PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Cirianni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Oak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Oak will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Cirianni
vs
Oak

182 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

187 cm
20
189 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Cirianni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Robert Oak!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oak shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Oak was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cirianni tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oak lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Oak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Oak throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Cirianni because Oak loaded up on that one.
Oak thowing shots but they're missing.
Oak in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oak throws some wild stikes that Cirianni manages to avoid easily.
Oak looking to finish with strikes here!
Oak punching from mount but Cirianni doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Oak misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Oak working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cirianni suckers Oak into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Cirianni is now in Oak's guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oak is looking to stand up but Cirianni isn't so interested in that idea.
Oak tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Oak is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oak preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Cirianni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oak swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Oak wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Oak is looking to stand up but Cirianni isn't so interested in that idea.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cirianni gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Oak counters with a low kick, right behind Cirianni 's knee.
Oak circles away from the clinch attempt
and Oak counters with a good, hard body kick but Cirianni shrugs it off.
Cirianni tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Oak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Oak.
Cirianni throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Cirianni throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Oak throws a strike but Cirianni rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Oak holds on and takes a little breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Oak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Oak looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cirianni working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Oak looking for a sweep. Not yet Oak, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Cirianni tries to clinch up

and Oak counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cirianni won't be happy with that.
Oak lands some shots froms side control.

Oak stands up and beckons Cirianni to his feet.
Cirianni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Oak counters with a left and a right that stings Cirianni.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cirianni stuffs the takedown attempt from Oak. Oak gets slowly back to his feet.
Oak looks gassed!
Cirianni tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Oak counters with a single leg into guard. Cirianni didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cirianni tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Oak counters with a low kick, right behind Cirianni 's knee.
Cirianni tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Oak counters with a series of strikes. Cirianni will be more careful next time no doubt.
Cirianni tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Oak counters with a two punch combo.
Cirianni swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Oak counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Cirianni wants to get back to his feet but Oak is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Oak works over Cirianni with some ground and pound from guard.

Cirianni uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Cirianni wants to clinch but Oak slips to the side
and Oak counters with a body kick that stops Cirianni in his tracks momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirianni tries to clinch
and Oak counters with a left and a right that stings Cirianni.
Cirianni throws a head kick that misses
and Oak counters with a nice leg kick.
Oak circles away from the clinch attempt
and Oak makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Cirianni really felt that one!
Mike Cirianni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Oak misses with a takedown

and Cirianni holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cirianni.
Oak tries to score a body lock takedown but Cirianni shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Oak lands a knee to the head.

Cirianni manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirianni tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Oak counters with a nice uppercut.
Mike Cirianni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cirianni tries to clinch
and Cirianni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cirianni throws a combination that misses
and Oak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Cirianni 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Oak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Oak looking to control but Cirianni passes into half guard.
Oak is looking to improve his position.
Robert Oak has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cirianni escapes and gets back to his feet.
A head kick by Cirianni misses
and Oak counters with a one-two to the body.
Cirianni wants to clinch

and Oak counters with a single leg into guard. Cirianni didn't expect that.

Cirianni manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Cirianni looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cirianni looks to clinch
and Oak counters with a two punch combo.
Cirianni falls off balance throwing a combination

and Oak counters with a shoot takedown. Cirianni fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Oak missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Oak has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Oak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oak prevents Cirianni from getting back to his feet.
Cirianni wants to sweep here but Oak controlling him for the moment.

Cirianni pushes Oak off and gets back to his feet.
Cirianni chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Oak can pounce on him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cirianni misses with a double jab

and Oak counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Oak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Oak fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cirianni wants to clinch

and Oak counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Cirianni's guard now.

Cirianni wriggles free and stands up.
Cirianni clinches but Oak breaks the clinch

and Oak counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Oak in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Oak lands a couple of elbows.
Cirianni wants to stand and escape but Oak is having none of it.
Oak lands a couple of elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cirianni is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oak wriggles free and stands up.
Cirianni misses with a takedown
and Oak counters with a nice body shot.
Cirianni tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Oak counters with a left and a right that stings Cirianni.
Oak circles away from the clinch attempt

and Oak counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Cirianni!
Oak has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Oak landing strikes, looking to finish!
Oak thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Robert Oak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirianni can't escape the position.
Oak content just to control the position here.
Oak raining down shots from the mount!
Oak lands with some strikes.
Cirianni tries to buck Oak off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oak wants to control the pace but Cirianni is squirming around nicely.
Oak lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Cirianni tries to lock up and control but Oak gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oak has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cirianni's face.
Cirianni throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Oak tries to control but Cirianni wriggling away.
Oak looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cirianni squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

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.
Oak dominating with strikes here.
Oak looking to control and managing it successfully.
Oak working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cirianni is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mike Cirianni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oak trying to control but he's not successful this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Oak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Oak!