieters tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gardener paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gardener scores with a jab. Pieters acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A punch combination from Gardener misses.
Pieters avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pieters tries to close the distance and clinch but Gardener swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gardener throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardener throws a right hand that Pieters ducks under and follows up with a left that Pieters also avoids with ease.
Pieters on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Pieters moves in looking to clinch but Gardener pushes him off.
Pieters fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gardener throws a jab but it's blocked by Pieters.
Gardener keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardener looks to land a combination but Pieters avoids it well.
Pieters tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gardener swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pieters wants to clinch.
Gardener swinging wildly here.
Gardener circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Gardener to counter with a crisp jab.
Gardener misses with a double jab

and Pieters counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pieters connects with a knee to the head.
Pieters using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pieters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gardener has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gardener takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Stan Gardener has been cut.
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.
Gardener is trying to break free.
Pieters crunches a lovely knee into Gardener's ribcage.
Gardener looks gassed!
Gardener wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pieters is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieters is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Pieters scores with a knee to the head.
Gardener is looking to break free of the clinch but Pieters has double underhooks.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gardener is trying to force a seperation but Pieters has the dominant position.
Pieters lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pieters crunches a lovely knee into Gardener's ribcage.
Pieters landing knees to the head.
Gardener wants to break free but Pieters has control.
A knee to the head by Pieters.
Gardener takes a knee to the side of the body.
Pieters connects with a knee to the head.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Gardener blocks it.
Gardener has had enough of the clinch but Pieters keeps him there for the moment.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Gardener has had enough of the clinch but Pieters keeps him there for the moment.
Pieters is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gardener is looking to break free of the clinch but Pieters has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gardener is looking to break free of the clinch but Pieters has double underhooks.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.
Pieters will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Gardener up against the cage.
Pieters with a knee to the head.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gardener wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gardener can't break the clinch.
Pieters controlling the action here for a moment.
A knee to the head by Pieters.
Pieters working Gardener over with knees to the body.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Pieters using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pieters unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gardener lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Gardener working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Pieters utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pieters keeps control of Gardener as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gardener tries to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling the position.
Gardener is trying to force a seperation but Pieters has the dominant position.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardener is trying to break free.
Gardener looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gardener wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gardener looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.
Pieters lands a nice knee to the body.
Pieters has Gardener pressed against the cage, preventing Gardener from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pieters stalls.
Gardener wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Pieters dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stan Gardener's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pieters has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pieters keeps control of Gardener as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gardener is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pieters misses with a knee to the head.
Pieters has Gardener pressed against the cage, preventing Gardener from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gardener wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees to the body from Pieters.
Pieters keeps control of Gardener as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gardener working hard to break the clinch.
Pieters putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gardener in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pieters scores with a knee to the head.
Pieters connects with a knee to the head.
Pieters has Gardener pressed against the cage, preventing Gardener from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pieters prevents Gardener from breaking the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pieters - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Pieters displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gardener up against the cage.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gardener looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gardener is looking to break free of the clinch but Pieters has double underhooks.
Gardener wants to break free but Pieters has control.
Gardener has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Pieters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pieters landing knees to the body.
Gardener takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gardener is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gardener tries to circle away but Pieters has him pinned against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Gardener wants to get back to striking at distance but Pieters won't allow it.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gardener wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Gardener blocks it.
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pieters lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gardener wants to get back to striking at distance but Pieters won't allow it.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.
Pieters misses with a knee strike.
Gardener working hard to break the clinch.
Gardener has had enough of the clinch but Pieters keeps him there for the moment.
Pieters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gardener has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gardener tries to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling the position.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gardener wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gardener is trying to break free.
Pieters connects with a knee to the head.
Pieters connects with a knee to the head.
Pieters working Gardener over with knees to the body.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Gardener blocks it.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Gardener blocks it.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Gardener tries to circle away but Pieters has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pieters with a knee to the head.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Gardener is trying to push Pieters away but Pieters has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pieters has Gardener pushed against the cage.
Pieters landing knees to the body.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Gardener wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Pieters using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gardener has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Gardener wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gardener can't break the clinch.
Pieters has Gardener pressed against the cage.
Pieters misses with a knee strike.
Gardener takes a knee right on the jaw!
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Gardener wants to get back to striking at distance but Pieters won't allow it.
Pieters lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Gardener takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Pieters misses with a knee to the head.
Pieters keeps control of Gardener as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gardener is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Pieters.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pieters connects with a knee to the head.
Pieters misses with a knee strike.
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Gardener takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gardener tries to circle away but Pieters has him pinned against the cage.
Pieters using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Gardener takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gardener wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardener tries to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling the position.
Gardener wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Gardener is trying to break free.
Pieters looking to throw knees to the head but Gardener is blocking nicely.
Pieters looking to throw knees to the head but Gardener is blocking nicely.
Pieters working Gardener over with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Pieters dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stan Gardener's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gardener throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stan Gardener seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pieters moves to clinch but Gardener breaks away
and Gardener counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gardener circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pieters is looking to clinch but Gardener is avoiding it.
Gardener rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pieters moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pieters tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gardener paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gardener fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Pieters looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gardener lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pieters at a distance.
Pieters tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gardener paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pieters closes the distance but Gardener moves to the side
and Gardener counters with a left to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardener fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gardener misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gardener throws a series of punches but Pieters moves out of range.
Pieters uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gardener.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pieters clinches up with Gardener and pushes him back against the cage.
Pieters working Gardener over with knees to the body.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Gardener looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gardener working hard to break the clinch.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Gardener wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pieters landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gardener tries to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling the position.
Pieters lands a good knee to the midsection. Gardener won't want to take too many of those.
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Gardener wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Gardener fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pieters landing knees to the body.
Pieters landing knees to the head.
Gardener can't break the clinch.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Pieters.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Gardener blocks it.
Pieters is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Stan Gardener has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pieters is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gardener is keeping busy.
Pieters with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Pieters lands a knee to the body.
Gardener is trying to push Pieters away but Pieters has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters working Gardener over with knees to the body.
Pieters putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gardener in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gardener is looking to break free of the clinch but Pieters has double underhooks.
Pieters landing knees to the body.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but Gardener blocks it.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gardener working hard to break the clinch.
Gardener is trying to break free.
Gardener is trying to force a seperation but Pieters has the dominant position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pieters.
Pieters lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A frustrated look appears on Gardener's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pieters is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but Gardener blocks with his arms.
Pieters tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Pieters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gardener blocks it with crossed arms.
Pieters stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Gardener is looking to break free of the clinch but Pieters has double underhooks.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but Gardener blocks with his arms.
Gardener tries to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling the position.
Gardener is trying to break the clinch but Pieters is controlling him.
Pieters with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Pieters obliges.
Pieters has Gardener pressed against the cage, preventing Gardener from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gardener wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gardener has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pieters is pushing Gardener up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Pieters keeps control of Gardener as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pieters keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gardener's efforts to push away.
Pieters landing knees to the head.
Pieters connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gardener's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pieters landing knees to the head.
Pieters with a knee to the head.
Pieters scores with a knee to the head.
Gardener tries to break free but Pieters pushes him back against the cage.
Gardener wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pieters prevents Gardener from breaking the clinch.
Pieters blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gardener being controlled against the cage.
Gardener wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pieters has him pressed against the cage.
Gardener wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pieters throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but Gardener blocks with his arms.
Pieters has Gardener pressed against the cage, preventing Gardener from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pieters lands a knee to the head.
Pieters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gardener blocks it with crossed arms.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gardener has had enough of the clinch but Pieters keeps him there for the moment.
Pieters throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gardener blocks it with crossed arms.
Pieters lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pieters lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Eric Pieters is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pieters tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pieters with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Eric Pieters.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pieters, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Pieters!