PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between DeMarco Mariano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wojtek Svalbard (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.

Mariano
vs
Svalbard

192 cm
24
227 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

200 cm
23
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, DeMarco Mariano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wojtek Svalbard!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svalbard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A good leg kick by Mariano.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mariano.
Mariano shoots in for a double leg but Svalbard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mariano lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Svalbard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mariano moves away.
Svalbard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

It looks like Wojtek Svalbard has been cut.
Mariano fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for DeMarco Mariano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mariano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Svalbard stuffs the takedown attempt from Mariano. Mariano gets slowly back to his feet.

Mariano looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Svalbard!

Svalbard somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Mariano swats away the attempt to clinch by Svalbard.
Svalbard wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svalbard with a poor takedown

and Mariano counters with a shoot takedown. Svalbard fights it but they end up in guard.
Svalbard trying to keep a closed guard but Mariano is proving a slippery customer.
Mariano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Svalbard works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Svalbard trying to control the position.
Svalbard looks gassed!

Mariano 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mariano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mariano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mariano wants to control from the top but Svalbard keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Svalbard working for a triangle but Mariano defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mariano keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Svalbard's head.
Svalbard keeping moving, preventing Mariano from controlling successfully.
Svalbard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mariano being controlled here momentarily.
Svalbard manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mariano is squirming around, avoiding Svalbard's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mariano working to try and regain half guard.
Svalbard wants to control the pace but Mariano is squirming around nicely.

Svalbard stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Svalbard misses with a takedown attempt
and Mariano makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Svalbard really felt that one!
Svalbard clinches but Mariano breaks the clinch
and Mariano counters with a nice body kick.
Svalbard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mariano counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mariano shoots and misses

and Svalbard counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mariano's guard now.
Mariano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Svalbard wants to control from the top but Mariano keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Svalbard is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Mariano keeping full guard, as Svalbard tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Wojtek Svalbard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wojtek Svalbard's cut.
That's time! Mariano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Svalbard darts in trying to clinch
and Mariano counters with a head kick.
Horrible takedown by Svalbard or perhaps it was just good defense by Mariano which made him look bad.
Mariano digs a good hook to Svalbard's body.

Mariano tries to sprawl but Svalbard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Mariano tries to roll over but Svalbard keeps him under control.
Svalbard trying to mount his opponent but Mariano defends it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mariano regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svalbard trying to control but Mariano is working from the bottom.
Mariano keeping full guard, as Svalbard tries to pass.
Mariano keeping moving, preventing Svalbard from controlling successfully.
Mariano wants to sweep but no luck.
Svalbard passes into half guard.

Mariano looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two 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.
Svalbard content to control rather than advance.
Mariano won't allow Svalbard to pass to mount.

Svalbard stands up out of the half guard.
Svalbard swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
DeMarco Mariano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Svalbard shoots and misses

and Mariano counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Svalbard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mariano tries to stand but can't do so whilst Svalbard controls his leg.
Svalbard misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Svalbard trying to get back to full guard but Mariano takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Svalbard is working to get back to half guard.
Wojtek Svalbard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mariano blocks Svalbard's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Mariano looking to control but Svalbard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Svalbard is trying to escape the mount.
Svalbard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard tries to hold on but Mariano postures up.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mariano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Mariano jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Svalbard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Svalbard prevents Mariano from moving into mount.
Svalbard sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Svalbard trying to control but Mariano postures up.
Mariano frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Mariano gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DeMarco Mariano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wojtek Svalbard's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mariano shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Svalbard defends it nicely.

Svalbard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mariano to the mat! Mariano manages to get full guard.
Svalbard tries to free his leg and advance position but Mariano is retaining full guard.
Mariano tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Svalbard gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Crunch! Mariano slams his shin into Svalbard's torso.
Svalbard shoots for a double leg takedown but Mariano sprawls well. He's pushed Svalbard's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mariano has his takedown stuffed

and Svalbard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mariano is refusing to be controlled, as Svalbard sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mariano wants to control but Svalbard is keeping busy.

Svalbard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Svalbard wants to get back to his feet.

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.
Mariano trying to control from the bottom.
Svalbard is controlling the pace.
Svalbard is trying to control. Mariano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Svalbard in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Wojtek Svalbard hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Svalbard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mariano to the mat! Mariano manages to get full guard.
Svalbard has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mariano is proving hard to escape from.
Mariano throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Svalbard looking to pass the guard.
Mariano is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Svalbard fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A jab from Mariano does it's job there.

Svalbard scores with a takedown into Mariano's guard.
Mariano wants to sweep here but Svalbard controlling him for the moment.
Mariano is working hard here to advance position.
Mariano trying to keep a closed guard but Svalbard is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wojtek Svalbard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Svalbard 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... DeMarco Mariano!