PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between David Portanova (ranked 4393 p4p, 388 weight class) and Dave Metal (ranked 4133 p4p, 366 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Portanova
vs
Metal

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
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 Sydney, David Portanova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Metal!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Chris Dean and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Metal fails with an attempt to clinch.
Portanova changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Portanova fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Portanova has Metal up against the cage in a clinch.
Portanova misses with a punch on the inside.
Metal creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Metal has a couple of punches blocked by Portanova.
Metal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Metal struggles to land a body shot inside as Portanova controls his hands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Metal throws a head punch that misses.
Portanova blocking some punches.
Portanova blocks an elbow strike from Metal.
Metal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Portanova wants a takedown but no success here.
Metal lands an elbow inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Metal.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Metal.
Metal lands an elbow inside that Portanova shrugs off.
Portanova takes an elbow to the forehead.
Metal pushes Portanova back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Metal throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Portanovas head.
We've been hearing reports that Portanova has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Portanova is working for takedown but Metal is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Portanova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Portanova avoiding damage.
Portanova avoids a wild elbow strike from Metal.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Metal.
Metal with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Portanova takes an elbow to the temple.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Portanova wants a takedown but no success here.
Portanova is breathing heavily.
Metal throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metal lands an elbow just above Portanova 's eye.
Metal lands an elbow inside that Portanova shrugs off.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Metal just misses with a elbow thrown towards Portanova's brow.
Metal tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Metal struggles to land a body shot inside as Portanova controls his hands.
Metal looking to throw knees to the head but Portanova is blocking nicely.
Portanova is working for takedown but Metal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Metal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Metal throws an elbow but it misses.
Metal lands a nice elbow.
Metal lands an elbow inside that Portanova shrugs off.
Portanova avoids a wild elbow strike from Metal.
Metal presses Portanova against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Metal lands an elbow just above Portanova 's eye.
Metal misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Portanova is defending well for now.
Portanova blocks an elbow strike from Metal.
With the fighters up against the cage, Metal throws an elbow but misses.
Metal struggles to land a body shot inside as Portanova controls his hands.
Metal lands an elbow just above Portanova 's eye.
Metal lands a nice elbow.
Portanova avoids the elbow strike from Metal, against the cage.
Portanova dodges an elbow strike from Metal.
Metal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Metal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Metal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Metal pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Portanova takes an elbow to the forehead.
Metal misses with some punches.
Metal tries a knee to the head but Portanova blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metal lands a damaging elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Metal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Portanova.
Metal lands an elbow that stopped Portanova in his tracks for a moment.
Portanova avoiding damage as Metal throws knees to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Metal.
Metal tries to land a knee to the head but Portanova blocks with his arms.
Portanova blocks an elbow strike from Metal.
Metal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Portanova dodges an elbow strike from Metal.
Metal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Metal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Metal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Portanova fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Portanova avoids the elbow strike from Metal, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Metal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Metal tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Portanova counters with a takedown into side control.
Metal tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Portanova swings around for an armbar but Metal sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Portanova's guard.
Metal throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Portanova works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Metal would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Metal with a flurry of punches that miss.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Metal working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Metal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Metal preventing the sweep.
Metal trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Metal stopping the sweep attempt from Portanova.

Portanova had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Metal defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Metal trying to control the position from guard on top but Portanova is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Metal has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Portanova is proving hard to escape from.
Metal looking to pass the guard.
Metal throws a big right hand that misses.
Metal passes Portanova's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Metal is taking a breather. Portanova says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Metal wants to lay and pray for a moment but Portanova keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Portanova won't allow Metal to pass to mount.
Portanova is not content to let Metal control the position.

Portanova is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Metal pulls his head out easily.
Portanova makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Portanova.
Metal really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Portanova. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Metal trying to control but Portanova is working from the bottom.
Metal must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Metal slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metal trying to mount his opponent but Portanova defends it.
Metal wants to stand up but Portanova has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Portanova is looking for a sweep. Metal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dave Metal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Portanova is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Portanova actively working from the bottom here.
Metal looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Portanova with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Portanova trying to hold on to Metal's head to control him but Metal postures up.
Metal lands strikes from half guard.
Portanova manages to get to full guard.
Metal wants to get up but he can't break Portanova's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Metal throws a big elbow that misses.
Metal slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Metal clinches up with Portanova and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Metal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Metal tries to clinch up but Portanova circles away and keeps his distance.

Metal has taken the fight to the clinch.
Metal working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Metal lands an elbow inside.
Metal throws an elbow but it misses.
Metal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Metal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Metal tries to land a knee to the head but Portanova blocks with his arms.
Portanova takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Portanova blocks an elbow strike.
Metal tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Portanova avoids it.
Metal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Metal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portanova blocks an elbow strike from Metal.
Portanova takes an elbow to the forehead.
Metal lands an elbow that stopped Portanova in his tracks for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Metal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Metal throws a punch but it's blocked by Portanova.
Metal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Portanova blocks the elbow strike.
Portanova wants a takedown.
Metal comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Portanova is looking to take this one to the mat.
Metal creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Portanova's defenses.
Metal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Portanova takes an elbow to the forehead.
Metal lands an elbow that stopped Portanova in his tracks for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metal with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Portanova on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dave Metal seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Metal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Metal throws a punch but it's blocked by Portanova.
With the fighters up against the cage, Metal throws an elbow but misses.
Portanova blocks the elbow strike.
Metal lands an elbow inside that Portanova shrugs off.
Metal lands an elbow inside.
Metal lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Portanova blocks a body shot from Metal.
Metal lands a nice elbow.
Portanova has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Metal 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 David Portanova. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Metal creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Portanova's defenses.
Metal gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Metal throws an elbow but misses.
Metal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Metal looking to throw knees to the head but Portanova is blocking nicely.
Metal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Metal comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Metal using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Portanova has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Metal misses with an elbow strike.
Metal pushes off an throws an elbow but Portanova leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Metal creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Metal missing with knees to the body.
Metal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Metal obliges.
Portanova dodges an elbow strike from Metal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Metal misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Portanova.
Portanova dodges an elbow strike from Metal.
Metal lands an elbow just above Portanova 's eye.
Nice elbow from Metal.
Portanova blocks an elbow strike.
Portanova avoids a wild elbow strike from Metal.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Metal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Metal looking to throw knees to the head but Portanova is blocking nicely.
Portanova stalling.
Metal lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Metal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Metal looks to throw an elbow but misses.
David Portanova has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dave Metal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Metal makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Metal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Metal has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 25:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 25:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Metal!