PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gian Matteo Ranzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gian Matteo Ranzi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sam Jackson's chin.

Matteo Ranzi
vs
Jackson

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gian Matteo Ranzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Jackson!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ranzi tries to clinch there but Jackson circles away.
Jackson shoots in but Ranzi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Ranzi is avoiding it.
Ranzi wants to clinch

and Jackson counters with a single leg into guard. Ranzi didn't expect that.

Ranzi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ranzi working for a triangle but Jackson defends it easily.

Ranzi looking for a guillotine here but Jackson defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ranzi is looking for a triangle but Jackson pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ranzi keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.

Jackson stands up and waves to Ranzi to follow him.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt - Ranzi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
Gian Matteo Ranzi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Jackson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Ranzi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ranzi.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ranzi as Jackson tries to tie him up.
Ranzi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ranzi lands a knee to the head.
Ranzi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ranzi tries to stall but Jackson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ranzi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jackson wants a takedown but no success here.
Jackson stalling the fight.
Ranzi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ranzi misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ranzi looking to throw knees to the head but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Ranzi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jackson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ranzi is breathing heavily.
Ranzi misses with a knee to the head.
Ranzi with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Jackson jumps into guard, dragging Ranzi to the mat.

Ranzi is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jackson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jackson has escaped and now he's on top!

Ranzi looking for subs off his back but Jackson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Jackson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Ranzi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson moves into full mount! Ranzi won't be happy about that!
Ranzi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jackson wants to control the pace but Ranzi is squirming around nicely.
Jackson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ranzi is looking to improve his position but Jackson isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Jackson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ranzi closes the distance but Jackson moves to the side

and Jackson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jackson.
Jackson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ranzi is proving hard to escape from.

Ranzi throws his legs up looking for a submission but Jackson uses it to pass to side control.
Ranzi tries to improve position but can't.
Ranzi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Ranzi actively working from the bottom here.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Ranzi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Ranzi gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Ranzi keeps moving.
Jackson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Ranzi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ranzi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Jackson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ranzi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Jackson's back instead.

Ranzi working for a choke but Jackson is defending well.

Ranzi is looking for a choke. Jackson gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Jackson manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

Ranzi is looking for a triangle but Jackson pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ranzi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ranzi keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ranzi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ranzi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranzi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ranzi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Ranzi is retaining full guard.
Jackson tries to stand but Ranzi is controlling from the bottom.
Ranzi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ranzi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ranzi has his foot on Jackson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jackson works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ranzi is looking for a triangle but Jackson pushes his legs off easily.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Ranzi keeps moving.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Ranzi is keeping the position.
Jackson wants to get up but he can't break Ranzi's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ranzi is cranking Jackson's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Jackson! He's tightened the choke and Jackson is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Gian Matteo Ranzi!