PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Khumpai Prayut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Giordano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Giordano has chosen Godfather Theme (hip hop remix) as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Prayut
vs
Giordano

174 cm
26
144 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
150 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Khumpai Prayut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Giordano!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Paul Gruel and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giordano takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Antonio Giordano has been cut.
Giordano goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Prayut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Giordano.
Giordano dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Giordano throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Prayut counters with a thumping low kick.
Prayut is looking to clinch but Giordano is avoiding it.
A jab from Giordano finds it's way through Prayut's defenses.
Giordano looks to score with a jab to the body but Prayut is just out of range.
Giordano blocks the body kick.
Prayut misses with a body kick.
Giordano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Giordano fails with a takedown attempt.
Giordano shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Prayut but Prayut pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Khumpai Prayut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Giordano.
Prayut defending well as Giordano loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordano works the jab nicely.
Giordano changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Prayut tries to avoid it but Giordano manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Prayut to the ground. Prayut escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Giordano avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Prayut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Giordano is defended easily by Prayut.
Prayut misses with a low kick.
Giordano takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Giordano jabs Prayut to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Prayut instigates a clinch.
Prayut lands a good knee to the midsection. Giordano won't want to take too many of those.
Prayut tries to land knees in the clinch but Giordano avoids the damage to the body.

Giordano decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Giordano keeping moving, preventing Prayut from controlling successfully.

Giordano is working an open guard so Prayut takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Prayut misses with a low kick as Giordano jumps back.
Prayut misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Prayut throws a low kick, looking for Giordano's leg but Giordano calmly moves out of range.
Giordano fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Prayut on the side of the head.
Giordano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Prayut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Prayut.

Giordano looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Prayut!
Giordano lands a big shot there that rocks Prayut but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prayut is looking to improve his position but Giordano isn't that keen on the idea.
Prayut taking shots to the head.
Prayut wants to control but Giordano is having none of it.
Prayut is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Giordano wants to control the pace but Prayut is squirming around nicely.
Giordano content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giordano avoids the attempt from Prayut to control.
Prayut is trying to escape the mount.
Giordano punching from mount but Prayut doing a good job of avoiding damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Giordano tries to control but Prayut wriggling away.
Prayut regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antonio Giordano will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antonio Giordano's cut.
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.

Giordano drives through with a takedown into Prayut's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Prayut wants to stand but Giordano is controlling the position.
Giordano throwing strikes from guard but Prayut blocks nicely.
Giordano stopping the sweep attempt from Prayut.
Giordano won't allow Prayut to get back to his feet.
Giordano throws a big right hand that misses.
Giordano trying to control the position from guard on top but Prayut is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giordano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Prayut preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Prayut is trying to control the position but Giordano postures up.
Prayut wants to stand and escape but Giordano is having none of it.
Prayut is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Giordano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Giordano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Prayut is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Prayut is trying to keep Giordano in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Khumpai Prayut.
Giordano swinging wildly here.
Prayut tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Giordano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Giordano throws a series of punches but Prayut avoids them all with ease.
Giordano looks to land a combination. Prayut sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Giordano misses with a body shot.
Prayut walks into a straight right hand from Giordano.
Giordano moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Giordano lands with a cross.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Giordano crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Prayut - the referee stops the clock and Giordano gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Prayut. Giordano manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Antonio Giordano seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giordano fails with a takedown attempt.
Prayut stuffs the takedown attempt from Giordano. Giordano gets slowly back to his feet.
Giordano lands with a shot to the body.
Giordano is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Prayut rather than just go for the knockout.
Giordano cracks Prayut with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Prayut tries to clinch up but Giordano circles away and keeps his distance.
Giordano scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Prayut fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Giordano checks it well.
Prayut walks into a left hand.
Giordano scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Prayut doesn't seem bothered though.
Prayut throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giordano tries for a takedown but Prayut sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Khumpai Prayut has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Giordano.
Giordano shoots for a double leg takedown but Prayut sprawls well. He's pushed Giordano's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Prayut rushes Giordano and presses him up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Prayut.
Prayut misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Giordano.
Prayut prevents the takedown attempt.
Giordano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Giordano is trying to pull guard but Prayut has him pressed against the cage.
Giordano avoids a wild elbow strike from Prayut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Prayut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Prayut missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Prayut prevents the takedown attempt.
Prayut throws an elbow that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Prayut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Antonio Giordano will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Antonio Giordano's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Giordano tries to bum rush Prayut with a series of wild strikes but Prayut uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Antonio Giordano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Giordano misses with a few strikes there.

Prayut clinches with his opponent.
Prayut lands an elbow inside that Giordano shrugs off.
Prayut is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Giordano is defending well for now.
Prayut landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Prayut.
Giordano takes a knee right on the jaw!
Prayut tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Giordano avoids it.
Prayut misses with a knee strike.
Giordano tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Prayut just stands there and leans against the cage.
A knee to the head by Prayut.
Giordano avoiding damage as Prayut throws knees to the body.
Giordano managing to block the knees to the body from Prayut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prayut misses with a knee to the head.
Prayut trying to land knees to the body.
Prayut is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Giordano is defending well for now.
Giordano drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Giordano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Giordano comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Giordano misses with a body shot.
Prayut looks to land a right hand but Giordano moved out of range.
Giordano looks to throw the jab but Prayut is out of range.
Giordano cracks Prayut with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Giordano checks a leg kick.
Giordano thuds a left hand into Prayut's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giordano takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Prayut keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Giordano throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Prayut stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Prayut dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Giordano. That did some damage!

Giordano shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Giordano was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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!
Giordano tries to control but Prayut wriggling away.
Giordano prevents Prayut from getting the reversal.
Prayut regains half guard.
Giordano seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giordano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Prayut is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Giordano's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Giordano's back!
Giordano is keeping busy.
Prayut throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Prayut missing with punches from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Prayut misses with punches from the back.
Giordano turns into Prayut and is now in his guard.
Prayut is adopting a defensive guard.
Giordano throws an elbow that misses. Prayut uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Giordano's guard. Nice move by Prayut!
Khumpai Prayut has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Prayut throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Prayut throws an elbow that misses. Giordano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Prayut's guard. Nice move by Giordano!

Prayut working for a triangle but Giordano defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khumpai Prayut showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Giordano 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Antonio Giordano!
Antonio Giordano made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'I'm glad to be fighting here in Reach. Hopefully this is the first of many wins for me in Reach. I just want to thank my teammates at Renegade Den and Wolfschanze out in New York for getting me prepared for this fight.'.