PBP Commentary

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

Matteo Ranzi
vs
Dhalsim

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dhali Dhalsim!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dhalsim decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dhalsim controlling the action here.

Dhalsim is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dhalsim 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.
Dhalsim looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dhalsim moves into full mount! Ranzi won't be happy about that!
Dhalsim takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranzi is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Dhalsim controlling from the full mount.
Dhalsim's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dhalsim fails to take his opponent's back.

That's two 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.
Dhalsim content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Dhalsim has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Dhali Dhalsim just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ranzi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranzi clinches with his opponent.
Ranzi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Dhali Dhalsim has been cut.
Ranzi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks it.
Dhalsim has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ranzi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dhalsim takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ranzi misses with a knee to the head.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks it.
Dhalsim jumps guard but Ranzi stands there with Dhalsim around his waist. Dhalsim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ranzi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dhalsim drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ranzi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Gian Matteo Ranzi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dhali Dhalsim.
Ranzi tries to land a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks with his arms.
Ranzi tries to land a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks with his arms.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks it.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ranzi is breathing heavily.
Ranzi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dhalsim looking for a takedown.
Ranzi misses with a knee strike.
A knee to the head by Ranzi.
Ranzi lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranzi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ranzi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ranzi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dhalsim.
Dhalsim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ranzi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ranzi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ranzi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dhalsim blocks it with crossed arms.
Dhalsim has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ranzi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dhalsim looking for a takedown.
Ranzi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ranzi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dhalsim's face.
Dhalsim has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ranzi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks it.
Ranzi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ranzi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dhalsim has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dhalsim fails to pull guard.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dhalsim tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ranzi smiles and moves away.
Gian Matteo Ranzi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ranzi circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gian Matteo Ranzi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dhali Dhalsim's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ranzi tries to clinch but Dhalsim moves away

and Dhalsim counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ranzi!
Dhalsim looking to control and managing it successfully.

Dhalsim goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ranzi turns into him and now he's in Dhalsim's guard.
Dhalsim is trying to control the position but Ranzi postures up.
Dhalsim is pulling down on Ranzi's head. It's preventing any offense from Ranzi, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhalsim wants to sweep but no luck.
Dhalsim is breathing heavily.

Dhalsim working for submissions but it's allowed Ranzi to get to half guard.
Dhalsim is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ranzi wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dhalsim trying to control from the bottom.

Dhalsim looking for submissions off his back.
Dhalsim keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Dhalsim wants to improve his position but Ranzi is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranzi tries to stand but can't do so whilst Dhalsim controls his leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Dhalsim shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ranzi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dhalsim is controlling him.
Dhalsim is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dhalsim looking to sit in guard and control but Ranzi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhalsim wants to hit a switch here but Ranzi passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Dhalsim there!
Dhalsim tries to hold on but Ranzi postures up.
Dhalsim is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ranzi is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Ranzi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Dhalsim counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dhalsim.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dhali Dhalsim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dhali Dhalsim's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ranzi tries to clinch but Dhalsim moves away

so Dhalsim counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dhali Dhalsim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ranzi wants to stand up but Dhalsim is controlling him.
Dhalsim trying to control but Ranzi is working from the bottom.
Dhalsim controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dhalsim tries to free his leg and advance position but Ranzi is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranzi being controlled here, momentarily.
Dhalsim trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ranzi's guard.
Dhalsim wants to control from the top but Ranzi keeps moving.
Dhalsim takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Despite being in the dominant position, Dhali Dhalsim just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ranzi stuffs the takedown.

Ranzi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ranzi tries to land a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks with his arms.
Ranzi landing knees to the head.
Ranzi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A knee to the head by Ranzi.
Ranzi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dhalsim blocks it with crossed arms.
Ranzi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dhalsim blocks it with crossed arms.
Ranzi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dhalsim tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ranzi just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ranzi misses with a knee to the head.
Dhalsim jumps guard but Ranzi stands there with Dhalsim around his waist. Dhalsim gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gian Matteo Ranzi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dhali Dhalsim.
Ranzi tries a knee to the head but Dhalsim blocks it.
Dhalsim changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ranzi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dhalsim tries to close the distance and clinch but Ranzi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ranzi tries to clinch up but Dhalsim circles away and keeps his distance.
Dhalsim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ranzi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Dhalsim closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Dhalsim wants to control but Ranzi is keeping him busy.
Ranzi stops Dhalsim from passing to mount.
Ranzi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhalsim wants to control but Ranzi is keeping him busy.
Dhalsim tries to advance to mount but Ranzi denies him.
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.

Dhalsim tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ranzi tries to clinch but Dhalsim is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dhali Dhalsim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dhalsim has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dhali Dhalsim!