PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wyatt Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabio D Elia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tanner
vs
D Elia

170 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wyatt Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fabio D Elia!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tanner shoots in but no luck this time.
Tanner shoots for a double leg takedown but D Elia sprawls well. He's pushed Tanner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
D Elia 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.

Tanner closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming D Elia to the mat! D Elia manages to get full guard.

D Elia has his foot on Tanner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tanner works his way back into a safe position though.
D Elia keeping moving, preventing Tanner from controlling successfully.
D Elia controls Tanner momentarily but Tanner frees himself.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now D Elia is on top in guard.
D Elia looking to pass the guard.
D Elia works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
D Elia content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
D Elia throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
D Elia throws a strike but Tanner avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Tanner wants to stand up but D Elia is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanner is trying to keep D Elia in close.
Tanner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
D Elia wants to pass the guard but Tanner is keeping the position.
D Elia stopping the sweep attempt from Tanner.
Tanner keeping moving, preventing D Elia from controlling successfully.
Tanner is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst D Elia is controlling him.

Tanner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. D Elia is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

D Elia gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Tanner misses with a double jab.

Tanner moves into the clinch.
D Elia stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
D Elia breaks from the clinch.

Tanner drives through and clinches with D Elia against the cage.

D Elia ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. D Elia no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tanner trying to control the position from guard on top but D Elia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
D Elia working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

D Elia throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tanner postures up.
D Elia keeping moving, preventing Tanner from controlling successfully.
Tanner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
D Elia is trying to control the position from the bottom.
D Elia is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tanner is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fabio D Elia will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

D Elia moves into the clinch.
D Elia is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

D Elia manages to break the clinch.

D Elia drives through and clinches with Tanner against the cage.
Tanner tries to pull guard but D Elia forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tanner drops down looking for an ankle pick but D Elia pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tanner tries to clinch there but D Elia circles away.
Tanner tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and D Elia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner is trying to break free.
Tanner fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wyatt Tanner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tanner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but D Elia gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Knees to the body from D Elia.

D Elia gets control of Tanner's arms and successfully pulls guard. D Elia will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
D Elia is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tanner manages to get to full guard.

D Elia stands up and waves to Tanner to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
D Elia slaps away a takedown attempt from Tanner, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from D Elia.
D Elia shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tanner as he avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!

D Elia has closed the distance and engaged Tanner in a clinch.
Tanner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
D Elia slowing the pace effectively.
D Elia is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
D Elia is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tanner to keep the fight standing.
D Elia wants to take the fight to the mat but Tanner manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

D Elia has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tanner uses from the top position.
Fabio D Elia has got the better of the ground game so far.
D Elia keeping full guard, as Tanner tries to pass.
Tanner is working hard here to advance position.
D Elia seems keen to control Tanner's posture.
Tanner stands and throws D Elia's legs to the side, diving into side control.
D Elia seems a little lost for a moment, as Tanner dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner scores with a couple of short elbows.
D Elia is not content to let Tanner control the position.
D Elia is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tanner asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Tanner passes to full mount! That's big trouble for D Elia!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
D Elia is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio D Elia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tanner wants to clinch.
Tanner wants to clinch

and D Elia moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by D Elia as Tanner tries to tie him up.
Tanner fails to pull the fight into his guard.
D Elia is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tanner tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. D Elia just stands there and leans against the cage.
D Elia has Tanner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
D Elia is pushing Tanner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Tanner trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
D Elia stalling against the cage.

D Elia manages to break the clinch.
Tanner has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wyatt Tanner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
D Elia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tanner swivels and escapes.
Tanner throws the left hand but D Elia avoids the punch easily.
D Elia fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tanner avoids it really well and circles away.
Wyatt Tanner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
D Elia takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tanner tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner misses with a double jab.
Tanner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from D Elia. No joy for Tanner on that attempt.
Tanner shoots in looking for a takedown. D Elia tries to sprawl out of it but Tanner keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. D Elia manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tanner tries to clinch but fails miserably

and D Elia counters by moving into the clinch.
D Elia is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tanner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A left hand lands to the body for D Elia.
D Elia prevents the takedown attempt.
D Elia holding his opponent close, against the cage.

D Elia breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

D Elia has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tanner effectively controlling the action here.
D Elia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanner pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tanner prevents the takedown attempt.
Tanner is looking to break free of the clinch but D Elia has double underhooks.
D Elia stalling in the clinch.
D Elia is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tanner pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Tanner drags the fight down to the ground.
D Elia sitting in guard, not really doing much.
D Elia stopping the sweep attempt from Tanner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tanner holds on and takes a little breather.
D Elia forces his way into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tanner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but D Elia pulls his head out easily.
Wyatt Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fabio D Elia is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
D Elia with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fabio D Elia.
I've got D Elia 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabio D Elia!
Fabio D Elia thanked the fans post fight for their support.