PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Flowers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marco Pique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Pique struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Marco Pique acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Flowers
vs
Pique

180 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Freddy Flowers !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marco Pique!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pique closes the distance and clinches up with Flowers , looking for a takedown. Pique pushes Flowers against the cage but Flowers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pique has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Pique misses with a takedown attempt - Flowers sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Flowers clinches up against the cage.
Flowers stops a takedown attempt from Pique.
Freddy Flowers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Pique.
Flowers stalling.

Flowers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Flowers instigates a clinch.
Flowers scores a nice knee to the body.
Pique looks winded!

Flowers ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Flowers no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flowers is trying to control the position but Pique postures up.
Pique tries to free his leg and advance position but Flowers is retaining full guard.
Pique postures up.
Flowers wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flowers is looking to stand up but Pique isn't so interested in that idea.
Flowers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pique trying to control the position from guard on top but Flowers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pique stands and throws Flowers 's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Pique goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Flowers has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pique but great work by Flowers .

Flowers decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Flowers shoots in and bounces Pique off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Flowers tries to free his leg and advance position but Pique is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flowers wants to get up but he can't break Pique's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Flowers gets to his feet. Pique looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Pique fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Flowers sprawls well initially but Pique persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
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!
Flowers is looking to improve his position.
Flowers trying to control from the bottom.

Pique is working for a submission of some sort.
Pique wants to control but Flowers is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flowers looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pique trying to control the action but Flowers is working from the bottom.

Pique is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Flowers sees it coming and defends easily.
Flowers tries to get to full guard but Pique has control of the leg.
Flowers wants to control but Pique is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Flowers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pique on the ground.

Pique seems to be working for a kimura but Flowers defends the submission attempt.

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.
Flowers preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Flowers tries to roll over but Pique keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Flowers blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pique.

Pique is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Flowers defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pique is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Flowers defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Flowers dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pique.

Flowers moves into the clinch.

Flowers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Flowers drives through and clinches with Pique against the cage.
Flowers throws a punch but it's blocked by Pique.

Flowers 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pique throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Flowers 's waist but Flowers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pique off to one side.
Flowers fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flowers tries to clinch but Pique moves out of range.
Pique fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Freddy Flowers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Pique.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Flowers scores a nice knee to the body.
Pique is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flowers manages to break the clinch.
Flowers misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pique.
Marco Pique seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Flowers chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Flowers tries to clinch but Pique moves out of range.

Flowers decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Flowers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pique doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Flowers .
Pique keeping control of the position.
Pique tries to get to full guard but Flowers has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Flowers is working for a kimura but Pique is defending it quite comfortably.

Flowers postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Pique to stand up.
Pique avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pique tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Pique shoots in and drives through. Flowers sprawls well.
Pique fails with a takedown attempt.

Pique shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pique stopping the sweep attempt from Flowers .
Flowers wants to get back to his feet but Pique is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pique trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Flowers manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Pique trying to keep a closed guard but Flowers is proving a slippery customer.
Flowers wants to control from the top but Pique keeps moving.
Pique is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Flowers would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Flowers trying to control the position from guard on top but Pique is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pique had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Flowers defends it easily.
Flowers stopping the sweep attempt from Pique.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pique keeping moving, preventing Flowers from controlling successfully.
Pique keeping full guard, as Flowers tries to pass.

Pique working for a triangle but Flowers defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Flowers dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Flowers shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Pique moves into full guard.
Pique looking to control.
Flowers lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Flowers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pique can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pique controls Flowers momentarily but Flowers frees himself.

Pique working for a triangle but Flowers defends it easily.
Flowers wants to control from the top but Pique keeps moving.
Flowers has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pique takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Flowers gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Pique drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pique won't allow Flowers to get back to his feet.
Flowers trying to control the position here.
Pique trying to control the position from guard on top but Flowers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flowers seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Pique postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Flowers is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pique, into his guard.

Flowers wants to stand but Pique has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pique looking to hit a scissor sweep but Flowers is one step ahead there.

Flowers gets to his feet. Pique looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Flowers throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pique tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Flowers is in Pique's guard.
Pique is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Flowers stopping the sweep attempt from Pique.
Flowers postures up and lands a big shot to Pique's brow.
Flowers passes Pique's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Pique works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flowers wants to control from the top but Pique keeps moving.

Pique looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Flowers passes into side control.
Flowers moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Flowers cracks Pique with a big right hand but Pique just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Pique tries to improve position but can't.

Flowers wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pique, who protects the arm well.
Pique sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pique wants to improve his position but Flowers is controlling well.
Flowers moves nicely into side control.
Flowers working away.
Pique is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Flowers decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Flowers closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Marco Pique has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freddy Flowers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pique throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Freddy Flowers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Flowers 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 Peter Branson scores the fight for Freddy Flowers !
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Freddy Flowers !
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight for Freddy Flowers !

Freddy Flowers wins by unanimous decision!