PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zac Dane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luca Pendolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pendolo has chosen Saliva - Superstar as his entrance music. 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.

Dane
vs
Pendolo

181 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
176 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zac Dane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Luca Pendolo!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dane plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Luca Pendolo has been cut.
Dane lands with a kick to the ribs.
A head kick misses from Dane.

Pendolo clinches.

Dane manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pendolo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Dane has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pendolo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
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!
Pendolo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pendolo is in close to Dane's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dane has momentary wrist control but Pendolo slips an elbow through the middle.

Dane looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pendolo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pendolo stands up over Dane, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pendolo wants to pass the guard but Dane is keeping the position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pendolo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pendolo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dane is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pendolo escapes and gets back to his feet.
Dane scores with a leg kick.
Dane throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dane fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pendolo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zac Dane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pendolo looks gassed!

Pendolo gets caught flat footed, as Dane shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pendolo lands a decent shot there.
Dane looking to pass the guard.
Dane trying to control the position from guard on top but Pendolo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pendolo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Dane has gone for a leg lock! Pendolo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Dane's guard.
Pendolo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pendolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pendolo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dane is looking for a triangle but Pendolo pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pendolo wants to control from the top but Dane keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zac Dane dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luca Pendolo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pendolo tries for a takedown but Dane sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Dane closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pendolo is looking for a sweep.
Dane tries to advance to mount but Pendolo denies him.

Dane working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Dane goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pendolo rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dane's guard! Nice work there by Pendolo!

Dane looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dane is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pendolo trying to control but Dane is working from the bottom.
Pendolo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pendolo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pendolo working the body and head with strikes.
Pendolo looking to control but instead Dane has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Pendolo trying to mount his opponent but Dane defends it.

Dane actively working from the bottom here.
Pendolo wants to stand up but Dane has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pendolo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Pendolo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dane moves into full guard.

Dane had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pendolo defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dane escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pendolo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Pendolo trying to control but Dane is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Dane is looking for a triangle but Pendolo pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zac Dane dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luca Pendolo's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dane throws a head kick but Pendolo moves out of range.
Dane throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Dane throws a sloppy head kick and Pendolo moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pendolo.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dane.

Dane scores with a takedown into Pendolo's guard.
Dane controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Pendolo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dane doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dane manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dane postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dane missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dane stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pendolo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dane looking to sit in guard and control but Pendolo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dane looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pendolo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dane looking for a guillotine here but Pendolo defends easily.
Pendolo is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Pendolo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dane working for a triangle but Pendolo defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pendolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pendolo wants to pass the guard but Dane is keeping the position.
Pendolo trying to control but Dane is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Dane looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Luca Pendolo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Dane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Zac Dane is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Dane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pendolo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zac Dane showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dane, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zac Dane!
Zac Dane tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.