PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Pierson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauer Zajzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pierson
vs
Zajzon

165 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
24
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brandon Pierson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mauer Zajzon!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Pierson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pierson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zajzon just misses with a punch to the body.
Pierson shoots in looking for a takedown but Zajzon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pierson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zajzon throws a right and a left that Pierson avoids nicely.
Horrible takedown by Pierson or perhaps it was just good defense by Zajzon which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Pierson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zajzon leaves Pierson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zajzon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zajzon dodges the punch combination from Pierson.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zajzon.
Zajzon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pierson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajzon fails with a takedown attempt.
Pierson throws a lazy right hand but Zajzon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch combination from Zajzon misses.
Pierson shoots in looking for a takedown. Zajzon tries to sprawl out of it but Pierson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Zajzon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zajzon defending well as Pierson loads up on a big left hand.
Zajzon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pierson avoids it really well and circles away.
Pierson looks to land a combination but Zajzon avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon shoots for a double leg takedown but Pierson sprawls well. He's pushed Zajzon's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pierson leaves Zajzon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pierson misses the shot to the body.
Pierson misses with a wild combination.
Zajzon closes the distance and clinches up with Pierson, looking for a takedown. Zajzon pushes Pierson against the cage but Pierson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zajzon looks gassed!

Pierson scores a takedown into full mount!
Pierson cracks Zajzon with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zajzon can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pierson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zajzon is trying desperately to improve position.
Pierson with a couple of short strikes.
Zajzon is looking to get to half guard.
Pierson lands a nice shot to the head.
Zajzon is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon regains half guard.
Pierson not doing much here.
Zajzon punching from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zajzon is looking to control Pierson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zajzon avoid being mounted?
Pierson is trying to control. Zajzon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Pierson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pierson wants to clinch.
Zajzon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pierson circles away.
Pierson fails with the takedown.

Pierson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pierson lands in his opponent's guard.
Pierson preventing the sweep.
Zajzon is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pierson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pierson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pierson trying to control but Zajzon is working from the bottom.
Pierson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Brandon Pierson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Zajzon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Pierson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pierson showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pierson winds up and cracks Zajzon with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon wants to improve his position but Pierson is controlling well.
Pierson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zajzon is in trouble now - Pierson has advanced to mount!
Pierson landing strikes from the mount and Zajzon is in trouble!
Pierson prevents Zajzon from getting the reversal.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Zajzon that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Zajzon keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Zajzon bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Zajzon wants to control from the top but Pierson keeps moving.
Zajzon stops Pierson from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon pushing down on Pierson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zajzon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pierson is refusing to be controlled, as Zajzon sits in half guard.
Pierson is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zajzon working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Pierson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zajzon closes the distance and clinches up with Pierson, looking for a takedown. Zajzon pushes Pierson against the cage but Pierson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pierson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zajzon uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pierson.
Pierson tries to clinch there but Zajzon circles away.

Zajzon tries to keep at a distance but Pierson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pierson lands an elbow that stopped Zajzon in his tracks for a moment.
Zajzon wants a takedown.
Pierson tries to land knees in the clinch but Zajzon avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zajzon is trying to drag Pierson to the mat but Pierson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Brandon Pierson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauer Zajzon.
Pierson trying to land knees to the body.
Pierson wants a takedown but no success here.
Zajzon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pierson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pierson wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon prevents the takedown attempt.
Zajzon goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pierson prevents it.
Zajzon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Pierson has clasped his hands together around Zajzon's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Zajzon regains half guard.
Zajzon works his way to full guard. Good work.
Zajzon lands a good elbow from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pierson.
Pierson stopping the sweep attempt from Zajzon.
Pierson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pierson throws a big right hand that misses.
Brandon Pierson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zajzon wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zajzon lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pierson!
Mauer Zajzon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Zajzon looking to secure an arm triangle but Pierson defends it well.
Pierson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

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 Brandon Pierson.
Well Pierson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brandon Pierson!
A less than humble Brandon Pierson misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.