PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Todd Ianuzzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lexi Belle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ianuzzi's entrance music is Paranoid. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ianuzzi
vs
Belle

168 cm
19
137 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

190 cm
28
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Todd Ianuzzi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lexi Belle!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belle shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ianuzzi is trying to defend but Belle finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Belle is working for a kimura but Ianuzzi is defending it quite comfortably.

Ianuzzi is defending against the submission attempts here by Belle.
Belle stops Ianuzzi from getting back to his feet.
Ianuzzi is trying to maintain the position but Belle is very close to passing his half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Belle working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Belle trying to control from half guard but Ianuzzi is working away.

Belle is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ianuzzi manages to get to full guard.
Ianuzzi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Belle wants to pass the guard but Ianuzzi is keeping the position.
Belle is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ianuzzi trying to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belle drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ianuzzi dives on top into guard.
Ianuzzi is standing up over Belle. Belle looks to escape but Ianuzzi dives into side control.
Belle pushes Ianuzzi away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ianuzzi gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Belle is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Belle wants to get back to his feet but Ianuzzi drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belle takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ianuzzi landing strikes.
Ianuzzi takes a little break here. Belle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Belle is pushing Ianuzzi's head away, looking to escape. Ianuzzi manages to hold on to the position though.
Ianuzzi is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Belle's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Belle sneaks out the side door and pushes Ianuzzi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Belle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Belle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ianuzzi sprawls well. Ianuzzi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Belle gets slowly back to his feet.
Belle misses with a takedown attempt - Ianuzzi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Todd Ianuzzi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lexi Belle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Belle.

Belle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Ianuzzi!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Belle goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ianuzzi rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Belle's guard! Nice work there by Ianuzzi!
Belle looks winded!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ianuzzi stays in close to Belle's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lexi Belle will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ianuzzi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Belle to the ground. Ianuzzi is now in Belle's guard.
Ianuzzi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ianuzzi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Belle isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ianuzzi stacks Belle on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ianuzzi!
Belle on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Ianuzzi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Ianuzzi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Belle for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belle is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ianuzzi is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ianuzzi wants to stand but Belle is controlling his arm.
Belle tries to escape but Ianuzzi is in control.
Ianuzzi taking a breather here.
Belle is pushing Ianuzzi's head away, looking to escape. Ianuzzi manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belle tries to bench press Ianuzzi off him but Ianuzzi keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Belle's face as Ianuzzi controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Todd Ianuzzi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Belle looks for a takedown but Ianuzzi sprawls well.
Ianuzzi throws an off balance right hand
and Belle counters with a nice body kick.
Ianuzzi dodges the punch combination from Belle.
Belle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ianuzzi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belle won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ianuzzi controls the position from side control.
Belle is looking for a sweep.
Todd Ianuzzi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belle wants to get back to his feet but Ianuzzi drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belle is breathing heavily.
Ianuzzi is working Belle over with some ground and pound from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Belle pushes Ianuzzi away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ianuzzi gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Ianuzzi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Ianuzzi slows the pace down.
Ianuzzi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Todd Ianuzzi just wasn't active enough.
The fighters circling - Ianuzzi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice shot lands for Ianuzzi.
Lexi Belle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Belle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ianuzzi counters with a takedown into side control.

Belle is rocked!
Todd Ianuzzi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lexi Belle.
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.
Belle is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ianuzzi wants to stand but Belle has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Belle is looking to get back to full guard here but Ianuzzi has managed to pass to side control instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Todd Ianuzzi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Belle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ianuzzi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ianuzzi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Belle throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Todd Ianuzzi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Ianuzzi dips to his left and cracks Belle with an uppercut!
Belle is still on wobbly legs! Can Ianuzzi finish him?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Ianuzzi! Belle is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Todd Ianuzzi!
Todd Ianuzzi thanked the fans post fight for their support.