PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Piper (ranked 3896 p4p, 4303 weight class) and Runnin Rookie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Piper
vs
Rookie

176 cm
25
154
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Piper !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Runnin Rookie!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Piper takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Piper has Rookie up against the cage in a clinch.
Piper lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rookie or not.
Rookie is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Piper manages to break the clinch.

Piper manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rookie on his heels. He'll look to pass Rookie's guard now, I'm sure.
Rookie wants to stand but Piper is controlling the position.
Piper landing with the ground and pound.
Piper 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rookie pushes Piper off and gets back to his feet.
Piper throws a head kick but Rookie moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rookie swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rookie looks to throw the jab but Piper is out of range.
Rookie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Rookie throws a right hand that misses

and Piper counters with a shoot takedown. Rookie fights it but they end up in guard.
Piper won't allow Rookie to get back to his feet.
Piper lands a couple of elbows.

Piper thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Piper stays in close to Rookie's body and controls the position.

Piper thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Piper throws a big elbow that misses.
Rookie wants to stand but Piper is controlling the position.
Piper seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rookie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rookie throws a body punch but Piper moves out of range.
Piper gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Runnin Rookie is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Piper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rookie circles away.
Rookie now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rookie throws a poor cross that misses

and Piper counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Rookie scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Rookie closes the distance and clinches.
Piper is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rookie is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Piper has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Rookie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Piper . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Piper is breathing heavily.

Rookie manages to break the clinch.
Piper keeps the fight on the outside.

Piper closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rookie avoids a wild elbow strike from Piper .

Rookie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Piper keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rookie.
As Rookie tries to get set, Piper tries to push him back and clinch up but Rookie manages to avoid the attempt.

Rookie clinches up with Piper and pushes him back against the cage.
Rookie wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Piper pulls guard successfully.
Rookie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rookie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Piper is proving hard to escape from.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Piper not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Piper 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rookie wants to control from the top but Piper keeps moving.
Rookie trying to stand up but can't free himself from Piper 's guard.
Piper looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rookie is one step ahead there.
Rookie wants to stand but Piper is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John Piper will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Piper misses with a takedown attempt - Rookie sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rookie throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Piper counters with a left and a right that stings Rookie.
Piper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piper uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rookie.
Piper seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Rookie dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rookie sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Piper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piper feinted with a counter takedown.
Runnin Rookie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Piper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piper blocks a jab.
Piper seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rookie. Piper does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Piper .
Piper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rookie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Piper is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rookie.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Piper throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rookie.
Some wild striking there from Rookie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piper doesn't manage to clinch there - Rookie circles away.
Rookie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Piper ducks under a wild hook from Rookie.
Piper tries to clinch but Rookie is having none of it.
A nice side step and Rookie releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Rookie throws a lazy right hand but Piper sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rookie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Piper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rookie throws a big shot that misses.
Piper dives in for a single leg takedown but Rookie sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Piper breaks from the clinch.
Rookie misses with a body shot
and Piper counters with a flying knee. Nice.
John Piper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rookie with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Piper to score with a decent uppercut.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Piper .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Piper . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Piper looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice cross by Rookie.
Nice defenses there by Piper .
A combination from Rookie does no damage.
Rookie connects with a crisp jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A lazy left from Rookie finds it's target.
Nice straight punches there by Rookie. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Rookie.
Piper ducks under a wild hook from Rookie.
Piper avoids the body shot from Rookie.
Piper has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Piper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rookie swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Piper has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookie fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Rookie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rookie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Piper .
Piper is looking to clinch.
Rookie let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Piper shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rookie misses the shot to the body.

Piper closes the distance and clinches.
Piper is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rookie throws a punch but it's blocked by Piper .
Rookie tries to circle away but Piper has him pinned against the cage.
Piper tries to pull guard but Rookie holds him up against the cage and eventually Piper drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rookie tries to circle away but Piper has him pinned against the cage.
Rookie lands with a short shot to the head.
Rookie stops a takedown attempt from Piper .
Rookie has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rookie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Piper smiles and moves away.
Rookie tries to clinch but Piper is having none of it.
Rookie takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Piper fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rookie avoids it really well and circles away.
Piper 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rookie connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Piper scrambles back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Runnin Rookie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Piper is defended easily by Rookie.
Rookie misses with a combination

and Piper counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
John Piper overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Piper stops Rookie from standing up.

Rookie scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rookie scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rookie throws a nice looking combination but Piper bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Piper tries a head kick but it misses.
Rookie looks to score with a jab to the body but Piper is just out of range.
Rookie misses with a hook. Piper ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Piper tries to clinch but Rookie moves away
and Rookie makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rookie has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rookie can't break the clinch.
Piper jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rookie walks away with a smile on his face. Piper gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Piper goes for a double leg but Rookie avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rookie continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Piper . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rookie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Piper is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rookie.
Piper shoots in looking for a takedown but Rookie manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Piper 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Piper throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rookie's waist but Rookie gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Piper off to one side.
Rookie misses with a lunging right hand

so Piper counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Rookie has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Piper is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Rookie wants to break the clinch but can't.
Piper is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rookie gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rookie manages to break the clinch.
Piper slips a jab from Rookie.
Piper keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Piper shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rookie as he jumps to the side.
Piper tries a head kick but it misses.
Rookie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Piper manages to avoid it.
Rookie connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Piper 's hands.
Rookie is looking to clinch.
Rookie looks to land a right hand but Piper moved out of range.
A punch combination from Rookie misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rookie tries to clinch up but Piper circles away and keeps his distance.
Rookie lands a really nice looking cross but Piper seems unphased.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rookie.
Rookie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Piper .
Runnin Rookie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Piper drops his hands momentarily and Rookie takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Piper is defended easily by Rookie.
Rookie misses with a body shot.
Rookie lands with a good body shot.
Rookie lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rookie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Piper .
Rookie looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rookie lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rookie throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Piper stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Piper has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Piper there as he acknowledges the shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rookie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Piper looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rookie tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Piper was well out of range. Poor timing from Rookie.
As Rookie tries to get set, Piper tries to push him back and clinch up but Rookie manages to avoid the attempt.
Piper tries to clinch up but Rookie circles away and keeps his distance.
Rookie throws a body shot but no joy.
Piper takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rookie darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rookie swings for the body but Piper moves out of range.
Piper appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rookie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Piper swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Piper is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Rookie takes a swing at Piper 's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Piper . Rookie does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice defenses there by Piper .

And that's the end of the fight!
Runnin Rookie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rookie 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Runnin Rookie!