PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matteo Minonzio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Mussardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minonzio comes into the arena with Metallica Enter Sandman blaring out of the sound system. Ivan Mussardo told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Minonzio
vs
Mussardo

189 cm
21
206 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matteo Minonzio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Mussardo!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mussardo lands a nice looking body shot.
Minonzio lands with a shot to the body.
Minonzio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mussardo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Minonzio drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Minonzio goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mussardo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Minonzio's guard! Nice work there by Mussardo!
Mussardo stops Minonzio from standing up.

Minonzio manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minonzio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mussardo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mussardo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Minonzio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mussardo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Minonzio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Minonzio takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Minonzio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mussardo was well out of range. Poor timing from Minonzio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Minonzio.
Minonzio loads up on a big right hand but Mussardo slips the punch.
Minonzio swinging wildly here.
Minonzio misses with a telegraphed body shot

so Mussardo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Minonzio is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Minonzio kicks Mussardo off and gets to his feet.
Minonzio is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Mussardo.
A combination from Minonzio does no damage.
Minonzio is looking to wear down Mussardo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mussardo fails with a takedown attempt.
Minonzio misses with a double jab
and Mussardo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Minonzio swinging wildly here.
Minonzio throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mussardo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Minonzio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Matteo Minonzio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Mussardo.
Mussardo tries to clinch there but Minonzio circles away.
Minonzio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mussardo tries to clinch but Minonzio moves out of range.
Minonzio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mussardo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Minonzio is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mussardo is defending well for now.
Mussardo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Minonzio tries to land knees in the clinch but Mussardo avoids the damage to the body.

Minonzio drags the fight down to the ground.
Mussardo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mussardo is standing up over Minonzio. Minonzio looks to escape but Mussardo dives into side control.
Minonzio gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio trying desperately to get to his feet.
Mussardo trying to control but Minonzio is having none of it.
Minonzio wants to try and get back to his feet.
Minonzio is squirming around, avoiding Mussardo's attempts to control the action.
Minonzio is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Mussardo looking to control but Minonzio is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Minonzio is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Mussardo has taken his back!
Minonzio looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Mussardo looking to break Minonzio's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Minonzio remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Mussardo will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Minonzio trying to get back to his feet but Mussardo is in full control for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Mussardo's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Mussardo scores with strikes from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Minonzio throws a lazy uppercut
and Mussardo counters with a straight right hand.
Minonzio throws a hook but Mussardo blocks it.
Minonzio misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Minonzio both land. Nice combination.
Some wild striking there from Minonzio.
Minonzio throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mussardo sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Mussardo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mussardo showed some decent athleticism there.
Mussardo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Minonzio keeps working.
Minonzio is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mussardo is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mussardo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mussardo trying to control from half guard but Minonzio is working away.

Mussardo is looking for a kimura but Minonzio is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mussardo to get the leverage.
Minonzio tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Mussardo manages to move to mount!

Mussardo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Minonzio is surviving well by controlling Mussardo's body position as best he can.
Minonzio squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo landing strikes from the mount and Minonzio is in trouble!

Minonzio somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Minonzio avoids the head kick by Mussardo.
Matteo Minonzio is winning the standup battle so far.
Mussardo shoots in for a takedown but Minonzio shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mussardo closes the distance and clinches up with Minonzio, looking for a takedown. Mussardo pushes Minonzio against the cage but Minonzio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Minonzio. Those never looked like landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Minonzio. Mussardo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Minonzio throws a body punch but Mussardo moves out of range.
Mussardo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Minonzio.
Mussardo shoots for a takedown but Minonzio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Matteo Minonzio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Mussardo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good exchange - Minonzio coming out on top.
Mussardo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Minonzio.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Minonzio.
Minonzio looks to land a combination but Mussardo avoids it well.
Minonzio looks to land a combination but Mussardo avoids it well.
Minonzio thuds a left hand into Mussardo's body.
Mussardo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Minonzio sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mussardo somewhat.
Minonzio scores with a punch to the head.
Minonzio throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Mussardo counters with a nice double leg into side control. Minonzio won't be happy with that.
Ivan Mussardo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Minonzio is pushing Mussardo's head away, looking to escape. Mussardo manages to hold on to the position though.

Minonzio throws Mussardo to one side and escapes!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minonzio lands with a nice combination. Mussardo backs away looking to recover.
Minonzio scores with a nice right hand.
Mussardo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Minonzio pinned against the cage. Minonzio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Minonzio gets a takedown into half guard.

Minonzio looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mussardo controlling the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Minonzio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mussardo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Minonzio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matteo Minonzio dominated that second round.
That's time! Minonzio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mussardo ducks under a wild hook from Minonzio.
Mussardo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Minonzio.
Minonzio's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Minonzio duly obliges.
Horrible takedown by Minonzio or perhaps it was just good defense by Mussardo which made him look bad.
Mussardo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Minonzio sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mussardo somewhat.
Minonzio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mussardo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mussardo tries to land a front kick but Minonzio steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mussardo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Minonzio takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mussardo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Mussardo showed some decent athleticism there.
Minonzio is trying to stand back up but Mussardo is controlling him

Minonzio manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Minonzio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Minonzio falls off balance throwing a combination

so Mussardo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mussardo wants to control from the top but Minonzio keeps moving.
Minonzio is wriggling around but Mussardo manages to pass to half guard.
Mussardo trying to control the action but Minonzio is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mussardo stops Minonzio from getting back to his feet.
Mussardo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Minonzio knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mussardo trying to control from half guard but Minonzio is working away.
Minonzio is trying to stand.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mussardo works his way into side control.
Minonzio is pushing Mussardo's head away, looking to escape. Mussardo manages to hold on to the position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mussardo lands a heavy elbow.
Minonzio is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Mussardo trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minonzio wants to try and get back to his feet.
Minonzio is bucking up trying to escape but Mussardo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mussardo tries to control but Minonzio wriggling away.
Mussardo misses with a head shot.
Mussardo tries to control but Minonzio wriggling away.

Minonzio somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mussardo.
Ivan Mussardo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matteo Minonzio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matteo Minonzio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Mussardo.
Minonzio lands a nice hook to Mussardo's body. Mussardo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ivan Mussardo.
I think Minonzio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matteo Minonzio!
A very excited looking Matteo Minonzio made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.