PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ariel Piechocki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Rafinan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Piechocki kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Gladiator. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Piechocki
vs
Rafinan

174 cm
25
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariel Piechocki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Rafinan!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Piechocki. Those never looked like landing.
Piechocki goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Joe Rafinan has been cut.
Rafinan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Piechocki misses with a combination
letting Rafinan counter with a right hand.
Piechocki fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rafinan lands a nice shot that snaps Piechocki's head back.
Good leg kick by Piechocki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rafinan throws a low kick but Piechocki avoids it.
Rafinan shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rafinan checks a leg kick.
Piechocki tries to clinch but Rafinan moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafinan avoids a punch combination nicely.

Piechocki darts in and clinches Rafinan up against the cage.

Piechocki gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Piechocki is looking for a kimura but Rafinan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Piechocki to get the leverage.
Rafinan is looking to improve his position.
Piechocki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Piechocki winds up and cracks Rafinan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rafinan has hold of Piechocki's hands but Piechocki slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Rafinan wants to get back to full guard.
Piechocki lands strikes from half guard.
Rafinan wants to get back to his feet.

Piechocki seems to be working for a kimura but Rafinan defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice strikes from Piechocki there.
Piechocki is breathing heavily.
Piechocki is keen to just control but Rafinan is a slippery customer.
Rafinan is looking to improve his position.

Piechocki decides to return to a standing position.
Piechocki tries to clinch but Rafinan moves out of range.
Piechocki dives in and grabs Rafinan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rafinan pushes down on Piechocki's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Piechocki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Piechocki avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Rafinan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piechocki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Piechocki fails to land the takedown.
Piechocki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice jab there from Rafinan.
Piechocki throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rafinan's head.
Piechocki throws a head kick but Rafinan moves out of range.
Rafinan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Piechocki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Piechocki misses with a hook. Rafinan ducked under it nicely.
Rafinan with a jab.
Piechocki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rafinan manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Piechocki avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Rafinan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rafinan wants to sweep here but Piechocki controlling him for the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rafinan controls Piechocki momentarily but Piechocki frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Piechocki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rafinan'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.

Rafinan throws a leg kick but Piechocki sees it coming and moves out of range.
Rafinan with a nice cross.
Rafinan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Piechocki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Piechocki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rafinan wants to improve his position but Piechocki is controlling well.
Piechocki lands strikes from half guard.
Piechocki lands strikes from half guard.
Piechocki is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Piechocki decides to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piechocki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rafinan counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Piechocki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Piechocki connects with a body shot that sends Rafinan's belly button to the back.
Joe Rafinan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Piechocki tries to clinch up but Rafinan circles away and keeps his distance.
Rafinan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Piechocki fails to land with a series of punches.
Piechocki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab from Rafinan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piechocki misses with a head kick.
Rafinan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Piechocki.
Rafinan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rafinan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Piechocki is out of range.
A left and a right from Rafinan both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Piechocki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ariel Piechocki is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Piechocki.
Piechocki looks to score with a jab to the body but Rafinan is just out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Piechocki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ariel Piechocki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rafinan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rafinan misses with a low kick as Piechocki jumps back.

Piechocki gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Piechocki.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Piechocki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Piechocki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rafinan backs up against the cage.
A bone on bone clash there as Piechocki blocks the leg kick.
Piechocki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Piechocki.
Piechocki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rafinan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Piechocki dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Rafinan's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rafinan misses with a straight left.
Rafinan wants to slow Piechocki down by chopping away at his legs.
Piechocki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Piechocki throws a head kick that misses.
Piechocki fails with a takedown attempt.
Piechocki darts in trying to clinch
and Rafinan counters with a straight right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Piechocki shoots and misses
and Piechocki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafinan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Piechocki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Piechocki misses.

Piechocki closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rafinan quickly recovers to half guard.
Rafinan tries to get to full guard but Piechocki has control of the leg.
Ariel Piechocki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Piechocki is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rafinan is just riding it out for now. Piechocki eventually gives up the hold.
Rafinan is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafinan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Piechocki slows the pace down in half guard.

Piechocki is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rafinan sees it coming and defends easily.
Piechocki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rafinan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Piechocki scores with a couple of nice shots.

Piechocki is trying to work for a kimura but Rafinan is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rafinan wants to improve his position but Piechocki is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piechocki wants to control but Rafinan is keeping him busy.
Rafinan wants to get back to full guard.
Piechocki controlling the action here.
Piechocki is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Rafinan!
Joe Rafinan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Piechocki with shots to the head and body - Rafinan looks very uncomfortable down there.
Rafinan is bucking up trying to escape but Piechocki cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rafinan is looking to improve his position but Piechocki isn't that keen on the idea.

Rafinan tries to improve his position but Piechocki has taken his back! Piechocki has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Rafinan tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Piechocki pushes Rafinan away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ariel Piechocki!
Ariel Piechocki decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.