PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lavi Lavalle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Punto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lavalle
vs
Punto

150 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
22
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lavi Lavalle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nick Punto!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavalle stuffs the takedown attempt from Punto. Punto gets slowly back to his feet.

Lavalle looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lavalle won't allow Punto to sweep him here.
Punto keeping moving, preventing Lavalle from controlling successfully.
Lavalle could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lavalle looking to pass the guard.
Punto has control of Lavalle's left arm, preventing Lavalle from doing any damage.
Lavalle wants to control from the top but Punto keeps moving.
Lavalle tries to free his leg and advance position but Punto is retaining full guard.

Lavalle drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Punto manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lavalle has Punto in his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punto won't allow Lavalle to sweep him here.
Punto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lavalle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Punto stops Lavalle from standing up.

Punto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Punto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Punto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Lavalle throws his legs up looking for a submission but Punto uses it to pass to side control.

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.
Punto wants to control but Lavalle is keeping him busy.
Lavalle might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Punto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lavalle, who protects the arm well.
Punto looks gassed!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Punto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lavalle manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Lavalle tries to roll over but Punto keeps him under control.
Lavalle moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punto drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lavalle dives on top into guard.
Lavalle wants to control from the top but Punto keeps moving.
Lavalle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lavalle wants to pass the guard but Punto is keeping the position.
Lavalle's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lavalle looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Punto keeping moving, preventing Lavalle from controlling successfully.
Lavalle looking to pass the guard.

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

Lavalle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Punto!
Lavalle content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lavi Lavalle dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lavalle with a poor takedown

and Punto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Lavalle!

Punto is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lavalle is surviving well by controlling Punto's body position as best he can.
Punto prevents Lavalle from getting the reversal.
Lavalle manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Lavalle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Punto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lavalle defends it well.
Punto stalling away here and it's allowed Lavalle to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punto advances position into side control!
Lavalle is trying to get back to half guard.
Punto is looking to take a break and control but Lavalle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Punto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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.
Lavalle tries to buck Punto off but Punto is having none of it.
Lavalle is working hard here to advance position.

Punto goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Lavalle rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Punto's guard! Nice work there by Lavalle!
Lavalle looking to sit in guard and control but Punto gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Punto advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lavalle is trying to get back to full guard.

Lavalle looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Punto is working for a kimura but Lavalle is defending it quite comfortably.

Punto seems to be looking for submissions.
Lavalle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Punto on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lavalle works his way to full guard. Good work.

Lavalle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lavalle is trying to control the position but Punto postures up.
Punto is pushing down on Lavalle's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lavalle is fighting to maintain full guard but Punto has managed to sneak the leg through.
Lavalle is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Punto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Punto with a poor takedown

and Lavalle counters with a takedown into side control.
Lavi Lavalle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Lavalle wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Punto, who protects the arm well.
Punto is not content to let Lavalle control the position.
Punto prevents Lavalle from improving position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punto can't do much from the bottom here.
Lavalle trying to control the position but Punto is working away.
Lavalle tries to move into full mount but can't pass Punto's legs.

Lavalle goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Punto rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Lavalle's guard! Nice work there by Punto!
Lavalle is trying to keep Punto in close.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Punto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Punto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lavalle knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lavalle is trying to get back to half guard.

Punto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lavalle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lavalle gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punto works his way into full mount!
Lavalle can't escape the position.
Punto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lavalle tries to hold on but Punto postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Lavalle can't escape the position.
Punto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lavalle is looking to escape.

Punto is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lavalle has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Punto working for a guillotine from mount but Lavalle is in no mood to give up.
Lavalle wants to hold on but Punto pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick Punto.
I think Punto 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Punto!