PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Venanccio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jani A (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Venanccio
vs
A

176 cm
20
188 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leo Venanccio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jani A!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shoots in for a takedown but Venanccio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Venanccio leaves A with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Venanccio feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Venanccio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Venanccio connects with a couple of short punches.
Venanccio chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Venanccio is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
A working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Venanccio.
Venanccio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Venanccio with a nice head shot there.
Venanccio throws a big right hand that misses.
Venanccio postures up and lands a big shot to A's brow.
Venanccio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of A's head.
Venanccio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as A works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

A has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Venanccio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Venanccio lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

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

A patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Venanccio rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Venanccio has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. A is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Venanccio missing with punches from the bottom.
Venanccio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Venanccio scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Venanccio thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
A taking a bit of punishment here - Venanccio scoring with strikes.
Venanccio in side control lands a decent elbow.
A is looking to reverse the position.
Venanccio landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Venanccio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Venanccio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
A tries to improve position but can't.
Venanccio scores with a couple of short elbows.
Venanccio cracks A with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Venanccio is working A over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A tries to improve position but can't.
Venanccio cracks A with an elbow. That is naaassty.
A tries to improve position but can't.

Venanccio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, A has escaped the position, nice work there.
A is trying to get back to half guard.
Venanccio connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused A some visible discomfort.
Venanccio working the ground and pound from side control.
A tries to buck Venanccio off but Venanccio is having none of it.
A is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Venanccio is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. A can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A is trying desperately to improve position.
A swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Venanccio dominating with strikes here.

Venanccio wants to finish this one by submission but A is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Venanccio.
A is looking to improve his position but Venanccio isn't that keen on the idea.
Venanccio putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Venanccio fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. A sprawls well initially but Venanccio persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

A looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Leo Venanccio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nice strikes from Venanccio there.

Venanccio is trying to work for a kimura but A is defending well.
Venanccio slips a nice elbow through A's hands, connecting with A's forehead.
Venanccio passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for A!
A is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Venanccio with a couple of short strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee warns A that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Venanccio working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Venanccio landing shots from mount.
Venanccio landing strikes, looking to finish!
Venanccio working the ground and pound effectively.
A is working to get back to half guard.

A defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Venanccio.
Venanccio lands a big shot there that rocks A but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Venanccio looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
A is looking to get to half guard.
Venanccio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Venanccio with shots to the head and body - A looks very uncomfortable down there.

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.
A tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

A drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Venanccio manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now A has Venanccio in his guard.

A has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Venanccio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Venanccio trying to control but A is working from the bottom.
A wants to sweep here but Venanccio controlling him for the moment.
Venanccio working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of A's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venanccio lands a couple of digs.

A looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Venanccio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Venanccio drops back looking for a leg! A is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and A manages to kick Venanccio off! Venanccio jumps back into A's guard.
A bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Venanccio's guard.
Venanccio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A throws a big right hand that misses.
Venanccio controlling A's posture.
A loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

A drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and A jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Venanccio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Venanccio fails with the takedown
and A counters with a left to the body.
Venanccio misses with a takedown attempt

and A counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Venanccio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Venanccio dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Venanccio counters with a takedown into side control.
Venanccio scoring with punches from side control.
Venanccio scoring with punches from side control.
A taking punishment in the form of punches.
A takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Venanccio lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Venanccio cracks A with a big right hand but A just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
A is looking to reverse the position.
A takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
A takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Venanccio is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

A looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Venanccio thows a huge punch but A dodges it nicely.

A is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Venanccio pulls his head out easily.
Venanccio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Venanccio is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, A has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nice strikes from Venanccio there.
A manages to get to full guard.
Venanccio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as A works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two 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.

A has his foot on Venanccio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Venanccio works his way back into a safe position though.
Venanccio postures up and lands a big shot to A's brow.

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

Venanccio got a little sloppy there for a moment and A has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Venanccio has managed to get both his arms back between A's legs - danger averted.
Venanccio landing with the ground and pound.
Venanccio is in close to A's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A looking to hit a scissor sweep but Venanccio is one step ahead there.
Venanccio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as A works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Venanccio throws a big right hand that misses.
Venanccio is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Venanccio working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Venanccio.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Venanccio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and A counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Venanccio wants to improve his position but A is controlling well.
Venanccio strikes from the bottom but A passes into mount!

A throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Venanccio has his hands clasped together but A breaks the hold and Venanccio is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by A!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jani A!