PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Point Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artie DeVanzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Fighter
vs
DeVanzo

180 cm
34
186 lbs
19 - 8 - 1

182 cm
28
179 lbs
26 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Point Fighter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Artie DeVanzo!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fighter wants to clinch up but DeVanzo keeps it at a distance.
Fighter cracks DeVanzo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
DeVanzo throws a head kick that misses.
Fighter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab from Fighter.
Fighter slips under a jab from DeVanzo.
Fighter appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that DeVanzo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Point Fighter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
DeVanzo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fighter fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Fighter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fighter is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Fighter trying to control the position from guard on top but DeVanzo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fighter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fighter throwing strikes from guard but DeVanzo blocks nicely.
Fighter throwing strikes from guard but DeVanzo blocks nicely.
Fighter is looking to work some ground and pound but DeVanzo has wrist control.
Fighter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as DeVanzo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
DeVanzo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fighter.
DeVanzo keeping moving, preventing Fighter from controlling successfully.

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.
DeVanzo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
DeVanzo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fighter.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - DeVanzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
DeVanzo misses with a kick to the body.
DeVanzo walks into a left hand.
Fighter has his takedown stuffed
and DeVanzo counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Point Fighter has been cut.
DeVanzo takes a jab right on the kisser.
DeVanzo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from DeVanzo there as he acknowledges the shot.
DeVanzo throws out a loose jab but Fighter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fighter takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Fighter on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeVanzo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fighter!
Fighter is being controlled here.
DeVanzo cracks Fighter with a big elbow.
Fighter is looking to reverse the position.
Fighter wants to control but DeVanzo postures up.
DeVanzo creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Fighter controls the position for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fighter wants to control but DeVanzo postures up.
Fighter is not content to let DeVanzo control the position.
Fighter is looking for a sweep.
Fighter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter taking a bit of punishment here - DeVanzo scoring with strikes.
Fighter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but DeVanzo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
DeVanzo scoring with punches from side control.
Fighter tries to improve position but can't.
Fighter keeping his opponent close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Point Fighter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Point Fighter's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Fighter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
DeVanzo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Fighter shoots in for a takedown but DeVanzo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Point Fighter is winning the standup battle so far.
DeVanzo throws a leg kick but Fighter moved away.
Jab by Fighter.
DeVanzo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice defenses there by DeVanzo.
A decent looking cross lands there for Fighter.
Fighter misses with a hook. DeVanzo ducked under it nicely.
Fighter walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A solid body kick from DeVanzo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeVanzo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fighter.
Nice defenses there by Fighter.
Fighter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from DeVanzo.
An attempted straight right counter from Fighter misses the target.
A slow jab from Fighter misses its intended target.

Fighter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter is just content to waste time from the top position. DeVanzo takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
DeVanzo has Fighter pulled in close to control his posture.
DeVanzo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Fighter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but DeVanzo pulls his head out easily.
Fighter moves into full guard.
Fighter working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeVanzo won't allow Fighter to sweep him here.
Fighter not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fighter wants to sweep but no luck.

Fighter working for a triangle but DeVanzo defends it easily.
DeVanzo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fighter is looking for a triangle here but DeVanzo uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Artie DeVanzo has got the better of the ground game so far.
A lull in the action here as DeVanzo stalls from top position.
Fighter tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but DeVanzo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Fighter gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter wants to improve his position but DeVanzo is controlling well.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. DeVanzo lands a nice short elbow.
Fighter blocking the ground and pound attempt from DeVanzo.
Fighter tries to get to full guard but DeVanzo has control of the leg.
Fighter is looking to get back to full guard here but DeVanzo has managed to pass to side control instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fighter is looking for a sweep.
Fighter manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Point Fighter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Point Fighter's cut.
That's time! Fighter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Fighter closes the distance and clinches up with DeVanzo, looking for a takedown. Fighter pushes DeVanzo against the cage but DeVanzo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
DeVanzo stuffs the takedown.
DeVanzo swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Fighter shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches DeVanzo napping and manages to drive through into side control!
DeVanzo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
DeVanzo is not content to let Fighter control the position.
DeVanzo regains half guard there - taking advantage of Fighter's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fighter is thwarting DeVanzo's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeVanzo moves into full guard.
Fighter looking to sit in guard and control but DeVanzo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

DeVanzo trying to control but Fighter is working from the bottom.
DeVanzo preventing the sweep.
Fighter seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
DeVanzo postures up.

Fighter had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. DeVanzo defends it easily.
DeVanzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Fighter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fighter looking for submissions from the bottom but instead DeVanzo passes into half guard.
Fighter regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fighter is trying to hold DeVanzo in close to prevent damage but DeVanzo has managed to pass into half guard.
Fighter is looking to improve his position.
Fighter trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
DeVanzo lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Fighter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and DeVanzo defends well.

Fighter looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
DeVanzo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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.

Fighter has his foot on DeVanzo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. DeVanzo works his way back into a safe position though.
DeVanzo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

DeVanzo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fighter has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, DeVanzo has managed to get both his arms back between Fighter's legs - danger averted.
Artie DeVanzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Fighter had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. DeVanzo defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Point Fighter.
Well Fighter has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Artie DeVanzo!
Artie DeVanzo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.