PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vinny Calvucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Navi (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.

Calvucci
vs
Navi

155 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

EVOLUTION Clothing LKO

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vinny Calvucci!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Brian Navi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Navi lands a slapping body shot.
Navi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Navi wants it to stay on the feet.

Calvucci clinches with his opponent.
Navi is trying to push Calvucci away but Calvucci has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Calvucci has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Navi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Navi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Calvucci has him pressed against the cage.
Calvucci changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Navi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Calvucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calvucci on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Calvucci rushes Navi and presses him up against the cage.
Navi tries to circle away but Calvucci has him pinned against the cage.

Calvucci manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calvucci throws a head kick that misses.
Navi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Navi's coach down at We The Best was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Navi's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Navi cracks a nice hook into Calvucci's ribs.
Navi scores with a jab to the body.
Navi throws a leg kick which misses Calvucci's front leg but catches the back leg as Calvucci tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Navi. Calvucci does a little dance to reset his feet.
Calvucci is trying hard to land a takedown here. Navi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Calvucci avoids the head kick by Navi.
Navi throws a right and a left that Calvucci avoids nicely.
Calvucci shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Navi pinned against the cage. Navi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Navi throws a combination that misses

and Calvucci counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Navi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Calvucci could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Calvucci keeps control of Navi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Navi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Calvucci lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Navi can't break the clinch.
Navi wants to get back to striking at distance but Calvucci won't allow it.
Navi tries to circle away but Calvucci has him pinned against the cage.

Navi manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navi digs a good hook to Calvucci's body.
Navi scores with a jab to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Navi.
Calvucci shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Navi as he jumps to the side.
Navi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Calvucci takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Calvucci moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Navi is trying to break the clinch but Calvucci has him pressed against the cage.
Navi being controlled against the cage.
Navi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Calvucci has him pressed against the cage.

Calvucci breaks from the clinch.
Navi tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navi throws a head kick but Calvucci moves out of range.
Navi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Calvucci doesn't seem bothered though.
Navi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Calvucci avoids a punch combination nicely.
Calvucci avoids the body shot from Navi.
Navi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Calvucci counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Calvucci.

Calvucci breaks from the clinch.
Navi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Calvucci rather than just go for the knockout.
Navi misses with a leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Calvucci tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Calvucci takes a kick to the side of the head.
Calvucci will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Navi is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Calvucci with a body shot.
Navi scores with a nice body kick.
Calvucci ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice sprawl there from Navi as Calvucci shoots in.

Calvucci shoots in and bounces Navi off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Calvucci is breathing heavily.
Navi is looking to stand up but Calvucci isn't so interested in that idea.
Navi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Calvucci. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Navi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Calvucci controls the pace.
Calvucci works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Navi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Navi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Calvucci shoots in looking for a takedown. Navi tries to sprawl out of it but Calvucci keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Navi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Navi avoids a kick to the body.
Navi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Navi throws a body punch but Calvucci moves out of range.
Calvucci takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Navi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Navi closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Vinny Calvucci has been cut.
Vinny Calvucci is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Calvucci scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Navi being controlled for a moment.
Navi is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calvucci controlling from side mount.
Navi is pushing Calvucci's head away, looking to escape. Calvucci manages to hold on to the position though.
Navi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Calvucci is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Navi has escaped the position, nice work there.
Navi is trying to buck Calvucci off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Calvucci advances nicely into full mount.
Navi tries to buck Calvucci off but Calvucci takes his back!

Calvucci looking for the choke but no joy.

Navi manages to escape to his feet.
Brian Navi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Navi. Calvucci does a little dance to reset his feet.
Navi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Brian Navi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Calvucci shoots in but Navi avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calvucci shoots in looking for a takedown. Navi tries to sprawl out of it but Calvucci keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Navi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Calvucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calvucci blocks the body kick.
Calvucci changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
No luck for Calvucci with that takedown attempt.

Calvucci closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Navi tries to circle away but Calvucci has him pinned against the cage.
Navi is trying to break free.
Navi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees to the body from Calvucci.
Calvucci wants a takedown.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navi prevents the takedown attempt.
Navi tries to circle away but Calvucci has him pinned against the cage.
Navi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Calvucci will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Navi up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Calvucci.
A frustrated look appears on Navi's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Calvucci breaks from the clinch.
Calvucci fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Navi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Navi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Calvucci moves away.
Navi lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Navi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vinny Calvucci's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Calvucci is trying hard to land a takedown here. Navi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Calvucci shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Navi is trying to defend but Calvucci finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Navi makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Calvucci fails with a takedown attempt.
Navi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Calvucci stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Calvucci takes the fight into the clinch.
Navi blocks a body shot from Calvucci.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Navi breaks the clinch.
Navi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Calvucci showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Navi.
Navi swats away the attempt to clinch by Calvucci.
Calvucci shoots in looking for a takedown but Navi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Calvucci's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinny Calvucci. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Navi digs a good hook to Calvucci's body.

Calvucci moves into the clinch.
Navi wants to get back to striking at distance but Calvucci won't allow it.
Calvucci avoiding damage.
Navi wants to break free but Calvucci has control.
Calvucci tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Navi avoids it.
Calvucci keeps control of Navi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Calvucci's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Navi breaks from the clinch.

Calvucci has managed to clinch.
Calvucci slows down the pace here.
Navi wants to break free but Calvucci has control.

Navi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Calvucci shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Navi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Calvucci wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Navi, who protects the arm well.
Navi wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calvucci moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Navi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Calvucci connects with a decent elbow.
Navi prevents Calvucci from improving position.
Calvucci trying to control the position but Navi is working away.
Calvucci looks up at the clock and then as Navi takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Calvucci smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Navi tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Calvucci lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

Navi preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Calvucci.
Navi trying to get back to his feet but Calvucci is in full control for now.
Vinny Calvucci has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brian Navi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

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 Vinny Calvucci.
I think Navi 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Navi!
After the fight, Brian Navi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.