PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gian Matteo Ranzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pancho Pantera (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.

Matteo Ranzi
vs
Pantera

185 cm
27
205 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

183 cm
24
214 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gian Matteo Ranzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pancho Pantera!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ranzi tries to clinch but Pantera moves away
and Pantera counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Pantera clinches.

Pantera pulls Ranzi into guard.
Ranzi wants to pass the guard but Pantera is keeping the position.
Ranzi pushes down on Pantera's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ranzi is pressing down on Pantera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pantera is holding on for now.
Ranzi moves into full mount! Pantera won't be happy about that!

Ranzi goes for an armbar but Pantera turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pantera.

Ranzi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ranzi looking for a guillotine here but Pantera defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pantera showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ranzi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ranzi wants to hit a switch here but Pantera passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ranzi there!
Ranzi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ranzi regains half guard.
Pantera content to control rather than advance.
Ranzi tries to get to full guard but Pantera has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ranzi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pantera wants to control but Ranzi is keeping him busy.
Ground and pound from Pantera.
Pantera winds up and cracks Ranzi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Pantera is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ranzi tries to get to full guard but Pantera has control of the leg.
Ranzi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Pantera stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pantera throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ranzi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ranzi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Pantera walks away with a smile on his face. Ranzi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Pantera misses with a combination

and Ranzi counters by moving into the clinch.
Pantera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pantera.
A frustrated look appears on Pantera's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ranzi pulls Pantera into guard.
Pantera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ranzi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pantera is one step ahead there.
Pantera scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ranzi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pantera is aware though and is defending well.
Ranzi keeping moving, preventing Pantera from controlling successfully.
Pantera controlling from the top position.

Ranzi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pantera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pantera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ranzi working for a triangle but Pantera defends it easily.

Ranzi working for a triangle but Pantera defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gian Matteo Ranzi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Pantera shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pantera was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ranzi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Ranzi is working hard here to advance position.

Pantera working for a submission but Ranzi is keeping him at bay.
Ranzi is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pantera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ranzi is looking to escape.
Ranzi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pantera scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ranzi?
Pantera landing strikes from the mount.
Pantera with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pantera working for a guillotine from mount but Ranzi is in no mood to give up.
Pantera lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Pantera jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ranzi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Ranzi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ranzi is not content to let Pantera control the position.
Ranzi manages to get to full guard.
Pantera is breathing heavily.
Ranzi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Ranzi jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Pantera is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Pantera and Ranzi has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pantera tries to bench press Ranzi off him but Ranzi keeps the position.
Ranzi prevents Pantera from escaping the position.

Ranzi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Ranzi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pantera knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ranzi tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ranzi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pantera knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Ranzi is trying to get an arm triangle but Pantera is defending well.
Pantera wants to control but Ranzi postures up.

Ranzi has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Pantera is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Ranzi yanks on the arm and Pantera is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Ranzi.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gian Matteo Ranzi!