PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Caius Cosades Jr (ranked 5696 p4p, 5754 weight class) and Francesco Mariani (ranked 359 p4p, 360 weight class). Cosades Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Morrowind. Mariani comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Adiemus kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Caius Cosades Jr has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Cosades Jr
vs
Mariani

165 cm
18
145
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
18
145
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Caius Cosades Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Francesco Mariani!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Mariani with that takedown attempt.
Mariani fails with the takedown.
As Mariani backs away, Cosades Jr returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Mariani drives through with a takedown into Cosades Jr's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Cosades Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mariani wants to pass the guard but Cosades Jr is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cosades Jr wants to control the position but Mariani says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Cosades Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mariani is working away from the top position though.
Cosades Jr is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cosades Jr trying to control but Mariani postures up.
Mariani takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mariani scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cosades Jr trying to hold on to Mariani's head to control him but Mariani postures up.
Mariani with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cosades Jr has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mariani is working away from the top position though.
Mariani perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mariani wants to control but Cosades Jr is keeping him busy.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mariani working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Cosades Jr is looking to control Mariani's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cosades Jr avoid being mounted?
Mariani missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mariani trying to mount his opponent but Cosades Jr defends it.
Mariani sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cosades Jr is pressing down on Mariani's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mariani sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two 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.
Cosades Jr lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mariani tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mariani controls Cosades Jr momentarily but Cosades Jr frees himself.
Mariani keeping full guard, as Cosades Jr tries to pass.
Cosades Jr won't allow Mariani to sweep him here.
Mariani manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cosades Jr manages to get himself to full guard.

Cosades Jr wants to hit a sweep here but Mariani passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cosades Jr there!
Cosades Jr really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Mariani lands a big shot there that rocks Cosades Jr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mariani takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cosades Jr tries to lock up and control but Mariani gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cosades Jr can't escape the position.
Cosades Jr avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mariani.
Cosades Jr wants to control but Mariani is having none of it.
Mariani sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cosades Jr tries to hold on but Mariani postures up.
Mariani takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cosades Jr keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mariani sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cosades Jr tries to hold on but Mariani pushes him away.
Cosades Jr definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mariani raining down shots from the mount!
Cosades Jr wants to control but Mariani is having none of it.
Mariani looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cosades Jr tries to lock up and control but Mariani gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mariani wants to control the pace but Cosades Jr is squirming around nicely.
Mariani with shots to the head and body - Cosades Jr looks very uncomfortable down there.
Cosades Jr manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Mariani missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Mariani dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cosades Jr misses with a leg kick

and Mariani counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cosades Jr won't allow Mariani to pass to mount.
Cosades Jr moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mariani postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cosades Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Cosades Jr, not yet.
Cosades Jr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cosades Jr 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.
Cosades Jr controls Mariani momentarily but Mariani frees himself.
Mariani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mariani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cosades Jr keeping moving, preventing Mariani from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mariani postures up.
Mariani trying to control the position from guard on top but Cosades Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mariani won't allow Cosades Jr to sweep him here.
Cosades Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Mariani is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mariani controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mariani in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cosades Jr 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.
Mariani sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cosades Jr looking to control.
Mariani's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mariani tries for a takedown but Cosades Jr sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Mariani is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cosades Jr's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariani passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mariani fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Francesco Mariani has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mariani avoids the attempt from Cosades Jr to control.
Cosades Jr is bucking up trying to escape but Mariani cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cosades Jr keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to 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!
Cosades Jr wants to control but Mariani is having none of it.
Mariani trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mariani has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cosades Jr's face.
Cosades Jr working to try and regain half guard.
Mariani lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cosades Jr hang on?

Cosades Jr is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariani postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Cosades Jr in real trouble here! The ref calls for Cosades Jr to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Francesco Mariani!
During a confident post fight interview, Francesco Mariani thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.